La Musica Lirica
On this day, the GPS directed us to a strange corner of Cesena. It turned out that we were performing in the central plaza of this bank building.
A fellow came out and told us we couldn’t park on the plaza itself, instead telling us to park in a vacant grassy area next to the building. This meant lugging all the scenery up these stairs. The fellow then vanished, until after several frantic phone calls, he emerged an hour or so later with an interpreter to show us the dressing areas. . .
A view of the stage from behind, as we set up.
And the stage, finished.
One of the challenges of Italy is the fact that everything shuts down in the middle of the day for the siesta, including many restaurants. We had to wander a fair distance, accidentally finding ourselves here (which a few days later we learned was pretty close to the city center), to find the first open pizzeria. Since the performers didn’t arrive until about five, they had no problem finding places to eat.
On the other hand, gelato seems constantly available, and the shop across from the pizzeria had some of the best gelato of the trip. The Figaro flavor was particularly good.
The audience arrives, and here is lighting intern Sean Houston at the board.
Suor Angelica in performance in Cesena.
And La Cambiale di Matrimonio in performance.
The next day we returned to the Castel Sismondo in Rimini to perform Lucia di Lammermoor. It was rainy as we set out; Renee (the set designer), myself, and Claudio, our driver, left late. The crew was to follow. A picture from along the way — that’s San Leo foggy in the distance on the right.
Here’s costume designer Stephanie Henderson helping me set up the music stands for the orchestra. Setting up the pit became my special project night after night after night.
Stage manager Alex checks out the stage from the house.
On dinner break, passing through the piazza.
The Plaza of the Three Martyrs, in Rimini. This is the site of the intersection of two ancient Roman roads.
The curious Renaissance Malatesta church.
The arch of Tiberius.
Director Francois Loup arrives at the Castel.
The audience arrives.
The hookup du jour.
And finally, Lucia in performance.