V.sold out all the tickets available for the opera “Suor Angelica” by Puccini scheduled at the Pieve di Cellole in San Gimignano on 20 August (9.15 pm).
Among the cypresses that lead to the entrance of the Pieve, the characters and the work with the music by Giacomo Puccini and libretto by Giovacchino Forzano. It will be performed the Amedeo Modigliani ensemble directed by Maestro Stefano Cencettiwith the staging by Ecoteatro, direction and lighting design by Lorenzo Giossi. The costumes will be entirely made from recycled materials by Ilaria Giossi, in the role of Suor Angelica there will be Elisa Benadduce.
It was right in front of the Pieve, in 1917, that Puccini had the inspiration for the setting of the opera, as evidenced by the scenography of the first performance that was made in Europe at the Teatro dell’Opera di Roma which unequivocally confirms that the little church in the countryside of San Gimignano, in one of the most evocative stretches of the Via Francigena, was the place of inspiration for the famous composer. The show is part of the summer events program organized by the municipal administration of San Gimignano and has obtained the patronage and contribution of the Tuscany Region.
“The representation of the work Suor Angelica in the parish church of Santa Maria a Cellole, where the great Puccini conceived it, is a sublime condensation of widespread Tuscany – said the governor of Tuscany – because it manages to synthesize only wealth and majesty of our history, the beauty of our landscape and our architectural works, and above all the value and charm of a Tuscan author like Giacomo Puccini. On the Via Francigena, in this quiet corner, in an area that preserves the unmistakable traces of the Etruscans, witnessing this work that is represented here for the first time will be a unique experience. For this I congratulate the municipal administration that conceived it, an original proposal to which we immediately joined with enthusiasm because it fully responds to the project and the cultural offer that the Region is carrying out ”.
“It is an honor to be able to revive an opera in the same place where it was conceived, it will be a leap back in time but, at the same time, a projection into the future of the great composer Giacomo Puccini, who renews the Sangimignanese tradition for opera ”Underlined the mayor of San Gimignano. “The atmosphere and the pathos that flow from the score will find new life for one night thanks to a unique show that consecrates the Pieve di Cellole as a Puccini place par excellence” added the councilor for Culture and Tourism.
Info and tickets: 20 euros for the first sector, 15 euros for the second sector. Presale: Pro Loco of San Gimignano 0577 940008
A natural stage in one of the most exciting and spiritual stretches of the Via Francigena. The Pieve di Cellole it is located in the stretch of Francigena from Gambassi to San Gimignano. Leaving the wood after Pancole, the vegetation opens up and after a beautiful skyline of San Gimignano you enter the silence and spirituality of the Pieve di Cellole. A beautiful Romanesque church today the seat of the monastic community of Bose.
The ensemble of the “Amedeo Modigliani” Orchestra The group has a strong classical and lyrical nature. Since 1989 he has performed in traditional theaters, opera festivals and concert seasons and over the years he has had multiple collaborations with pop and jazz musicians of the caliber of Ron, Roberto Vecchioni, Simona Molinari, Antonella Ruggiero, Lucio Dalla, Danilo Rea, Stefano Bollani, Paolo Fresu, Fabrizio Bosso and many others.
Costumes from recycled materials
The costume design is based on the direction-scenographic intentions. Fundamental will was the enhancement of the place wanted by the maestro Puccini himself as the scenography of his “Sister Angelica” and where the show will take place. The costumes are made with innovative materials as well as rigorously recycled in line with the ethical principles of Ecoteatro, in addition to fabrics and fabrics the use of plastic materials and paper is in fact foreseen. The leitmotif of the costume project are the emotions of the characters that must be enhanced by what they wear, therefore a sense of closure and imprisonment will emerge in all the figures present on the scene who will wear clothes with lines and bold colors focusing everything on the white color accompanied by few cold colors. The use of non-traditional materials allows the creation of sculpture-dresses inspired by the shapes of the stones of the monastery present in front of the church of Pieve di Cellole to underline the strong bond that the work has with this place and making the characters an integral part of the landscape surrounding. For Sister Angelica in particular, the dress thus scenographed will give the idea of a ballast that holds her heavily to the ground and from which she will free herself only at the end, remaining in a simple soft white tunic, symbol of her martyrdom. The costumes reflect the original epoch of action of the story with clear and immediately recognizable elements, some of which will be worn by the same protagonist almost to appear under the monk’s habit (one above all the ruff). The dress of the Aunt Princess recalls an armor, a real historical inspiration of the fashion of the time as well as a symbol of the sense of duty it bears, not having to be traditionally characterized as “the bad one” but as the one who respects the social rules of the her time, she will not be dressed in black but in blue and blue, colors present on the family crest and on the carriage, as well as in chromatic agreement with the other costumes.
Show card
SISTER ANGELICA – Opera in one act
Music by GIACOMO PUCCINI
Booklet by GIOVACCHINO FORZANO
Sister Angelica ELISA BENADDUCE
Aunt Princess PATRIZIA SCIVOLETTO
The Abbess MIHO TAKADA
The Zealot Sister MARTINA JANDELLI
The Novice Master DEBORA TEICHER
Sister Genovieffa LETIZIA CAPPELLINI
Sister Osmina FLAMINIA MARIA CENCETTI
Sister Dolcina FRANCESCA CAPONI
The Sister Nurse LUISA BERTERAME
First Seeker BEATRICE CRESTI
Second Seeker SABRINA BIANCHINI
The novice and first converse VERONICA TASSI
Second Conversation ARIANNA PIERI
Set up by ECOTEATRO
Director STEFANO CENCETTI
Direction and lighting design LORENZO GIOSSI
Costumes ILARIA GIOSSI
With the participation of:
Sangimignanese Choral
Choral Vincenzo Bellini (Colle Val d’Elsa)
San Gimignano, Puccini’s “Suor Angelica” sold out at the Pieve di Cellole | RadioSienaTv