A self-congratulatory Cecilia Bartoli show at Salzburg Whitsun

Cecilia Bartoli in Ciao, bella ciao

By Laura Servidei, 25 May 2026

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“more self-congratulatory than celebratory”

Reviewed at Großes Festspielhaus, Salzburg on 24 May 2026

Programme to be announced

Davide Livermore, Director

Eleonora Peronetti, Set Designer

Gianluca Falaschi, Costume Designer

D-Wok, Video

Nicolas Bovey, Set Designer

Cecilia Bartoli, Mezzo-soprano

Yvan Cassar, Conductor

Klevis Elmazaj, Choreography

Les Musiciens du Prince – Monaco

A birthday reimagining of Il viaggio a Reims in Salzburg

Laura Servidei, 25th May

In Barrie Kosky's hyperactive staging, Il viaggio a Reims becomes a birthday tribute to Cecilia Bartoli complete with rewritten text, extravagant costumes, sexual escapades and a giant cake.

***11

A soul-stirring Orfeo ed Euridice as Bartoli commands Cremona’s stage

Laura Servidei, 11th June

Cecilia Bartoli and Gianluca Capuano lead a superb performance of Orfeo ed Euridice, in semi-staged form, as a prologue to the Monteverdi Festival in Cremona.

*****

A Whitsun Festival crowned by Rossini’s magic in Salzburg

Laura Servidei, 9th June

An exciting gala concert led by Cecilia Bartoli closed the Whitsun Festival in Salzburg, under the expert baton of Gianluca Capuano.

****1

Hotel Metamorphosis: Vivaldi reborn through Ovid's lens in Salzburg

Laura Servidei, 8th June

A pasticcio of superb musicianship is the main event at the Venice-themed Whitsun Festival.

****1

Monteverdi’s Vespers in Salzburg: mysticism, might and musical mastery

Laura Servidei, 7th June

Gianluca Capuano leads Les Musiciens du Prince and Il Canto d’Orfeo in a spectacular rendition of Monteverdi’s masterpiece at the Salzburg Whitsun Festival.

****1

Emotional Mozart at the Salzburg Whitsun Festival

Laura Servidei, 19th May

Gianluca Capuano leads a great ensemble in a thoughtful, emotional reading of Mozart’s Mass in C minor.

****1

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Laura Servidei

Mathematician, science nerd, translator of popular science books, obsessed opera fan since the teen years. Day job: business analyst in a software house developing systems for the financial industry. Amateur choral singer. Main musical interests: baroque music and Italian opera. Originally from Italy, currently based in Sweden. I make a mean eggplant parmesan.

A self-congratulatory Cecilia Bartoli show at the Salzburg Whitsun Festival