‘Piedade’ tells the tragic story of writer Euclides de Cunha at the 25th Amazonas Opera Festival

Manaus (AM) – The title “Piedade”, by João Guilherme Ripper, premieres at the 25th Amazonas Opera Festival, this Sunday (21/05), at 7 pm, at Teatro Amazonas. For the first time, the story based on real events, which narrates the love triangle between Euclides da Cunha, Anna and Dilermando de Assis, gains an operatic montage. Tickets are on sale at the Teatro Amazonas box office and on the website www.shopingressos.com.br

According to Piedade’s musical director, Otávio Simões, the title, which is usually staged in a reduced format, at the Amazonian festival, includes all the elements that make up the lyrical genre: orchestra, soloists, scenery and costumes.

“The opera has never been performed in complete form, with the orchestra in the pit, scenery, costumes and the scene taking place. It has always been semi-staged, with an orchestra on stage, in smaller spaces or with a reduced orchestra. First time as an opera, it will be at the 25th Amazonas Festival of Opera”, reveals Simões, who also assumes the regency of the Amazonas Philharmonic for the presentations of “Piedade”.

Lasting 1h45, the montage is divided into four acts, without intervals, and features the participation of the guitar concertist, Paulo Pedrassoli. “The Brazilian opera Piedade is considered one of the most beautiful, as it is full of touching melodies that the public will identify with. The participation of the guitar, in four moments, at the beginning of each act, conquers the public with ease”, highlights the maestro.

The 25th Amazonas Opera Festival is organized by the State Government, through the Secretariat for Culture and Creative Economy and the Amazon Agency for Cultural Development (AADC), with master sponsorship from Bradesco and cultural support from Grupo Atem and Companhia de Gás do Amazonas (Cigás), in addition to approval of the Culture Incentive Law.

The Secretary of Culture, Marcos Apolo Muniz, emphasizes the participation of Brazilian composers and artists in the festival. “One of the characteristics of the festival is to favor operas by Brazilian composers, as well as the participation of soloists who stand out in the national lyrical scene and in our artistic bodies. The composer from Piedade, João Guilherme Ripper, has a very close history with the festival and, in several editions, he has presented us with great works”, quotes Apolo.

Ripper is also the author of “Onheama”, based on an Amazonian legend, and “Kawah Ijen” (Blue Volcano), among other operas commissioned for previous editions of the Amazonian festival.

Real story

The opera narrates the scandal of the “tragedy of Piedade”, which happened in the 20th century, in Rio de Janeiro. Based on the story of the writer Euclides da Cunha (Homero Velho), whose wife, Anna (Gabriella Pace), became involved with the military man Dilermando de Assis (Daniel Umbelino), it takes place in the Piedade neighborhood of Rio de Janeiro.

One of the protagonists, Euclides da Cunha (1866-1909) was a Brazilian writer, journalist and professor, author of the work “Os Sertões”, which represented one of the main achievements of “Pre-Modernism”. Despite the public being aware of the writer’s tragic outcome, the opera presented at the festival presents differentials and values ​​each act with arias performed with excellence.

Throughout the three acts, João Guilherme Ripper’s freedman is taken to the stage of the Teatro Amazonas, accompanied by the Amazonas Philharmonic. The costumes are signed by Olintho Malaquias and the scenography of the Rio de Janeiro suburb is by Giorgia Massetani.

25th FAO and titles

The 2023 opera season begins on April 21 and runs through May 28. Teatro Amazonas receives, in this 25th edition of FAO, four major titles: “The Contractor of Diamonds”, by Francisco Mignone; “Anna Bolena”, by Gaetano Donizetti; “Piedade”, by João Guilherme Ripper, and the re-editing of “Peter Grimes”, by Benjamin Britten. For information about the schedule, visit @teatroamazonas. Tickets are on sale at the Teatro Amazonas box office or at shopingressos.com.br.

The festival also features a free program, with recitals, concerts, musicals and opera productions for children.

Bradesco and culture

With hundreds of projects sponsored annually, Bradesco believes that culture is a transforming agent in society. In addition to Teatro Bradesco, the bank supports initiatives that contribute to the sustainability of cultural manifestations that take place from north to south of the country, reinforcing its commitment to the democratization of art. There are regional events, fairs, exhibitions, cultural centers, orchestras, musicals and many others. The bank also maintains Bradesco Cultura, a digital platform that brings together content related to cultural actions that are sponsored by the institution. Visit culture.bradesco.

*With advisory information

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