Last Saturday night I went with some Australian friends staying at La Mela Rosa to see "La Traviata" at the Sferisterio in Macerata. I don't generally like opera but I do like Traviata and this particular production was extremely well done.
The Sferisterio looks like one half of the Colosseum, although not nearly as old, and it too has no roof. The stage is very long and hard to set. They used a backdrop of tilted mirrors in which was reflected the scenes painted on huge mats, one under the other, and laid on the floor. It was absolutely brilliant to be watching the stage and hence the mirrored reflection and suddenly see it change as the mat on the floor was pulled away to reveal the one underneath.
A magical night - great music, a wonderful spectacle and the pleasure of being in the open air.
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