GIO Festival – Giordano International Opera Festival (Manfredonia)

Grand opera at the Castle of Manfredonia

The Manfredonia stop of the GIO Festival – Giordano International Opera Festival brought opera to the evocative setting of the Piazza d'Armi of the Svevo-Angioino Castle, in the heart of the Sipontine city in the province of Foggia. The festival, promoted by the Foggia Chamber of Commerce, is a traveling cultural project dedicated to Umberto Giordano (1867-1948), the Foggia-born composer and one of the leading figures of Italian musical verismo, author of masterpieces such as Andrea Chénier and Fedora. The event spreads its performances across various towns in the Capitanata and Gargano areas, with Manfredonia being one of the most anticipated stops on the calendar.

"Il Re," the musical fairy tale by Umberto Giordano

The absolute star of the Manfredonia evening was the opera "Il Re", a three-act musical fairy tale by Umberto Giordano with a libretto by Giovacchino Forzano, which debuted at the Teatro alla Scala in Milan in 1929. Set in an imaginary 18th century, the opera tells the story of a love affair between two young people hindered by the whims of a king, with a plot designed for audiences of all ages. The performance, staged in the castle's Piazza d'Armi, saw spectators filling every available space, even on the steps of the portal, enveloped by the unique atmosphere of live music under the summer sky.

Orchestra, direction, and cast

The performance was entrusted to the Suoni del Sud Orchestra, conducted by maestro Benedetto Montebello, with direction by the Florentine Manu Lalla. The stage featured voices from the national opera scene: baritone Marcello Rosiello in the role of the King, soprano Veronica Granatiero as Rosalina, tenor Matteo Mezzaro as Colombello, mezzo-soprano Angela Bonfitto, bass Giuseppe Nicodemo, and mezzo-soprano Concetta D'Alessandro.

Culture and maritime identity

The operatic evening was preceded by an in-depth session dedicated to the local area: the meeting "Maritime identity and the promotion of Manfredonia's catch," designed to highlight the economic, cultural, and identity value of the local fishing sector and the city's maritime traditions. It was a way to weave great music together with the discovery of the territory's roots, in the presence of city and chamber of commerce representatives.

A project for Puglia and Capitanata

Supported by the Foggia Chamber of Commerce and created in collaboration with the Municipality of Manfredonia, the GIO Festival enhances the cultural heritage and excellence of the Apulian territory. Bringing opera to a symbolic site like the Svevo-Angioino Castle means restoring a major international event to the community of the Puglia Region—one that is free, open to all, and capable of uniting the memory of maestro Giordano with the daily life of the city on the gulf.