VENEZUELA CELEBRATES ITALIAN OPERA

(VELINO) Roma, 23 Mar - The Teresa Carreno Opera Theatre inCaracas will open the opera season on Mar. 27 with "IPagliacci" by Neapolitan composer Ruggero Leoncavallo, whichwill be performed again on the 29th. For the occasion, theVenezuelan philharmonic orchestra, conducted by AngeloPagliuca, will perform together with the theatre choir. "IPagliacci" is a two-act opera composed in 1892. The Jose FelixRibas Hall will host the performances featuring singersBetzabeth Talavera (soprano), Francisco Morales (tenor), GasparColon Moleiro (baritone), Miguel Salas and Juan Luis Dominguez,directed by Francisco Diaz. The Venezuelan opera "Gertrudis",composed by Gerardo Gerulewicz, will be performed on Apr. 10and 12. Giacomo Puccini's 'Gianni Schicchi' will be performedon Apr. 16 and 18, and his "Madame Butterfly" on Apr. 24 and26. Lastly, Pietro Mascagni's "Cavalleria Rusticana" will beperformed on Apr. 30 and May 2. All these performances willinclude over 40 singers, four orchestras and their conductors,and a staff of over 300 people including scenographers,technicians, choreographers and costume designers. The Caracasopera season is one of the events marking the Year of Italy inLatin America, a programme supported by the Ministry of ForeignAffairs, aiming to help integrate and increase appreciation forthe multifaceted Italian community in Latin America. vel.