A total of 280 artists and technicians will take part in the 26th edition of the Amazonas Opera Festival (FAO), which will be marked by the internationalisation of an ambitious project for sustainable development in the Amazon. The festival opens with the opera La Vorágine by João Guilherme Ripper, a co-production with stage direction by Pedro Salazar (La Compañía Estable). The programme also includes a concert version of La Bohème (Puccini), The Marriage of Figaro (Mozart), the lyrical concert Oca à la Rossini, and the recitals Belcanto and Brazilian Songs.

 

Beauty, creativity and artistic power return to Manaus with the 26th edition of the Amazonas Opera Festival (FAO). Considered the most important event of its kind in Latin America, the festival will run from 15 April to 18 May, with performances held at the Teatro Amazonas and the Palácio da Justiça Cultural Centre. Audiences will enjoy major productions featuring some of the most outstanding artists from today’s operatic scene.

 

The Amazonas Opera Festival is funded through the Rouanet Law, sponsored by Bradesco and supported by Innova and Swarovski. It is organised by the Festival Fund in collaboration with the Government of the State of Amazonas, through its Secretariat of Culture and Creative Economy.

 

 

This 26th edition features three operas, three concerts, and two recitals, and marks the beginning of an international cooperation project that will bring to life the “Amazon Creative Corridor”. This initiative involves cultural institutions from Brazil, Colombia, Portugal and Austria, aiming to boost the international reach of the FAO and to place both the festival and culture on the sustainable environmental agenda of the region.

 

Tickets are available at the Teatro Amazonas box office and via the website shopingressos.com.br. The programme includes a concert version of La Bohème (Puccini), The Marriage of Figaro (Mozart), the lyrical concert Oca à la Rossini, and the recitals Belcanto and Brazilian Songs.

 

 

The opening night took place on 15 April at 7:00 p.m. with La Vorágine, a contemporary opera based on a historic Colombian novel set during the rubber boom. The story follows characters travelling from Colombia to Manaus, then at the height of its economic prosperity due to latex exploitation. The work is a Brazil–Colombia co-production and symbolises Colombia’s official entry into the “Amazon Creative Corridor”.

 

 

Composed by João Guilherme Ripper, this premiere production brings together Colombian and Brazilian singers, as well as technical teams from both countries. “This opera marks the beginning of a new phase for the festival. Colombia, which was already a strategic partner, is now formally joining the Creative Corridor. We will sign agreements with Portugal, Colombia and Austria to promote culture, tourism and education in Manaus and the wider Amazon region,” said Flávia Furtado, Executive Director of the Festival.

 

 

More than 80% of the artists and technicians involved in the Opera Festival are from Manaus and have been working on set and costume production for nearly two weeks. Collective rehearsals for some casts are already underway at the Teatro Amazonas and Palácio da Justiça, while other artists are expected to arrive in the city in the coming weeks to prepare for the remaining shows.

 

According to the FAO organisers, around 280 people are directly involved in the production of the event, including technicians, soloists, choir and orchestra. The festival’s artistic direction is led by conductor Luiz Fernando Malheiro.

 

The festival’s programme also includes inclusive initiatives, such as an adapted performance for children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and a special presentation of Oca alla Rossini for students from public schools.

 

 

Opera Transforming the Amazon

 

Founded in 1997, the Amazonas Opera Festival has had a major impact on the culture and creative economy of Manaus. The state’s artistic ensembles were established thanks to the festival, creating a working chain linked to the creative economy which has also benefited sectors such as hospitality and gastronomy around the Teatro Amazonas.

 

Now, the festival is beginning a new chapter, with a mission to highlight the role of the cultural sector in preserving the Brazilian Amazon. Flávia Furtado emphasises that the signing of agreements with institutions in Austria, Colombia and Portugal marks a new phase that will benefit artists from Manaus and Belém, while expanding opportunities for vocational training.

 

“We have a fund set up to support the festival. Our 25-year history enables us to take the next step: to consolidate our position as a driving force for tourism, culture and education in Manaus. The ‘Creative Corridor’ will involve Amazonas and Pará, home to the most important opera festivals in the country. We believe this model should be replicated,” said Furtado.

 

She added: “There are generations of Amazonians who have worked in the theatre. This is a project made by and for the Amazon, as 70% of the artistic ensembles and 80% of the technicians are local. And we need to make that known, because the FAO is a structural and sustainable project that also generates environmental impact — it must be supported and multiplied.”

 

 

The “Amazon Creative Corridor” will be officially launched on 16 April. Its goals include attracting international funding to support structural actions and regional cooperation between the Corridor’s member institutions. Regarding the FAO, “the idea is for the festival to take place in the first half of the year, and for the second half to be devoted to training local professionals, forming technical partnerships, and delivering educational initiatives in schools and public institutions in the State of Amazonas. We’ll therefore seek funding sources that support both culture and the environment to benefit cities throughout the Amazon region,” the director anticipates.

 

As part of this strategy, the Carlos Gomes Prize will also be launched within the framework of the Cascais Singing Competition. This initiative aims to promote the Amazonas Opera Festival within the European community, giving visibility not only to the FAO but also to Brazil and its rich operatic tradition.

 

Tickets are available at the Teatro Amazonas box office, located in São Sebastião Square in downtown Manaus, and at shopingressos.com.br. The programme and behind-the-scenes content of the festival can be followed via the official Instagram profile: @festivalamazonasdeopera.