Cellia Costea, Dimitri Platanias, Marcelo Puente Headline ‘La Forza del Destino’ at Greek National Opera

By David Salazar

The Greek National Opera will present “La Forza del Destino” for the first time in 27 years.

The production by Rodula Gaitanou will set the famed Verdi opera in the early 20th century with references to the first two World Wars.

“’La forza del destino’ is a story about an original sin, which perpetuates and defines the actions and choices of the members of a dysfunctional family to the very end,” said Gaitanou. “It is also an exploration of the consequences of psychological traumas, obsessions, and the power of revenge. The story is set before, during, and after the end of a war. The desire to destroy the opponent, hostility, misanthropy, and the horrors that come with war, as well as the need to survive, draw parallels to one of the plot’s major lines: the hatred expressed by Don Carlo, who wants to take revenge for his father’s death. Therefore, the story can be read on two levels: inner turmoil is reflected in external chaos, increasing in both scale and intensity. The trajectory of the three main characters ultimately leads to a frantic pursuit of personal peace and redemption.”

Paolo Carignani will conduct a cast that stars Cellia Costea, Dimitri Platanias, Marcelo Puente, Petro Magoulas, and Oksana Volkova, among others.

The production opens on Jan. 26 and runs through Feb. 18, 2025.

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