Stefano Mazzonis, born in Rome in 1949, directed his first opera in 1983, which toured in France, Germany, Belgium and beyond. He subsequently directed at the Comunale in Florence, Teatro Ventidio Basso, Teatro Sistina in Rome, and Teatro Regio di Torino. He worked at festivals including Rossini Opera Festival in Pesaro, Ludwigsburg festival and Kissinger Sommer festival. For audio-visual media, he has produced and presented numerous programmes on television and radio (RAI).
He was sovrintendente at Teatro Comunale di Bologna between 2002 and 2006 before assuming the position at Opéra Royal de Wallonie in 2007. He staged operas from the Italian repertoire: Verdi, Puccini, Rossini, Donizetti.
Mayor Willy Demeyer underlined in his official communication the positive evolution of Opéra Royal de Wallonie in the 14 years of Mazzonis’s direction, during which the company grew its artistic quality, its international reputation and increased reach to a younger and wider audience.
Nicholas Payne, Director of Opera Europa, commented: ‘Over almost 20 years I have known Stefano as a candid friend, generous host and loyal supporter of European ideals. We shall miss him.’