9 February 2026
10 February 2026
12 February 2026
13 February 2026

Opera - La prova di un’opera seria

Opera Classical Concert

Opera Zuid Studio - Malpertuisplein 60 Maastricht

9 February 2026

general rehearsal, 19:30

10 February 2026

general rehearsal, 19:30

12 February 2026

performances, 19:30

13 February 2026

performances, 19:30

La prova di un’opera seria (1805) by F. Gnecco
A light-hearted glimpse behind the scenes of the opera world

Conservatorium Maastricht presents La prova di un’opera seria, a sparkling comic opera by Francesco Gnecco. This special one-act work invites the audience backstage at an opera production, where nothing goes according to plan. During a chaotic final rehearsal, rivalries, egos, and misunderstandings come to the surface, with hilarious consequences.

A witty satire on the world of opera, both past and present, featuring colourful characters and virtuosic music. A wonderful opportunity to experience the young talents of our conservatoire in a classic yet surprisingly contemporary piece.

Reserve your free ticket here.

Cast

Role	Student
Corilla Tortorini	Maria Kazaka
	Simona El-Sayed
Federico Mordente	Àngel Arévalo
	Marcelo Alexandre
Violante Pescarelli	Andrea Palomo de Alcantara
	Connlaodh Mac Donagh
Campanone, Maestro	Anthony Bastos
	Balint Vegh
Don Grilleto Pasticci, Poeta	Devon Baird
	Jordi Ferrer Colomer
Fischietto	Beatriz Bôto
	Mariana Prino

Orchestra

Instrument	Student
Piano	t.b.a.
Violin	Gonzalo Galisteo Perez
	Zoltán Schwartz
	Vasilis Mourikis
	David Bene
Viola	Matias Torres Carrera
	Samia Moussavi
Cello	Jesse Yu
	Érik Díaz Vera
Double Bass	TBA
Flute	Ana Casero Poblete
	Nuria Angel Lopez
Oboe	Livia Glavinovic
	Chiel van der Wal
French Horn	Fien Smets
	Jork Coenen

Portrait of Federico Santi

About the Conductor

Born in Turin, Federico Santi studied composition, orchestral conducting, piano and chamber music. He is a conductor with a broad repertoire, active in both opera and symphonic music. In 2008, he won the First Absolute Prize and the Special Prize of the Opéra de Nice at the IV International Conducting Competition of Orvieto, a distinction that led to engagements at major international opera houses and festivals.

He has conducted more than fifty operas, appearing at venues such as the Mariinsky Theatre in St. Petersburg, Het Concertgebouw Amsterdam, the Tokyo Bunka Kaikan, the Palacio de Bellas Artes in Mexico City, the Opéra Royal de Wallonie, Teatro Comunale di Bologna, and the Stanislavsky and Nemirovich-Danchenko Theatre in Moscow. His repertoire includes works by Verdi, Donizetti, Bellini, Puccini, Mozart, Rossini and Lehár, as well as contemporary compositions and world premieres.

Alongside his operatic work, Federico Santi has conducted numerous symphonic concerts, ranging from Haydn to contemporary composers, with a particular focus on German, Russian and French Romantic and post-Romantic repertoire. He is a guest conductor at the Mariinsky Theatre and collaborates regularly in recitals and concerts with soprano Barbara Haveman. He teaches orchestration, score reading and instrumental knowledge at Conservatorium Maastricht.

Portrait of Silvia Aurea De Stefano

About the Stage Director

Silvia Aurea De Stefano is an opera director known for innovative and engaging productions. She studied directing in Rome and voice at the Conservatorio di Musica Domenico Cimarosa in Avellino and the Music Academy of Basel. She further developed her artistic practice through lessons and masterclasses with renowned singers including Cecilia Bartoli, Vesselina Kasarova, Anne Sofie von Otter, and Sir Thomas Allen.

As a singer, she performed at festivals and theatres such as the Rossini Festival, Macerata Opera Festival, Wuppertal Opera House, Kammeroper Schloss Rheinsberg, and Junge Oper Schloss Weikersheim. She made her directorial debut in 2017 with Don Giovanni at the Landesmuseum Bonn, followed by La Traviata (2018), later revived at several German theatres.

In 2022, she directed Puccini’s Tosca with La Compagnia Nuova, followed in 2024 by the world premiere of Pagliacci & Le Maschere in collaboration with Theater Schweinfurt. As revival director and assistant, she has worked at major opera houses including the Royal Opera House, La Scala, Teatro Real, and Gran Teatre del Liceu. Alongside her directing work, she develops interactive workshops to introduce young audiences to opera, directing, and dramaturgy.

Portrait of Sarah Bernardy

About the Set Designer

Sarah Bernardy (born 1984, Germany) studied stage and costume design at the Akademie Beeldende Kunsten Maastricht and the Institut del Teatre in Barcelona. After graduating in 2008, she worked for two years at Schauspielhaus Bochum. Parallel to her studies and early career, she designed sets and costumes for productions such as Rusalka at Opéra national de Nancy and Opéra national de Montpellier, Amphitryon at Stadttheater Ingolstadt, and Antigone at Staatstheater Hannover.

After moving to Barcelona in 2011, she created stage and costume designs for numerous theatre, opera, and dance productions, including works presented at the GREC Festival, Teatre Lliure, Teatre Romea, and Nau Ivanow. From 2015 to 2020, she taught stage and costume design history and coached graduation projects at Eòlia (Escola Superior d’Art Dramàtic).

Her work has received critical acclaim, including the First Prize for Best Scenography at the Certamen Nacional (Spain). In March 2023, she directed the Greek opera Πέπλα από φως in Thessaloniki. She regularly works as assistant stage designer to Alfons Flores at major European opera houses. In 2024, she collaborated with Silvia Aurea De Stefano on Pagliacci / Le Maschere, signing the costume design and execution.

Team

Stage Director	Silvia Aurea De Stefano
Conductor	Federico Santi
Musical Preparation	Anastasia Goldberg
Set Designer & Costume Design Coach	Sarah Bernardy
Assistant Conductor	Xaime Irisarri
	Obada Zabadina
Rehearsal Pianist	Maria Leonor
	Guida Miro Rocavert
Costume Designer	Marte Morel
Assistant Director	Luna Gräfin Von Hardenburg
Surtitles	Mar Pino Charlez
Surtitles operator	Afonso Fontão da Costa

With thanks to Opera Zuid and Toneelacademie Maastricht

Conservatorium Maastricht would like to express its sincere thanks to Opera Zuid and Toneelacademie Maastricht for their invaluable collaboration and support. We are grateful for the inspiring partnership and the trust that made this collaboration possible.