The Teatro Massimo from Palermo in Sicily will be the guest foreign company at the Savonlinna Opera Festival in 2009, according to information gathered by Helsingin Sanomat.
The company will bring productions of Vincenzo Bellini'sI Puritani and Pietro Mascagni'sCavalleria Rusticana.
The Teatro Massimo is Italy's largest opera house.
The massive structure was built in the late 19th century, but was closed for renovations for a long period from the 1970s right through to 1997, since when it has risen once more in standing to become one of Europe's finest opera houses.
Details of who the soloists will be are to come later.
The new production for Savonlinna 2009 will be Giaccomo Puccini'sMadama Butterfly, with direction by Henry Akina. Gaetano Donizetti'sLucia di Lammermoor will return to the festival programme next summer after taking a year out this season, as does Puccini's Turandot.
The production of Arrigo Boito'sMefistofele which opens this season will also continue in 2009.
Next year will see the 20th anniversary of the death of one of the Savonlinna Opera Festival giants, bass Martti Talvela, and there will be a memorial concert featuring the finest Finnish basses. Matti Salminen is among those believed to have been approached to perform.
Details of this year's programme and ticket sales can be had from the link below. The festival runs from July 4th to August 2nd. This season's guest opera company is the Shanghai Opera
