Davide Livermore on Opera, Cinema, and the Politics of Theatre
Davide Livermore, director of Teatro Nazionale di Genova, discusses his approach to opera and his new film-musical The Opera!. He argues that theatre must remain alive and political, rejecting the notion of opera as a museum. Livermore emphasizes storytelling over gimmicks, using cinematic techniques like montage to enhance stage drama. His production of Rossini's Elisabetta Regina d'Inghilterra closes the season at Teatro Massimo di Palermo. The Opera!, made with virtual set technology and featuring Vincent Cassel and Fanny Ardant, premieres January 20, 2025. Livermore also reflects on the political role of theatre, citing the Teatro di Genova's community gardens and a QR-code installation for the G8 Genoa anniversary.
Key facts
- Davide Livermore is director of Teatro Nazionale di Genova.
- His production of Rossini's Elisabetta Regina d'Inghilterra closes the season at Teatro Massimo di Palermo.
- The Opera! is a film-musical made with virtual set technology by Paolo Gep Cucco.
- The Opera! features Vincent Cassel and Fanny Ardant alongside opera singers.
- The Opera! premieres January 20, 2025.
- Livermore used a piano sequenza technique in his 2019 Tosca at La Scala.
- Teatro di Genova has two gardens whose produce goes to Sant'Egidio community and a starred kitchen.
- For the G8 Genoa 20th anniversary, Livermore created a white cube stage with a QR-code for facts.
- Livermore was born in Turin in 1966.
- The interview was published on Artribune in December 2024.
Entities
Artists
- Davide Livermore
- Gioacchino Rossini
- Vincent Cassel
- Fanny Ardant
- Valentino Buzza
- Mariam Battistelli
- Erwin Schrott
- Claudio Monteverdi
- Al Pacino
- Aristotle
- Paolo Gep Cucco
- Diego Mantoan
Institutions
- Teatro Nazionale di Genova
- Teatro Massimo di Palermo
- La Scala
- Artribune
- Sant'Egidio
- Università di Palermo
- Rai Radio3
- doppiozero
- Burlington Contemporary
- Palgrave
- Bloomsbury
- Marsilio
- Bibliotheca Hertziana
- Sotheby's Institute
Locations
- Turin
- Italy
- Palermo
- Rome
- Genoa