Very Human

Carlo Boccadoro's chamber opera 'Shi',
based on Matteo Ricci's Jesuit mission in China,
impresses GIUSEPPE PENNISI

Macerata Opera Festival (20 July-14 August 2017) operates in two very different theatres: a small, elegant baroque opera house inside the city and a huge open-air space (originally built for a local sport event). Generally, the festival opens in the larger area. This year the inauguration was in the baroque house with a world premiere. I was there on 20 July and this review is based on that performance of the opera Shi, which in Mandarin, means 'it must be done'. The opera is by young Italian composer Carlo Boccadoro, on a libretto by Cecilia Ligorio, who is also the production's stage director. It is a 'chamber opera' in five scenes. In the pit, Carlo Boccadoro conducts a small ensemble of two pianists — Andrea Rebaudengo and Paolo Gorini — and the percussion group Tetrakis — Gianluca Saveri, Giulio Calandri and Cecilia Martellucci. On the stage were actor Simone Tangolo, baritone Roberto Abbondanza and bass Bruno Taddia. It is a low cost, easily transportable production, like those that Benjamin Britten wished would prevail in the opera world after World War II. In the past, the festival premiered other chamber operas such as The Servant by Marco Tutino and Le Malentendu by Matteo D'Amico, but this program has been discontinued for several years. This is a much appreciated new start.

Bruno Taddia in the first performance of 'Shi' at the Macerata Opera Festival. Photo © 2017 Alfredo Tabocchini

The one act opera lasts an hour and a half and is based on the real life of a Jesuit Father, Matteo Ricci, who, with a few colleagues, travelled from Central Italy to China and lived there for thirty years. There he gained the trust and confidence of the Emperor, who allowed him to preach the Gospel and after his death to be buried in China — a real exception for a foreigner. The videos and projections by Igor Renzetti carry the action from the tempestuous sea in the Mozambique Channel to the hard crossing of deserts, and the cities of Macao and Nanjing, the Forbidden City of Peking and the makeshift convent where Matteo Ricci died. The videos and projections are very effective in helping the libretto flow.

A scene from the first performance of 'Shi' at the Macerata Opera Festival. Photo © 2017 Alfredo Tabocchini

The opera's main theme is tolerance and understanding between different cultures. The score is abstract, as is most contemporary music, but not avant-garde. At the premiere, it was enjoyed by everyone, even those not used to contemporary music. The first scene — a tempest — is very descriptive. As the opera proceeds, the music becomes increasingly focused on the inner feelings of the protagonist. The singing, mostly declamation, is mixed with spoken dialogue. At two points, however, the declamation becomes arioso baritone-bass duets with almost Verdian touches.
In short, even though Shi is meant to sing the glory of the Almighty, the treatment of Matteo Ricci's long mission in China is very human.

Acknowledging the applause at the end of the first performance of 'Shi' at the Macerata Opera Festival. Photo © 2017 Alfredo Tabocchini

The audience was enthusiastic.

There are two further performances of Shi, which runs for 75 minutes without an interval, at the Macerata Opera Festival on 2 and 9 August 2017, both beginning at 9pm in Teatro Lauro Rossi, Macerata, Italy. Further information at sferisterio.it

CHINA

ITALY

CONTEMPORARY MUSIC

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