On 2 December the Teatro di San Carlo, Europe's oldest working opera house, opens its season with Giuseppe Verdi's Luisa Miller, an opera the composer wrote for this very stage in 1849. Performances run until 10 December.
The new production is directed by Davide Livermore, with Daniel Oren conducting and a cast featuring Mariangela Sicilia in the title role and Piotr Beczała as Rodolfo in his Naples debut, alongside Igor Golovatenko, Michele Pertusi and Marko Mimica.
Opening night is a glamorous social event; we recommend the later performances, more accessible and just as moving. Arrive early to admire the red-and-gold auditorium and nearby Piazza del Plebiscito.