Luciano Ganci

Edmea is an orphan in love with Count Oberto, whose father disapproves. In Oberto’s absence Edmea is forced to marry the servant Ulmo, who is also in love with her, but with the loss of Oberto, Edmea is driven mad and tries to kill herself by jumping into the river. She wanders the countryside with Ulmo who continues to love her and pretends to be her brother. They join up with a band of jesters and with them return to the castle where Oberto has been mourning his loss. On recognising Edmea, Oberto’s declarations of love help her to regain her reason. Ulmo makes the ultimate sacrifice, shooting himself, so that Oberto and Edmea are finally able to celebrate their marriage.

Antonio Pappano conducts the Orchestra and Choir of the Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia, accompanied by tenor Luciano Ganci and baritone Mattia Olivieri. The programme includes Giacomo Puccini’s *Messa di Gloria*, Amilcare Ponchielli’s *Elegia* and Victor de Sabata’s *Juventus*.

With more than 50 years of experience as film director, Peter Greenaway (Nightwatching, Eisenstein in Guanajuato) combines the worlds of film and opera at the Verdi Festival in Parma, demonstrating what magic those two can do together with an all new approach to Giuseppe Verdi's Giovanna d'Arco, staged and edited by himself and his wife, Saskia Boddeke. The opera's libretto is based on Friedrich Schiller's 'The Maid of Orleans'. It tells the story of the French national hero Jeanne d'Arc, who defends her country against the English troops during the Hundred Years' War. Constantly torn between her humble roots, her love for King Charles VII and her heavenly task to fight for France, she gains eternal glory by giving her life in the final, victorious battle against England.

France 1429. Giovanna appears as a prophetic figure while the French are in the throes of the 100 Years War against the English. After a dream, Carlo is inspired to seek a sanctuary near Rouen where he meets Giovanna, who predicts the end of France’s suffering. Her father, Giacomo, believing she is possessed, attempts to turn her over to the English. After her capture, Giacomo realises his mistake and frees her. Giovanna leads the French to victory but pays the ultimate price.