An Operatic Artist Training Program
Opera al Mare
A Project of Opera Vermont
Opera al Mare 2026
June 15 -July 5, 2026
Donizetti
L’Elisir D’Amore
Pergolesi
La Serva Padrona
“Opera al Mare” a Cesenatico: Cantanti Lirici da tutto il mondo”
La compagnia americana Opera Vermont torna a Cesenatico per il quarto anno consecutivo, e presenta il suo programma estivo per la formazione di cantanti lirici nella lirica e nella lingua italiana. "Opera al Mare", questo il titolo dell’iniziativa, è allestita in collaborazione con il Comune di Cesenatico e vede protagonisti giovani studenti di varie nazionalità, i quali hanno l’opportunità di immergersi nella cultura italiana e affinare le proprie competenze musicali, indipendentemente dal livello di esperienza, dal principiante al professionista già affermato. Gli studenti provenienti da Stati Uniti, Canada, Iran e Australia, si esibiranno in una produzione originale de Il Trittico di Puccini, quindi tre opere (I Tabarro, Suor Angelica e Gianni Schicchi), che sarà proposta domenica, alle 21, al Teatro Comunale di Cesenatico; l’ingresso è ad offerta libera. La rappresentazione ha un taglio moderno, con temi più aggiornati e costumi contemporanei, come afferma il direttore artistico Joshua Collier: "Il mio desiderio è rendere vivo il messaggio dell’opera, che non è limitato ad un’epoca, ma è ancora attuale come testo". Joshua Collier ha partecipato a molte iniziative di profilo internazionale e in una occasione a Los Angeles, di fronte ad una platea di direttori artistici provenienti da tutto il mondo, ha parlato proprio di questo progetto a Cesenatico. Oltre alle rappresentazioni operistiche, gli studenti partecipano a un corso di italiano, arricchendo così la loro esperienza culturale. Il programma è reso possibile grazie alla collaborazione con il Comune di Cesenatico, nonché al supporto fondamentale dell’Hotel Miramare e della famiglia Vernocchi. La prossima settimana attori e cantanti saranno protagonisti di altri due spettacoli. Mercoledì 2 luglio, alle 21, in piazza delle Conserve si terrà "Opera sotto le stelle" a partecipazione sempre gratuita, mentre venerdì 4 luglio, alle 21, a bordo della piscina dell’Hotel Miramare, sul lungomare viale Carducci angolo porto canale, con lo spettacolo del Teatro Musicale Americano, anche questo aperto al pubblico. Sono dunque opportunità uniche per vivere la magia dell’opera in ambientazioni suggestive e coinvolgenti. Le persone interessante possono ottenere informazioni ed essere aggiornate visitando il sito www.operaalmare.com.
Il rapporto instaurato tra Opera Vermont e l’Hotel Miramare di Cesenatico, ha consentito in breve tempo di costruire un ponte culturale fra gli Stati Uniti e l’Emilia-Romagna, tant’è che recentemente la compagnia si è esibita a Bologna, dove lo scorso anno ebbe un grande successo. L’esperienza della compagnia americana è dunque l’occasione per vedere dal vivo dei giovani artisti che stanno maturando un’esperienza internazionale unica.
In English
The American company Opera Vermont returns to Cesenatico for the fourth consecutive year, and presents its summer program for the training of opera singers in opera and the Italian language. "Opera al Mare", this is the title of the initiative, is staged in collaboration with the Municipality of Cesenatico and features young students of various nationalities, who have the opportunity to immerse themselves in Italian culture and refine their musical skills, regardless of their level of experience, from beginners to established professionals. The students from the United States, Canada, England, Portugal, will perform in an original production of Puccini's Il Trittico, therefore three operas (I Tabarro, Suor Angelica and Gianni Schicchi), which will be performed on Sunday, at 9 pm, at the Teatro Comunale di Cesenatico; admission is free. The performance has a modern slant, with more up-to-date themes and contemporary costumes, as stated by artistic director Joshua Collier: "My desire is to bring to life the message of the opera, which is not limited to one era, but is still current in concept". Joshua Collier has participated in many international initiatives and on one occasion in Los Angeles, in front of an audience of artistic directors from all over the world, he spoke about this project in Cesenatico. In addition to the opera performances, the students participate in an Italian course, thus enriching their cultural experience. The program is made possible thanks to the collaboration with the Municipality of Cesenatico, as well as the fundamental support of the Hotel Miramare and the Vernocchi family. Next week, actors and singers will be the protagonists of two other shows. Wednesday, July 2, at 9 pm, in [Piazza delle Conserve] Theatre Domus Mea there will be a concert of favorite arias with free admission, while on Friday, July 4, at 9 pm, by the pool of the Hotel Miramare, on the seafront viale Carducci corner of Porto Canale, with the show of the American Musical Theatre, also open to the public. These are therefore unique opportunities to experience the magic of opera in beautiful and engaging settings. Interested people can obtain information and be updated by visiting the website www.operaalmare.com.
