 Feb 23 - Mar 2

 Maribor

A new production of La rondine (The Swallow), a rarely performed opera in three acts by Giacomo Puccini, has been put on by the opera and ballet ensemble of the SNG Maribor theatre.

Featuring soprano Sabina Cvilak as the French courtesan Magda de Civry and tenor Max Jota as the young man Ruggero, the opera will premiere on 23 February with reruns on 25, 27 and 29 February and 2 March.

Conducted by Simon Krečič and directed by Hugo de Anna, a Buenos Aires-born director, the production marks the centenary since Puccini's death (1858-1924) with the opening of a new production of his Tosca planned in May.

Despite featuring authentic Puccinian harmonies and a complex love story between Magda and Ruggero, their romance strongly recalls that of Verdi's La Traviata, so expect dazzling stage splendour, passion, and the fantasy of youthful love dreams, the Maribor theatre says on its website.