General Manager of Teatro dell’Opera di Roma, Carlo Fuortes, has named Maestro Daniele Gatti as the opera house’s new Musical Director, with a three-year tenure, until 31 December 2021. The orchestra director’s first time working at the theatre at the inauguration of the 2016-2017 Season with Tristan und Isolde. He then returned to the podium for opening night on 12 December … [Read more...]
Introducing Rebecca Bianchi, Rome Opera Ballet’s new Principal ballerina
At the end of The Nutcracker at Rome’s Teatro Nazionale on 20 December last year, 25-year-old Rebecca Bianchi was promoted to Principal Dancer of the Rome Opera Ballet by the theatre’s General Manager, Carlo Fuortes, and the head of the ballet company, Eleonora Abbagnato. It was something I wasn’t expecting and it was very emotional... a truly wonderful surprise for me and a … [Read more...]
The BBC interviews Rome Opera’s chief: It was like a war
A few months ago, I was contacted by the BBC about an upcoming Peter Day's World of Business episode, which was to take a look at opera funding. They could hardly do such a programme – which also goes out globally on the BBC World Service and is one of the broadcaster’s most popular podcasts – without visiting opera’s home, Italy. Which opera house was best to feature, they … [Read more...]
Businessman gives Rome Opera a million euros
The Rome Opera, which is emerging from a period of great economic difficulty, has been offered a gulp of oxygen by businessman Francis Yeoh, who has given the theatre a million euros. Yeoh runs YTL, a Malaysian infrastructure conglomerate which is an international utilities company, operating principally in England and Asia, with hotel chains, energy companies and building … [Read more...]
Eleonora Abbagnato on being both an Étoile in Paris and a company director in Rome
I'm happy that the Mayor of Rome, Ignazio Marino, and Sovrintendente Fuortes, have had faith in my passion. My heart has always remained in Italy and this theatre needs people who believe passionately in dance. Eleonora Abbagnato was speaking at a press conference in Rome, her first appearance after her nomination as the Rome Opera Ballet’s new director. A previous director of … [Read more...]