Verdi's Simon Boccanegra
Andreas Homoki (stage director), Fabio Luisi (conductor) — With Christian Gerhaher (Simon Boccanegra), Jennifer Rowley (Amelia Grimaldi), Christof Fischesser (Jacopo Fiesco)...
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Cast
Andreas Homoki — Stage director
Christian Schmidt — Costume designer, stage design
Florian Schaaf — Assistant stage designer
Sebastian Helmiger — Assistant costume designer
Franck Evin — Lighting
Fabio Dietsche — Dramaturgy
Christian Gerhaher — Simon Boccanegra
Jennifer Rowley — Amelia Grimaldi
Christof Fischesser — Jacopo Fiesco
Otar Jorjikia — Gabriele Adorno
Nicholas Brownlee — Paolo Albiani
Brent Michael Smith — Pietro
Zurich Opera Chorus
Janko Kastelic — Chorus Master
Zurich Opera House Orchestra
Fabio Luisi — Conductor
Program notes
Genoa, 14th century: the privateer and plebeian Simon Boccanegra is swept into power by a rallying crowd, stirred into a frenzy by his supporters Pietro and Paolo Albiani. He hopes that, in acceding to the title of doge, he will be able to sway his adversary, the aristocrat Jacopo Fiesco, into letting him marry Fiesco's daughter Maria. Fiesco accepts, conveniently neglecting to tell Boccanegra that Maria has just died, under the condition that Simon let him have the granddaughter born in secret to Simon and Maria—but she has gone missing…
An intensely political opera, Simon Boccanegra offers a glimpse of the internecine battles that wracked the various kingdoms of Italy all through the composer's life—especially in its 1881 version, presented here with richness and depth at the Zürich Opera House, led by an astonishing Christian Gerhaher in the title role. The tragedy takes on an extra, personal dimension in the biography of Verdi, who relived—through the character of Simon Boccanegra, for whom he bore a particular affection—the early loss of his wife and children…
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