The relationship established between Opera Vermont and the Hotel Miramare in Cesenatico has allowed a cultural bridge to be built between the United States and Emilia-Romagna in a short time, so much so that the company recently performed in Bologna, where last year it had great success. The experience of the American company is therefore an opportunity to see live young artists who are maturing a unique international experience.
Study and perform Opera by the Adriatic Sea
On the coast of the Adriatic, Cesenatico offers immersion in authentic Italian culture, far from tourist crowds. This seaside jewel is known for its Porto Canale, which was designed by Leonardo da Vinci.
The Cesenatico Municipal Theatre is where Opera al Mare has made its summer home, in collaboration with the town of Cesenatico.
If you desire to grow in your understanding of the Italian language and culture, expand your personal repertoire, learn and perform a full-operatic role in the canon, and work with world-class faculty, this is the young artist’s program for you.
Public Performances 2026
We are delighted to invite the public to Cesenatico for many public performances throughout the town from June 2X- July 4, 2026. None of these events are ticketed, but a free-will donation will be taken to offset the cost of production!
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The faculty of Opera al Mare perform arias, duets, and ensembles from well-loved operatic favorites including La Traviata, Madama Butterfly, Lucia di Lammermoor, and many others.
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Nemo (or Nemorino as he is known throughout his town) loves the Singer-Songwriter, Adina, but she is determined to pursue her music rather than a relationship with Nemo. The town decides to have a summer music festival (like Woodstock), with Adina’s homestead as the tent base for the concerts. The very psychedelic “peddler” known as “Dr. Dulcamara” arrives on the scene and convinces Nemo that he has the “Elixir of Love.” Meanwhile the famous rockstar, Belcore, arrives to the town to perform. He immediately decides that he wants Adina to be his “for-now-girlfriend,” and Adina uses his affection to torture Nemo, who believes that Dulcamara has the cure for his boringness, and will make him as desireable as a rockstar. He drinks the elixir, and feels the power coursing through his body, giving him the swagger of a rockstar after only one day. Belcore proposes to Adina, and Nemo laughs, knowing that she will be in love with him in just 24 hours. Belcore offers to marry her that very night, and have the music festival become their wedding reception. Nemo goes crazy and the town whips into a frenzy, excited about the music festival AND a town wedding!
Later that evening, Belcore and Adina are preparing for their wedding, but Adina keeps looking for Nemo, hoping to twist the knife a little more. Nemo arrives, distraught, and encounters Dr. Dulcamara and begs for another dose to speed up the effects. However, he doesn’t have enough money to buy another dose of the “elixir,” so accepts the offer of Belcore to become a “roadie” for his band, to make some more money, but also for Belcore to get the puppy-dog Nemo away from his bride-to-be. Nemo, while wallowing in his feelings, does not hear the news that he has lost his rich Uncle, and over night inherited a vast fortune. The women of the town all conspire to get him to marry them, but he sees Adina, for the first time, upset at he affection that he was getting from the other women in the town. Dr. Dulcamara offers Adina the same elixir that Nemo has taken, but she refuses, because she has a much stronger power within her eyes. Nemo realizes that Adina finally loves him. She arrives and begs him not to leave the town, and admits that she has always loved him. Belcore shrugs off the loss of his would-be wife, with plenty of groupies in the world, and Dr. Dulcamara rejoices in the medicinal power of his famous “Elixir.” -
Uberto, an elderly bachelor, is angry and impatient with his maidservant, Serpina, because she has not brought him his breakfast. Serpina has become so arrogant that she acts like she is the mistress of the household.
Indeed, when Uberto calls for his hat, wig and coat, Serpina forbids him to leave the house, adding that from then on he will have to obey her orders. Uberto orders the mute servant, Vespone, to find him a woman to marry so that he can finally rid himself of Serpina.
Serpina convinces Vespone to trick Uberto into marrying her. She informs Uberto that she is to marry a military man named Tempesta. She will be leaving his home and manipulatively apologizes for her behavior. Vespone, disguised as Tempesta, arrives and, without saying a word, demands 4,000 crowns for a dowry. Uberto balks, and refuses to pay such a sum for his servant. Tempesta threatens him to either pay the dowry or marry the girl himself. Uberto, frugally, agrees to marry Serpina himself. Serpina and Vespone reveal their trick; but Uberto realizes that he has loved the girl all along. They marry after all, and Serpina takes her place as the one true mistress of the household.
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All participants, student and faculty, perform pieces from the operatic repertory spanning from the baroque to the contemporary! Maestri Francesco Ricci, Maria Rabbi, and Francesco Triossi accompany this concert of the best elements of the operatic repertoire.
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Closing the program, the participants and faculty present their favorite American music to coincide with the national holiday of July 4th.
