(June 19 2017) A piece of Palermo on Japanese ground: the Traviata of Palermo's Teatro Massimo won the Tokyo audience in the third stage of a tour that has touched the cities of Hamamatsu and Nagoya in recent days. A success on the stage at the Bunka Kaikan Theater - in the presence of Italian Ambassador in Japan Giorgio Starace - with sixteen minutes of applause, the room crowded up to the last place, the Palermo artist Desirée Rancatore in tears for the emotion and a row of three hundred people out of the theater to ask for an autograph of the protagonists. In addition to Rancatore, Leo Nucci (with a personal tribute) and other protagonists were applauded: the conductor Ivan Ciampa, the orchestra, choir, and dancers. The Traviata, directed by Mario Pontiggia, set design by Francesco Zito and lights by Bruno Ciulli, represents the great tradition of Italian opera, with scenes built in the theater workshops of Teatro Massimo that evoke the great Liberty season. "A great affirmation for the city of Palermo and for Italy," said Ambassador Starace, "a great representation of great voices, scenes, and costumes". "Thank you, thanks to everyone", echoes the superintendent of the Palermo's Teatro Massimo, Francesco Giambrone, "I am happy with this success that excites me and I am really happy with the work of everyone: orchestra, choir, dancers, technicians, staff". With him, the artistic director Oscar Pizzo, the operating director Elisabetta Tesi, the production manager Giovanni Mazzara, the director of the equipment Renzo Milan, the staff. (Red)

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To "drive" the show from behind the scenes, stage director Ludovico Rajata. Strict and orderly the Japanese extras. Five interpreters to help understanding between the Italian staff and the Japanese staff. In the backstage, also the manager of the Japanese Concert Doors company, Masayuki Kobayashi, organizer of the tour: "We invite the four or five best Italian theaters each time," he explains in a room adjacent to the stage featured in the showcases hosted over the years - and the Teatro Massimo Of Palermo is among these. For twenty years I've been doing this job. Here in Japan there is an extremely competent and passionate audience". "I have a legitimate and profound admiration for a flagship opera of Italian culture in the world, which has combined budget saving, artistic quality, an international dimension with abundant abilities on Palermo and presence on the great international scene", said Leoluca Orlando , Mayor of Palermo and president of the Fondazione Teatro Massimo. "One can not hide a particular and strong emotion in front of an event of this magnitude that not only honors Italian lyricism but, if I may, I am sure will bring to the highest levels the extraordinary image of Sicily," added the Regional Assessor for Sports, Tourism and Entertainment Anthony Barbagallo.