​"Tutankhamon" Opera to Have World Premiere at Taormina’s Ancient Theater in Sicily

In a landmark cultural milestone fostering international diplomatic and artistic dialogue between Egypt and Italy, Italian author and media specialist Francesco Santocono has unveiled the official details for the highly anticipated world premiere of the grand opera, “Tutankhamon.” The full-scale production is set to stage its global debut on August 29 at the iconic Ancient Theater of Taormina, a breathtaking historic venue in Sicily.

Appearing on a special broadcast of the Italian television program *Sicilia24 Focus*, Santocono shared exclusive behind-the-scenes insights into this massive international production. The opera bears the indelible hallmark of world-renowned Egyptian archaeologist Dr. Zahi Hawass, who meticulously crafted the libretto’s foundational plot and thematic outline (Il soggetto).

Santocono revealed that the creative spark for the opera was struck in 2017 at the Egyptian Museum in Tahrir Square, Cairo, during the presentation of one of his literary works. This spark evolved into a profound, years-long creative partnership with Dr. Hawass.

Reflecting on their deep bond, Santocono described their relationship as one that "transcends professional artistic and archaeological collaboration, resembling that of a father and son."

“We will stage the opera here!”With those definitive words, Dr. Zahi Hawass sealed the choice of venue. Upon entering the Ancient Theater of Taormina for the first time during a recent visit to Sicily, the legendary archaeologist was completely spellbound by its majestic, timeless grandeur, instantly declaring it the perfect setting for the boy king’s operatic epic.

Detailing the artistic composition of the opera, Santocono explained that the poetic libretto he authored carefully mirrors the sweeping 19th-century opera lirica tradition, heavily inspired by the classical prose style of Vittorio Alfieri and seamlessly integrated with his own expertise in Egyptology. Complementing the text, Italian composer Lino Zimbone has delivered a score that honors classical operatic conventions while injecting an innovative, cinematic energy reminiscent of the legendary composer Hans Zimmer.

The spectacular production features a stellar international cast. The celebrated soprano Susanna Rigacci—long distinguished as the definitive vocal collaborator of the late maestro Ennio Morricone—will take the stage to portray Queen Nefertiti. Joining her is the accomplished soprano Chiara Salerno, supported by the magnificent local talent of the Catania Choir.

The visual experience will be brought to life by stage director Salvo Samperi, with set designer Dario Cherubino utilizing state-of-the-art digital video mapping to project the mystique of Ancient Egypt onto the Roman-Greek stone ruins.

Underscoring its geopolitical and cultural weight, the premiere will see high-level diplomatic attendance, including the Egyptian Minister of Culture and the Egyptian Ambassador to Italy. In a grand gesture celebrating this cross-cultural triumph, Santocono announced that the official promotional painting for the opera, masterfully created by contemporary artist Benedetto Poma, will be formally gifted to the Egyptian Museum in Cairo following the performance as a permanent monument to this extraordinary collaboration.