Saturday 9 August 2025 at 8.30 p.m., to celebrate symbolically the "birthday" of the famous Leaning Tower, in Piazza del Duomo will be held a Grand Opera Gala of international scope.
Gran Gala Lirico with three exceptional singers, the soprano Mariam Battistelli, the tenor Oreste Cosimo (replacing Ramón Vargas who will not be able to participate) and the baritone Roberto De Candia, accompanied by the Orchestra Filarmonica Italiana directed by Marcello Rota. A tribute to the bel canto, a program with memorable pages from works by Verdi, Donizetti, Rossini, Puccini, Mozart, Gounod, Catalani, Mascagni and Bizet. Arias, duets, triplets and orchestral moments of great suggestion such as the Symphony from Verdi’s Nabucco, in evening opening, the Intermezzo da Cavalleria rusticana by Mascagni and the Suite from Bizet’s Carmen. Mariam Battistelli - young soprano already present on prestigious stages such as the Teatro alla Scala, the San Carlo in Naples, the Opera di Montecarlo and Glyndebourne Opera - will play famous arias like "O mio babbino caro" by Gianni Schicchi of Puccini, "Ebben ne'andrò lontana" by Wally of Catalani and the enchanting air of Giulietta "Ah, je veux vivre" from Romeo et Juliette of Gounod. Will be at the side of Roberto De Candia in the unforgettable duet "Là ci daranno la mano" from Mozart’s Don Giovanni. It is the voice of Roberto De Candia, interpreter of refined vocality who has performed on stages around the world, to open the opera gala with his brilliant interpretation of Figaro’s aria "Largo al factotum" from Rossini’s Barbiere di Siviglia. It will then be the turn of Ramón Vargas - among the greatest tenors of our time, acclaimed everywhere - in the famous aria from Donizetti’s Elixir d'amore "A furtiva lacrima". Again De Candia in another famous aria of the Elixir, "Hear, hear or rustici" by doctor Dulcamara; then again Vargas with a verdean air "When the evenings placid" from the opera Luisa Miller. Grand finale in three voices, with the brilliant trio "Tran tran, tran tran" from Donizetti’s Elisir d'amore.
INFO
The show is free, with limited seats subject to availability. Reservations are not possible.
In compliance with safety regulations there will be a dedicated area exclusively for people with reduced mobility in wheelchairs who wish to participate with their accompanying person, arriving from 20:30 and before 21:00:00 and to the reception staff who will be responsible for indicating the sector.
The event will take place at the foot of the Campanile, which for the occasion will be illuminated.
From 8:30 p.m. to midnight, the Camposanto, the Baptistery, the Museum of the Sinopie, the Opera del Duomo Museum can be visited on reservation at www.impegnnoefuturo.it
The Cathedral will remain freely accessible, with quota access, but without reservation.
The Campanile will be closed to the public from 18:00.
Important: from 7:30 p.m. and until midnight the access to the Piazza del Duomo from the side of via Cardinal Maffi will be closed, both in and out.
