Gianluca Margheri opens Spoleto Festival as Minotaur

Gianluca Margheri as Minotaur (photo: Spoleto Festival of Two Worlds)

Italian barihunk Gianluca Margheri will open the Spoleto Festival in Italy today as the title character in composer Silvia Colasanti's Il Minotauro (The Minotaur). The libretto was inspired by the story from Friedrich Dürrenmatt, in which the Minotaur cannot at once appreciate both his world’s coherence and its richness, either oversimplifying what he perceives or being baffled by it.

Gianluca Margheri (photo Roberto Viccaro)

Il Minotauro is a lyric opera in 10 scenes where the myth is centered on the terrifying monster transforming into a "human" drama reflected in the mirrors of the labyrinth. In addition to the three leading voices – Minotaur, Arianna and Teseo – the Chorus of the Birds provides a modern version of the Greek chorus who comment on the action.

Performances are on June 29 and July 1. Tickets and cast information is available online.  

Margheri will next appear as Belcore in Donizetti's L'elisir d'amore at the Ente Luglio Musicale Trapanese on July 30 and 31.