No. 2 in E minor and Kodály's Dances of Galanta. The Maestro ended the month in Mantova conducting Verdi's I vespri Siciliani. Directing and scenography José Cura directed and designed the sets of La Commedia è finita in 2007. In May 2008, he produced Un ballo in maschera for the Köln Staatstheater. He later followed suit in his production of Samson et Dalila at the Badisches Staatstheater in 2010 (in which he also designed the costumes) as well as La Rondine at the Opéra national de Lorraine and Cavalleria Rusticana and Pagliacci at the Opéra Royal de Wallonie, both in 2012. In 2012, he was the first artist to have designed the scenography and costumes as well as directing and conducting an opera. This was La Rondine, at the Opéra de Lorraine, in Nancy, France. Photography In 2008, he published his first photography book Espontáneas () followed by an exhibition at the Tuscan Sun Festival in Cortona, Italy. Principal recordings Cura's discography and filmography covers his main repertoire as well as many concert performances and conducting works. In 2002 he created Cuibar Phono Video (CPV). The same year, CPV released Rachmaninoff’s Symphony No. 2 with Sinfonia Varsovia, which Cura conducted. He continues to release his works through his company at present. Discography Filmography Prizes and awards Teaching and patronage He is the Patron of the New Devon Opera and the Vice-President of the British Youth Opera (or BYO). In 2007 José Cura was appointed visiting professor of the Royal Academy of Music in London. He has given many masterclasses and taught at different institutions throughout the years. Most notably, for Nancy Opéra Passion, which focuses on launching new young talents onto the international stage. Charity work Cura hosted the annual Muscular Dystrophy Telethon in Italy in 2005. In August 2007, he was awarded the Socio Fundador Honorario by the Associacao Portuguesa contra a Leucemia (APCL) for his on-going support of the association in its efforts to find a cure for Leukemia. Since 2008, he has been collaborating the Salva Vita Foundation in Hungary. References Notes Sources Gent, Paul, "A thrilling voice and charisma to burn", The Daily Telegraph (London) Retrieved 25 March 2013. Holden, Anthony, "You wait years for a nice young tenor...", The Observer (London) Retrieved 28 May 2008. Machado, Eduardo, "José Cura by Eduardo Machado". "BOMB Magazine" Retrieved 19 April 2013 "Otello delivers fury and passion", Washington Times.