On Sunday 30th January at 3:30 pm the 2022 Fondazione Arena Opera Season opens with two short masterpieces in a single show: Puccini’s intense "Suor Angelica", twenty-two years after its only performances, and, for the first time, the elegant comedy by Wolf-Ferrari "Il Segreto di Susanna"

A new all-female production brings together two rarely performed one-act operas, authentic gems of the early 1900s greatly loved by their respective composers: the new double bill formed by Il Segreto di Susanna and Suor Angelica, on stage from 30th January to 6th February with a new production by Fondazione Arena di Verona.

On this occasion, the new show days and the relative series of 2022 season tickets also debut: as well as the first and last performances, traditionally staged on Sunday afternoons, evening performances will be on Wednesday (at 7 pm) and Friday (at 8 pm). 

The two operas’ performers are young, as are the directors, Venice’s Federica Zagatti Wolf-Ferrari (a descendant of the composer) and Rome’s Giorgia Guerra, who direct the two operas, and both use sets designed by Serena Rocco and costumes from Parma’s Teatro Regio designed by Lorena Marin. On the podium will be conductor Gianna Fratta, already applauded on her Verona debut during the 2021 symphonic season.  

According to law, access to the shows will be allowed exclusively to spectators holding Covid-19 Green Passes certifying their vaccination or recovery (Super Green Passes or “reinforced” Green Passes). It is also compulsory to wear Ffp2 facemasks in cinemas, theatres, at sports events and on public transport (including local transport). 

Il Segreto di Susanna

Intermezzo in one act

Libretto by Enrico Golisciani

Publisher Josef Weinberger, rappresentante per l’Italia Casa Musicale Sonzogno di Piero Ostali, Milan

Music by Ermanno Wolf-Ferrari

Conductor Gianna Fratta

Director Federica Zagatti Wolf-Ferrari

Set designer Serena Rocco

Costumer designer Lorena Marin
Costumes of the Fondazione Teatro Regio di Parma

 Lighting designer Andrea Tocchio

Characters and performers

Count Gil Roberto Moro

Countess Susanna Lavinia Bini

Sante Vittorio Prato

Suor Angelica

Opera in one act

Libretto by Giovacchino Forzano

Publisher Casa Ricordi, Milano

Music by Giacomo Puccini

Conductor Gianna Fratta

Director Giorgia Guerra

Set designer Serena Rocco

Costume designer Lorena Marin

Costumes of the Fondazione Teatro Regio di Parma

Lighting designer Andrea Tocchio

Characters and performers

Suor Angelica Chiara Isotton (30/01), Donata D’Annunzio Lombardi (02/02, 04/02, 06/02)

Her aunt, the princess Graziella DeBattista

The Abbess Tiziana Realdini*

The Monitor Alessandra Andreetti*

The Mistress of the novices Alice Marini

Suor Genovieffa Rosanna Lo Greco

Suor Osmina Sonia Bianchetti*

Suor Dolcina Jessica Zizioli

The nursing Sister Elisa Fortunati

Two alms Sisters Manuela Schenale*, Grazia Montanari*

Two lay Sisters Emanuela Simonetto*, Mirca Molinari*

A novic  Arena di Verona Orchestra, Chorus and Technicians e Cecilia Rizzetto

Orchestra, Coro e Tecnici della Fondazione Arena di Verona

* Members of the Chorus of the Fondazione Arena di Verona ∙ Chorusmaster Ulisse Trabacchin

A new production by Fondazione Arena di Verona