8-12 Nov 2006. Conducted by Marzio Conti, directed by Dan Jemmet.

The season of the Teatro dellOpera of Rome continues at the Teatro Nazionale with Un Segreto dImportanza by Sergio Rendine (8-12 Nov) an unusual homage to the 300th anniversary of Mozart. The opera recounts how Mozart fakes his own death to escape his creditors and writes works for Rossini to survive; when Mozart actually dies, Rossini also interrupts his career as he may be a genius in the kitchen but he understands nothing about music. This unlikely but enjoyable libretto was written by Lorenzo Arruga and set to music by Rendine in 1992. The music is ironic and pleasant, packed with references to Rossini and Mozart, reminiscent of Nino Rota and with a wink at jazz and twelve-tone technique. The performance is directed by Englishman Dan Jemmet and was shown in Bologna last March. Un Segreto dImportanza will be flanked by De Profundis, a one-act cantata in dramatic form, again by Sergio Rendine. Paolo Di Nicola