Lenz Fondazione Stages Dante's Purgatorio in Parma's Former Hospital

Lenz Fondazione has launched a biennial project on Dante's Divine Comedy, beginning with Purgatorio staged in the monumental 15th-century ex Ospedale Vecchio in Parma. The building, a Greek-cross structure with a large dome, served as a foundling hospital and later as the State Archives, and is normally closed to the public. The performance, conceived by Maria Federica Maestri and Francesco Pititto, unfolds along the vast Crociera corridor lined with wooden shelves. Actors from Lenz's 'sensitive' performers, historical nucleus, and local dialect companies embody penitent sinners. The sound installation by Andrea Azzali accompanies the journey through the terraces of pride, envy, wrath, sloth, avarice, gluttony, and lust. An angel removes colored skirts from Dante's garment at each stop. The dialect of Parma is juxtaposed with Dante's verses, evoking the hospital's history of caring for the nameless poor. Key scenes include the encounter with Virgil, Cato, and the emotional sequence with Giuseppe and Maria seeking Jesus, performed by Cesare Quintavalla and Delfina Rivieri. Beatrice appears atop a ladder, reciting verses about love. The work is a site-specific, performative-musical experience emphasizing physicality and audience involvement. Performers include Valentina Barbarini, Fabrizio Croci, Paolo Maccini, Frank Berzieri, and members of Parma's dialect companies.