This year's Bard SummerScape will focus on the music and culture of Italy, specifically opera composer Giacomo Puccini. The 27th annual SummerScape, from July 1 to Aug. 14 at Bard College, will feature music, opera, theater, dance, film and cabaret keyed to the theme "Puccini and His World."

Included will be a rare, fully staged production of "Iris," a forerunner of "Madama Butterfly" by Puccini's close contemporary Pietro Mascagni; the world premiere of "Demolishing Everything With Amazing Speed," four newly unearthed puppet plays from leading Italian futurist Fortunato Depero, as reimagined by Dan Hurlin; the world premiere of "Fantasque," a new ballet set to the music of Respighi and Rossini by John Heginbotham and Amy Trompetter; a film series on "Puccini and the Operatic Impulse in Cinema"; and the return of Bard's popular Spiegeltent, hosted by Justin Vivian Bond.

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Source: http://www.dailyfreeman.com/