Wednesday 15 November 2023 | 19:00 |
Saturday 18 November 2023 | 14:00 |
Tuesday 21 November 2023 | 14:00 |
Thursday 23 November 2023 | 14:00 |
Sunday 26 November 2023 | 14:00 |
Verdi, Giuseppe (1813-1901) | Simon Boccanegra | Libretto by Francesco Maria Piave |
New National Theatre | ||
Kazushi Ono | Conductor | |
Pierre Audi | Director | |
Anish Kapoor | Set Designer | |
Wojciech Dziedzic | Costume Designer | |
Jean Kalman | Lighting Designer | |
Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra | ||
New National Theatre Chorus | ||
Roberto Frontali | Baritone | Simon Boccanegra |
Riccardo Zanellato | Bass | Jacopo Fiesco |
Irina Lungu | Soprano | Amelia Grimaldi (Maria Boccanegra) |
Luciano Ganci | Tenor | Gabriele Adorno |
Simone Alberghini | Bass | Paolo Albiani |
Shingo Sudo | Baritone | Pietro |
Originally composed during Verdi's middle period when the composer was 43 and then revised to great acclaim 24 years later, Simon Boccanegra will be staged for the first time at the New National Theatre Tokyo. Based on the real-life figure Simon Boccanegra who lived during the 14th century and became the first Doge of Genoa, this powerfully dramatic work depicts battles between plebeians and patricians, where the love and hate of parents, children and lovers all intertwine. It offers endless delights for the ears, including Fiesco's pensive aria 'Il lacerato spirit', Amelia's romanza 'Come in quest'ora bruna', Simon and Amelia's duet, Gabriele's aria 'Sento avvampar nell'anima', Simon's monologue 'Plebe! Patrizi! Popolo!' as well as highly-charged ensembles and a variety of chorus scenes. Featuring many of Verdi's unique, remarkably appealing characters with lower male voices like the reformed pirate, Simon (Baritone), and the stern patrician, Fiesco (Bass), this is also a work that requires superb singers to perform it.