OPERA ON ICE 2018

Great triumph with standing ovation for Opera on Ice in Marostica

Marostica (VI), September 2018 - The marble chessboard becomes an ice rink to enchant the audience

Standing ovation and ten minutes of final applause for the Tsar Evgeni Plushenko and the cast of “Opera on Ice.” Two evenings of emotions and magic that captivated the audience, over 7,000 people holding their breath during the performances of world skating stars choreographed by Anna Solodilova and Andrea Gilardi.

Among the unforgettable moments of the show was Evgeni Plushenko's surprise performance on the ice with his son Aleksandr to the aria “La donna è mobile” from Giuseppe Verdi's Rigoletto, and Spanish Olympic champion Javier Fernandez engaging the entire audience in a classic pañolada, waving white handkerchiefs during his performance to the aria from “Carmen”. Finally, a tribute to the genius of Luciano Pavarotti, interpreted by Evgeni Plushenko to the notes of “Nessun Dorma” from Puccini’s Turandot.

Elisa Balbo and four singers from the Pavarotti Foundation, soprano Claudia Sasso, mezzo-soprano Eleonora Filipponi, tenor Federico Veltri, and baritone Andrea Zaupa, performed live, accompanied by the Italian Rhythmic Symphony Orchestra and the Opera House choir, conducted by Maestro Diego Basso.

The show also featured a touch of history, with the reenactors from the famous Living Chess Game.

The original costumes were designed by theater costume designer Lorena Marin, unique pieces created using recycled fabrics provided by the Hera Group for the Scart project, which exclusively uses industrial waste to positively promote the concept of material recovery and reuse, and embellished with Swarovski crystals. A professor at the Verona Opera Academy for costume designers and creators, Lorena was supported in creating the costumes for this show by some of her best students.

Thanks to the collaboration with Anna Penazzo, makeup artist and bodypainter, twice Italian vice-champion in the "face painting" category, for The Magic Flute and Carmina Burana, the athletes' bodies were also painted. Two visions emerged from listening to the music: hard and cold for the “Queen of the Night” from Mozart’s The Magic Flute; energetic and explosive for “O Fortuna” from Carmina Burana.

The best Mitù Hair Stylists for Wella Professionals designed and created the hairstyles for the show’s cast. Anna Penazzo, makeup artist and bodypainter, painted the athletes' bodies for The Magic Flute and Carmina Burana.