works with the Italian Consulate General, the Italian Cultural Institute, the Dante Alighieri Society and the annual Italia Mia Festival to develop and perform “small footprint” Italian operas, selected to be accessible and adaptable with productions which are flexible and cost-effective, able to be performed in a wide variety of venues. Once performed, these works are made available, either as performances or productions, to others in Hong Kong and the wider region.
Production support includes
- dramaturgy
- scripts in English and sometimes Chinese
- subtitles in English, Chinese and (on request) other languages
- Some productions may take advantage of new scores for chamber ensemble written by Marco Iannelli
- directorial oversight (remote or on-site) if requested
Works currently available:
“Waitress on Top”
A pastiche based on Pergolesi’s La serva padrona with additional selections from Donizetti and added dialogue. Set in an (Italian) restaurant. Performed at “Italia Mia” in 2020 and broadcast as an “opera-film” for RTHK.
“Rita” by Gaetano Donzetti
With a new score for chamber ensemble by Marco Iannelli. Performed at the 2020 “Italia Mia” and the 2021 Cosmopolis Festival and broadcast as an opera-film for RTHK. This production was adopted by the Guangzhou Opera House where it ran for 15 performances in 2022.
“La bohème” by Giacomo Puccini
Scènes de la vie de bohème is an intimate dramatic adaptation of Giacomo Puccini’s classic opera. Reduced to the four principal roles, this new version is designed to focus on the emotional ties between the two couples.
“Il segreto di Susanna” by Ermanno Wolf-Ferrari
Reset in Hong Kong during the roaring ’20s, Il segreto di Susanna was performed at the Asia Society in 2022 in a co-production with the Dante Alighieri Society.
“Duetto”
Premiered in Macau at the Teatro Dom Pedro V, an integrated double bill with La serva padrona as Act I and Il segreto di Susanna as Act II.
Opera-films
Two productions have been filmed with the support of the Italian Cultural Institute. These are available for screening or broadcast on request.
Rita was filmed at Hong Kong’s icon Haw Par Mansion. It was broadcast on RTHK in January 2021 and shown in Hong Kong cinema during the 2021 Italia Mia Festival. In 2022, it was screened at the Fundação Oriente in Lisbon. Currently available with subtitles in English, Chinese and Portuguese.
Waitress on Top was performed was filmed in 2021 at Hong Kong’s iconic Peninsula Hotel for broadcast by RTHK on Christmas Day and screening during the 2021 Italia Mia Festival. Currently available with subtitles in English and Chinese.
