For the first time after long months of exclusively online meetings, Opera Europa members could finally meet again in person on 20 and 21 July during the rehearsal period of the Macerata Opera Festival.
Macerata Opera Festival celebrated its 100th birthday this year and the group of technical/workshop managers and artistic administrators were invited to both general rehearsals of this year’s productions. On 20 July they saw the new Aida directed by Valentina Carrasco and conducted by Francesco Lanzillotta and on 21 July, the famous La traviata ‘degli specchi’ created in 1992 directed by Henning Brockhaus and conducted by Paolo Bortolameolli.
On 21 July in the morning, the participants assisted to the set change between both productions and followed a guided tour through the impressive and unusual building of the Sferisterio.
During the working sessions, the mixed group discussed various transversal topics. The sustainability concerns in opera houses were raised by a presentation of the eco-responsible strategy of Opéra National de Paris. The group then explored the use of new technologies in production management thanks to a presentation of the Digital innovation programme at Teatro Regio di Parma and the Finnish National Opera & Ballet virtual reality project. Finally, the participants received some diversified input about performing in a different habitat from Teatro La Fenice, Royal Danish Opera and Israeli Opera, who had to re-invent their performance location due to sanitarian rules (Venice, Tel Aviv) or have a big experience of performing outdoor (Copenhagen).
The participants of both forums perceived the gathering and exchange between the technical and the artistic administration departments as positive and fruitful, especially to discuss the sustainability issue, which needs to be faced together and at all levels of the opera house.
All presentations of the forum are available to members on our website and if you are interested in the sustainability topic, keep an eye on our autumn programme!
Celia Grau