Shi by Carlo Boccadoro, an opera in five scenes, with libretto by Cecilia Ligorio, opens the 53rd edition of the Macerata Opera Festival, July 20 at Teatro Lauro Rossi. Repeat performances: July 26, August 2 & 9. 
 
This opera is dedicated to the life of the Jesuit priest Matteo Ricci (a native of Macerata), a renowned mathematician, Sinologist and cartographer who lived in China during the late 1500s and early 1600s. He introduced western science and Roman Catholicism to China, and made a major contribution to the development of Chinese culture at a time when China was still largely cut off from the rest of the world.  

On stage we see Father Matteo, one of his pupils and a narrator: all three being representations of Ricci’s own personality. Two baritone singers (Roberto Abbondanza and Bruno Taddia) and an actor (Simone Tangolo) are backed by an ensemble featuring two pianos (Andrea Rebaudengo and Paolo Gorini) and three percussionists (Tetraktis Percussioni Ensemble). Shi is a work commissioned by the Macerata Opera Festival.


Shi 
Opera in five scenes
Libretto by Cecilia Ligorio
WP: Macerata, Teatro Lauro Rossi, 20 July 2017
Director: Cecilia Ligorio
Scenes-costumes-lights: Accademia di Belle Arti di Macerata 
Conductor: Carlo Boccadoro
Instrumentation: 2 Bar, Actor - 2 Pianos, 3 Perc
Duration: 75’ ca.


Find out more about Carlo Boccadoro