I SHARDANA - The Sherden, the people of the Nuraghe_opera by Ennio Porrino

“The greatest Italian opera of this second post-war” (Felix Karlinger). A 20th Century grand opera, I Shardana (The Sherden, an ancient Sea-people) takes place in Sardinia in the Nuragic era, around 3000 years ago. A great teamwork of director Davide Livermore, with the sets of GiòForma production design, D-WOK videodesign, Marco Nateri (Costume designer) and Loic Hamelin (Light designer); with dancers, mimes, video mapping and slow motion shootings, all at once for a monumental show. Available also on Bluray (57683) and CD (CDS 7683).
Porrino’s drama mirrors a period in archeology when Nuragic Sardinia was discussed even in non-specialist circles, with the island’s bronze statuettes and megaliths recalling a primeval society at the origins of European civilization. Hutalabì, indeed, is the ancient war cry of Sardinian horsemen, and the opera speaks of times when – as Porrino specifies in the score – shepherds were warriors and judges, “when man did not believe in one God but in the power of the stars, and worshipped the dead and the waters”. I Shardana, therefore, is set in a free Sardinia, an island where rigorous rules are in force and its people do not tolerate invasions or spiritual contamination.

Cast:
Special guest Elena Ledda
Gonnario Manrico Signorini
Torbeno Angelo Villari
Orzocco Gianpiero Ruggeri
Norace Domenico Balzani
Bèrbera Jonia Paoletta Marrocu
Nibatta Alessandra Palomba

Recorded at Teatro Lirico di Cagliari on Sept. 24-27th - 2013 Sovrintendente Marcella Crivellenti