Opera, symphonic and chamber music concerts, contemporary dance, theatre, jazz and midnight concerts: 40 events take place over 22 days in 8 towns in the hinterland of Siena with over 400 international artists. Cantiere Internazionale d’Arte, founded in 1976 by Hans Werner Henze, promotes interaction between international professionals and young talents who express themselves in a creative setting surrounded by the marvels of Montepulciano’s architecture and landscape.
The 40th edition will take place from 11 July to 1 August 2015,inspired by the ambitious theme of Earth, war and peace. The program explores various cultural aspects, starting with a consideration of the centenary of Italy’s entrance into World War I. The theme of the Earth and its lands, which also inspires EXPO 2015, animates the festival that extends to picturesque settings in Cetona, Chianciano Terme, San Casciano dei Bagni, Sarteano, SInalunga, Torrita di Siena and Trequanda.
MUSICAL LANDSCAPES: The Opening Concert commemorates the First World War (11 July)
The productions are staged in loco, taking inspiration from Montepulciano and its landscape. The Opening Concert will be performed on 11 July by the Air Force Music Band to commemorate the First World War centenary; this original piece written by composer Patrizio Esposito was inspired by the acoustics of Piazza Grande where the musicians will initially position themselves in the square to produce a surround-sound effect and then divide into two facing groups to evoke the opposing frontlines of the war trenches.
IDROSCALO PASOLINI: the first opera dedicated to Pasolini (17-19 July)
The Poliziano Theatre will host “Idroscalo Pasolini”, the first musical theatre piece dedicated to Pier Paolo Pasolini (an influential Italian film director, writer, poet) which was commissioned by the Cantiere from Stefano Taglietti and Carlo Pasquini (Rai Trade edition). The characters from Pasolini’s imagination take on new formsin this show which aims to strike a balance between opera and theatre; the music will be performed by the Royal Northern College of Music of Manchester, directed by Marco Angius.
CONDUCTOR’S GALA: the Closing Concert under the baton of three star directors (1 August)
To celebrate its historic excellence, in 2015 the Cantiere will celebrate its 40th edition with a Closing Concert which boasts a magnificent team of directors. Three of the world’s most renowned conductors will alternate on stage; Markus Stenz, Jan Latham Koenig, Roland Böer will guide Manchester’s Royal Northern College of Music orchestra in a program which includes the first Italian performance of Prokofiev’s “War and peace suite”. On 29 July another symphonic concert will be performed by The RNCM Orchestra under the conduction of Roland Böer.
FROM EUROPE TO KURDISTAN: an International comparison
On 31 July the multidisciplinary show (with traditional music, singing and acting) “Un paese che non c’è” – “A Never-Neverland” will be staged in tribute to the culture of the Kurds who are currently involved in ongoing geo-political issues, thanks to the performance of the internationally renowned soprano Pervin Chakar. Many other international artists are involved – the Artists in residence are Markus Bellheim (Germany) and Justus Grimm (Belgium) who will perform important chamber music. Another production of note is Hans Werner Henze’s opera “El Cimarrón” performed by the El Cimarrón Ensemble.
CONTEMPORARY DANCE with the men from Carmen (26 July)
“Carmen, les hommes” is the world premiere of the contemporary dance show presented by Cie Twain Phisical Dance Theatre and Loredana Parrella. George Bizet’s masterpiece Carmen is reconsidered from a male prospective, rearranging the archetypes.
“LA FINTA SEMPLICE”: Mozart’s opera (24-26 July)
An appealing classic of the opera repertoire will be staged at Teatro Poliziano under the dynamic direction of Caterina Panti Liberovici. An international cast of singers and the Royal Northern College of Music of Mancester orchestra will be conducted by Roland Böer.
ANTEPRIMA CANTIERE: Moby Dick on stage at Sarteano Castle (10-16 July)
Prose theatre is the protagonist at Sarteano Castle for the festival’s preview. Forty members of local theatre organizations under the guidance of Laura Fatini and Gabriele Valentini will interpret Melville’s classic “Moby Dick”, a co-production of Accademia degli Arrischianti and Fondazione Cantiere Internazionale d’Arte.