The world's oldest Italian opera house hosts the world staging of an 18th-century Ukrainian composer's opera. Premiere 14 May 2026.
Teatro San Carlo (Naples) — Europe's oldest functioning opera house (founded 1737) — presents the world stage premiere of Maksym Berezovsky's opera 'Demofoonte' on 14 May 2026. This is the first full professional staging of the opera in 253 years since its first performance at the Orsini Palace (Livorno, 1773). The score was lost from 1777, rediscovered in the Bolognese Philharmonic Academy archives in 2002, reconstructed and restored from 2003 to 2024. Production music director — Antonio Pappano (one of the planet's leading baroque opera conductors, previously head of the Royal Opera in London). Stage director — Emma Dante (known for Rossini opera productions). Performing cast: tenor Juan Diego Flórez in the lead role of Demofoonte, soprano Lisette Oropesa in the role of Dirchea. Libretto by Pietro Metastasio (one of the leading 18th-century libretto authors). Staging feature — direction uses modern costumes and minimalist scenography, emphasising the universality of the Metastasian theme 'can a father kill his son in the name of law'. The premiere received an early award from the prestigious Italian magazine Opera in 'Discovery of the Year' category. Production recording will be included in the Opus Arte CD series in two-CD format (released 28 November 2026), including bonus material — interviews with musicologists about the score's restoration.
