24 May-30 June. La Traviata by Giuseppe Verde.

This is Sofia Coppola's debut as a director of opera so it is something of a coup for Rome's opera house. The production is the idea of Valentino and Giancarlo Giammetti and is one of their foundation's first opera projects. Costumes are designed by Valentino who was behind the choice of Coppola as director after the success of her film Marie Antoinette.

Jader Bignamini is conducting with Francesca Dotto and Maria Grazia Schiavo alternating in the role of Violetta and Antonio Poli and Arturo Chacón-Cruz as Alfredo. Dotto received excellent reviews for her interpretation of Violetta earlier this year at La Fenice in Venice, while Maria Grazia Schiavo made her debut in the role only last year at S. Carlo di Napoli. Poli is another young Italian tenor who performed in Gianni Schicchi at the opera house in April. Chacón-Cruz, a protege of Placido Domingo, has already made a name for himself among international audiences.

Thanks to Valentino this is another feather in the cap for Rome opera house after a season of new and adventurous productions. Teatro dell'Opera di Roma, Piazza Beniamino Gigli 7, www.operaroma.it