Rugantino' returns to the Sistina in Rome

One of his 'trademarks' returns to the Sistina in Rome, the musical comedy 'Rugantino' which, first staged in 1962 (with a poker face like Manfredi, Fabrizi, Massari, Valori), has now risen to the rank of an evergreen. Also in Rome, but at the Opera, one of the greatest operas by Janáček, a dialectical contemporary of Puccini. In Turin, American themes that make us reflect.

From 3 to 19 May, one of Italy's great musical comedies, 'Rugantino', with Serena Autieri, Michele La Ginestra, Massimo Wertmüller, and Edy Angelillo, returns to the Sistina Theatre. Written by the legendary couple Garinei and Giovannini, with music by the equally legendary Trovajoli. Let's not forget that directors and scriptwriters such as Festa Campanile and Franciosa also collaborated on the texts, with the artistic collaboration of another director such as Gigi Magni; choreography by Gino Landi, whose numerous successes as a director as well, from theatre to TV to cinema, are worth remembering; sets and costumes by one of the greatest set designers of the 1930s-1970s, Giulio Coltellacci.

Set in 19th-century papal Rome, this is a touching, ironic and nostalgic story, where we follow the adventures of Rugantino, a loud-mouthed and braggart with a noble soul and unparalleled verve, until the sad but uplifting epilogue, amidst world-famous hits, from 'Roma nun fa' la stupida stasera' to 'Ciumachella' and 'Tirollallero'.

From 2 to 9 May at the Teatro dell'Opera "Jenůfa", by Janáček; in the title role Cornelia Beskow, conductor Juraj Valčuha (who makes his debut in Rome but is well known to audiences in Naples and Turin), directed by Claus Guth. A co-production production with the Royal Opera House in London, where it was staged in 2021 and awarded Best Opera Production at the Olivier Awards 2022 (the UK's top theatre prize). A high example of early 20th century musical realism, 'Jenůfa' is Janáček's best-known opera. Written between 1894 and 1903, the action takes place in a closed rural community two women struggle to fulfil themselves, to survive the crushing weight of social obligations and the violence that surrounds them.The performance on the 2nd will be broadcast live (from 8 p.m.) on Radio3 Rai; like all live broadcasts, it will remain available on the broadcaster's website for eight days.

On 2 May at 8.30 p.m. in the Auditorium Rai the Rai Orchestra is conducted by Robert Treviño, pianist Yulianna Avdeeva, in an infrequent and interesting programme. Stravinsky's 'Symphony in Three Movements' opens. This is followed by the "Doctor Atomic Symphony", written in 2007 by John Adams: the symphony evokes the upheaval of the first atomic tests; the third movement, entitled Trinity, is inspired by John Donne's sonnet "Batter my heart, three person'd God", much loved by the physicist Oppenheimer, who was inspired by it to give the name "Trinity" to the site chosen for nuclear testing in the New Mexico desert. It concludes with Bernstein's "Symphony No. 2: The Age of Anxiety", inspired by the poem by Wystan Hugh Auden, the greatest English poet of the twentieth century after Eliot.Replica on the 3rd at 8 p.m. with live broadcasting on Radio3 and live streaming on the Rai Cultura portal.