(28 July 2017) After touring in Tokyo, Shanghai, Saint Petersburg, Paris, the U.S., Canada, Hong Kong, Savonlinna, and Geneva – the Regio Theatre of Turin travels to Edinburgh, confirming its international vocation. The Edinburg International Festival has invited the Regio to celebrate its 70th anniversary as the star guest to its 2017 edition. The 10-day festival includes the productions of Puccini’s La Bohème (directed by Alex Ollé), Verdi’s Macbeth (directed by Emma Dante), and Verdi’s Requiem whose orchestra is directed by Gianandrea Noseda and the chorus by Claudio Fenoglio. August 18th – 20th, at the Festival Theatre, the Regio inaugurates its presence in Edinburgh with the production of Verdi’s Macbeth featuring an international cast. The baritone Dalibor Jenis stars in the role of Macbeth, the soprano Anna Pirozzi as Lady Macbeth, the bass Marko Mimica in the role of Banquo, and the tenor Piero Pretti in the role of Macduff. The stage design was co-produced with the Teatro Massimo of Palermo and the Macerata Operal Festival. Àlex Ollé de La Fura dels Baus’s new production of La Bohème, which launched the 2016-2017 Teatro Regio season, will take place from August 25th to the 27th. The production commemorates the 120th anniversary since the first performance of La Bohème at the Regio in 1896. This was made possible thanks to the contribution of Amici del Regio (Friends of Regio) which helps the Theatre maintain their cultural offer and making it more accessible through initiatives. Alcantara also contributed to this venture as well as constructing parts of the set design, costumes, and theatre curtain. The cast of La Bohème includes world famous and critically acclaimed cast members: soprano Irina Lungu in the role of Mimì, the tenor Giorgio Berrugi in the role of Rodolfo, the soprano Kelebogile Besong in the role of Musetta, and the baritone Artur Ruciski in the role of Marcello, realised in collaboration with the Teatro dell’Opera of Rome. Finally, on August 22nd in Usher Hall, Gianandrea Noseda will direct Verdi’s Requiem which has become the Regio Theatre’s strong suit. The orchestra and chorus of the Regio Theatre take part in this production as well as Erika Grimaldi (soprano), Daniela Barcellona (mezzosoprano), Piero Pretti (tenor), and Michele Pertusi (bass). (Red)

A UNIQUE STAGE

The audience at the Edimburgh Festival will have the opportunity to admire the stage curtain of La Bohème that was made specifically for this production by Alcantara in close collaboration with the set designers of Regio. A solid collaboration after the extraordinary results obtained from Simon Boccanegra of a Regio production in Hong Kong that Alcantara has made even more special with another custom-made stage curtain. “We are proud to be in partnership with the Regio Theatre for this production of La Bohème” states Andrea Boragno, the President and CEO of Alcantara. “It is an extraordinary opportunity for Alcantara to highlight the versatility of this material that combines tradition and innovation and demonstrates the value of the Made in Italy. The partnerships that Alcantara has built over the years in the art and creative fields in general, have strengthened in terms of innovation and contemporary attitudes thanks to this production”.