Michele Mariotti on His Vision as New Music Director of Teatro dell'Opera di Roma

Michele Mariotti, the newly appointed music director of the Teatro dell'Opera di Roma, outlines his ambitious plans for the institution in an interview. His debut coincided with the season's opening on November 27, a date marking the theater's first curtain in 1880. The season features nine operas, four concerts, five ballets, and eight new productions, spanning from Baroque to 20th-century works. Mariotti aims to broaden the repertoire internationally and address contemporary themes like violence, war, and fanaticism. He emphasizes renewing works through expressive language rather than altering stories, citing his production of 'Aida' where the triumph scene was deliberately empty to symbolize ignorance. Mariotti stresses the importance of developing a recognizable sound for the orchestra and filling vacant principal positions. He plans to engage with the city by performing outside the theater, as he did in Bologna with concerts in prisons and social centers. The theater has seen sold-out performances, including 'Aida' and 'Dialogues des Carmélites'. Mariotti also hints at a collaboration with La Scala on new commissions and a surprise symphonic season next year.