The 5th International Ancient Arts Festival 5th December 2014on presented a leading Italian barihunk, Mattia Olivieri, playing Ram in dancer Reela Hota's ambitious opera, Ramleela.
<p>It's a rare collaborative musical that brings opera together with five Indian dances, classical as well as folk-Yakshagana, Purulia chhau, Odissi, Manipuri and Kathak.
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Besides Mattia, there are two other Italian artists in Ramleela-Raffaele Abette (tenor), playing Lakshman and Federico Benetti (bass), playing both Janak and Hanuman. The opera music has been composed by the renowned master Antonio Cocomazzi. Fabrizio da Ros will be conducting the 28-member orchestra.
Ramesh Lalwani
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