The first in the series of three operas is I Capuleti e i Montecchi, the renowned opera composed by Vincenzo Bellini and conducted by Luciano Acocella. The mythical couple “Romeo and Juliet” will be performed by two ladies of tremendous talent: Patrizia Ciofi (Giulietta) and Laura Polverelli (Romeo).

Patrizia Ciofi

Patrizia Ciofi was born in Casole d’Elsan. She studied with Anastasia Tomaszewska and graduated from the conservatory in Livorno in 1989. She took part in masterclasses in Siena, Fiesole and Massa under the guidance of Carlo Bergonzi, Shirley Verrett, Alberto Zedda, Claudio Desderi and Giorgio Gualerzi.

She has performed in all major Italian theatres such as Teatro alla Scala (La Traviat, L’Elisir D’Amore), Teatro Regio di Torino (Cendrillon, La Bohème, Tamerlano,…), Teatro di San Carlo (Eleonora, La Bohème,…) and has won numerous prizes in Italy and abroad. Other major theatres Ciofi has performed in across the world include the Paris Opera (Falstaff, Der Rosenkavalier,…), Theatre des Champs-Elysees (Le nozze di Figaro, L’Incoronazione di Poppea,…), Zurich Opera (La Traviata), Lyric Opera of Chicago (La Traviata),…

Ciofi performed the part of Giulietta in I Capuleti e i Montecchi in 2005 with the Orchestra Internazionale d’Italia, conducted by Luciano Acocella. She has been critically acclaimed for this part. “Not only does [Patrizia Ciofi] look the part, she acts it with subtlety, grace, and great poignancy. Her singing also is lovelier than I’ve ever heard it; she spins Bellini’s long melodies with gorgeous legato and exclaims with great expression.” Classics Today review of DVD [source]

In 2008 Ciofi performed the part of Maria in Maria Stuarda in the Royal Opera of Liège and this year she is back, playing with Laura Polverelli who will perform the part of Romeo in I Capuleti e i Montecchi.

Laura Polverelli

Laura Poverelli studied at the conservatories of Firenze and Verona and the Hochschule für Musik in Vienna.

She has sung in prestigious Opera Houses in Italy and abroad, including the Teatro alla Scala in Milano, il Teatro del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino, l’Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia in Rome, il Teatro La Fenice in Venice,… and worked with famous conductors including Claudio Abbado, Riccardo Muti, Zubin Mehta, Riccardo Chailly, Jeffrey Tate, Colin Davis,…

She has performed in many operas by Rossini and Mozart, including roles such as Rosina in Il Barbiere di Siviglia, Angelina in La Cenerentola, Isabella in L’Italiana in Algeri, Isolier in Le Comte Ory, Dorabella in Così fan tutte, Annio e Sesto in Lucio Silla,…

Poverelli will be singing at the Opéra de Liège for the first time and we welcome her with open arms.