It will be the wand of Michele Mariottimaking his debut at La Fenice Theater in Venice and among the most acclaimed conductors on the contemporary scene, conducting i New Year’s Concerts 2025-2026 in the Venetian temple of opera and symphony.
With him, musical director of the Teatro dell’Opera di Roma, other exceptional protagonists: the soprano Rosa Feola and the tenor Jonathan Tetelman (also making his debut in Venice), without forgetting the choir directed by Alfonso Caiani and the musicians of the La Fenice Theater Orchestra, cohesive and united in tackling a repertoire that largely celebrates our tradition.
In the inaugural moment of the new year, far from the tensions that accompanied it the protest against the nomination of Beatrice Venezi to the musical direction of the Theatre, the teachers and orchestra teachers together with all the theater workers will wear a pin with a treble clef and a heart which will be given to the audience in the hall. A gesture that was presented at the event’s press conference on December 29th as a sign of unity and determination in defending the dignity of work and the future of the Theatre. A silent but significant expression of the climate of cohesion that reigns at the level of the artistic masses.
But let’s get back to the program. The concert, which includes the performance of symphonies, arias and opera pieces, it is divided into two parts: a first section which presents symphonic pieces or in any case music performed only by the orchestra, and a second section which instead focuses on opera pieces. Where, in addition to the orchestra, the theater choir and solo singers are present. Traditionally the concert ends with two fixed pieces: the choir of Go, thought dal Nabucco Of Giuseppe Verdi and the famous toast Let’s drink the happy glasses taken from Traviata by Verdi.
Dance, as always, is an element worthy of great consideration within the Venetian event. In this passage of year it will be Eleonora Abbagnatointernational star and director of Ballo a Roma, with Friedemann Vogel (étoile of the Stuttgart Ballet) and the ballet company of the Teatro dell’Opera di Roma, dancing the choreographies of Diego Tortelli, Laura Biagiotti designed the costumes.
Where to see and listen to the Venice New Year’s Concert
The musical and opera program and the choreographies, recorded at the Palazzo Grimani Museum and in the spaces of the Architecture Biennale, will be broadcast live on Rai1 television on Thursday 1 January starting at 11.1am5, will be broadcast again on Rai5 at 9.20 pm and then on Rai5 on Wednesday 3 January 2026 at 8.00 am.
While the concert on Thursday 1 January 2026 will be broadcast in full on Rai Radio3 on Thursday 1 January 2026 at 8.30 pm.
The program in detail
In the first part Michele Mariotti will conduct the Orchestra of the Teatro La Fenice in the performance of symphonies and orchestral interludes taken from the lyrical repertoire, pages that will certainly have an impact on the public: from the symphony of Semiramis by Gioachino Rossini to the one from Bellini’s Norma; from the interlude of Ratcliff’s Dream by William Ratcliff of Pietro Mascagni to the impetuous Tregenda from Puccini’s first opera, Le Villi; from the Don Pasquale symphony Of Gaetano Donizetti to the Symphony from the Sicilian Vespers by Giuseppe Verdi.
The second part the soloists will also be involvedthe soprano Rosa Feola and the tenor Jonathan Tetelman, together with the La Fenice Theater Choir instructed by Alfonso Caiani. It will open with the interpretation of the choir “Feste! Pane! Feste!” from the Mona Lisa by Amilcare Ponchielliwith Emanuele Pedrini as the interpreter of Barnabas; while after the Barcaroll from Mascagni’s Silvanothe soloists will perform two exciting bravura pieces: Rosa Feola will perform “Dark forest”Matilde’s aria from the second act of Rossini’s Guglielmo Tell. Jonathan Tetelman will sing instead “Sky and sea”, Enzo Grimaldo’s aria again from Ponchielli’s Gioconda.
Two numbers will follow taken from Giacomo Puccini’s catalogue: dalla Butterfly the suggestive ‘closed mouth choir’, from Bohemia the ‘romantic’ duet by Mimì and Rodolfo “O soave fanciulla”. The interlude of Rustic cavalry by Mascagni will introduce the grand finale of the program with songs that perhaps need no introduction: “Nessun dorma” from Puccini’s Turandot; and then “Va, pensiero, sull’ali dorate” from Verdi’s Nabucco.
Finally, the toast “Libiam ne’ pleased glasses” from Verdi’s La Traviata. To toast 2026 under the sign of a universal art that unites, excites and invites sharing.
