7-21 Dec 2003. Conducted by Riccardo Muti, directed by Luca Ronconi, with Ildar Abdrazakov, Ildebrando D’Arcangelo, Giuseppe Filianoti, Sonia Ganassi, Barbara Frittoli. This opera, first performed in Paris in 1827, is considered to be one of Rossini’s finest serious works.

Four days after the season begins at the Teatro San Carlo in Naples, the most important theatre in the south of Italy, comes the inauguration of the season at the most prestigious theatre in the north: La Scala in Milan. The opera chosen for the occasion is Mose et Pharaon by Gioacchino Rossini (7-21 Dec 2003), written for a Paris audience in 1827 and adapted from Mos in Egitto, written for Naples in 1818. The French version has a less agile vocal style but very rich orchestration, particularly during the most spectacular scenes. The conductor will be Riccardo Muti, who wanted the best singers that can be found today for this kind of repertoire: Ildar Abdrazakov, Ildebrando D’Arcangelo, Giuseppe Filianoti, Sonia Ganassi and Barbara Frittoli. The direction is by Luca Ronconi, whose name often appears with Muti’s, and who returns to this opera after directing it in Paris around 20 years ago. Paolo Di Nicola