Verdi Festival 2026

Nel ruolo di Alzira. Marta Torbidoni

A quarter of a century later, Franco Zeffirelli’s little Aidina returns to the place where she was first conceived – a brilliant creation devised in 2001 for the tiny space of the Teatro di Busseto, to mark the centenary of Verdi’s death. The grandiloquence of pageantry and ‘grand opera’ is transformed here into an intimate dialogue and chamber theatre, thanks to the new perspective of views from below created by the director. The production is restaged by Stefano Trespidi, conducted by Giuseppe Mengoli, with Federica Vitali, Vincenzo Costanzo, Hae Kang and Teresa Iervolino in the leading roles.

Arturo Toscanini Philharmonic Orchestra

Director Giuseppe Mengoli

Directed by Franco Zeffirelli

Busseto, Giuseppe Verdi Theatre

«L’Aidina». L’opera per la regia di Franco Zeffirelli

The original title *Nabucodonosor* resurfaces, emphasising the exoticism of Verdi’s first success at La Scala in 1842: Nabucco will, however, be performed by the Choir of the Teatro Regio di Parma, conducted by Martino Faggiani, and a cast featuring the baritone Ariunbaatar Ganbaatar in the title role, alongside Michele Pertusi, Andrés Moreno García, Laura Verrecchia and Lidia Fridman as the acrobatic Abigaille. Francesco Lanzillotta will conduct the Orchestra del Comunale di Bologna. Pier Luigi Pizzi is responsible for the new production.

Director Francesco Lanzillotta

Directed by Pier Luigi Pizzi

Parma, Teatro Regio

Regista. Pier Luigi Pizzi

On the 213th anniversary of Verdi’s birth, a gala concert is a must. The programme is both original and coherent: it opens with the second act of *Il Corsaro* by Byron, which premiered in Trieste in 1848; continues with the Overture to the now rare *Guarany* by Antônio Carlos Gomes – now rarely performed – which premiered at La Scala in 1870, and concludes with the third act of *Jérusalem*, the 1847 Parisian reworking of *Nabucco*. The programme is based on Verdi’s historic critical editions and supported by the International Friends of Festival Verdi.

Toscanini Philharmonic Orchestra

Theatre Choir

Parma Province

Conductor James Conlon

Parma, Teatro Regio

Direttore. James Conlon

A contemporary gem that reflects on Verdi’s exotic worlds, Lucia Ronchetti’s new musical theatre score is being staged in collaboration with the Pilotta Monumental Complex. Based on a libretto by Mohammad Al Attar, a Syrian playwright based in Berlin, the soloists include the actress Sara El Debuch, soprano Alice Rossi, the vocals of Mais Harb and percussion by Elias Aboud, conducted by Susanne Blumenthal with the Ensemble Toscanini and the Accademia Verdiana.

Toscanini Philharmonic Ensemble

Accademia Verdiana Vocal Ensemble

Director Susanne Blumenthal

Parma, Farnese Theatre

The Requiem also returns as a must-see event, given a fresh interpretation each time by the soloists and conductor; on this occasion, the performance takes on particular significance with the four voices of Eleonora Buratto (soprano), Ekaterina Semenchuk (mezzo-soprano), Saimir Pirgu (tenor) and Roberto Tagliavini (bass). This marks Daniele Rustioni’s debut at the Verdi Festival, conducting the Filarmonica Toscanini, alongside the renowned Coro del Regio di Parma, prepared by Martino Faggiani. On his music stand, he will have the critical edition of the score, edited by David Rosen for the University of Chicago Press and Casa Ricordi.

Toscanini Philharmonic Orchestra

Teatro Regio Choir

Director Daniele Rustioni

Parma, Teatro Regio