(Credit: Michele Crosera) Genova, Italy’s sixth largest city, where the story of “Simon Boccanegra” unfolds, is rarely featured in opera. Despite its glorious history and stunning monuments, it barely registers with tourists visiting Italy. Many know it as the birthplace of Christopher Columbus (1451‑1506) and as the origin city for the culinary magic of garlic, pine nuts, basil leaves and {…}
Rarely has a single performance so cornered the discographic record of an opera as Claudio Abbado’s “Simon Boccanegra” from 1977. And my use of the possessive is, in this case, far from aleatory: Abbado lays claim to the score with an authority scarcely less than Verdi’s own—or would Hugo Shirley otherwise have spoken in superlatives so unsparingly when Gramophone revisited {…}
“Simon Boccanegra” – in its standard 1881 revision – is an undisputed, though infrequently performed, masterpiece. But what of its very first iteration from 1857? Its premiere, at Venice’s La Fenice, famously turned into a fiasco. Julian Budden, for example, admitted to the hostility with which the libretto was received, while Verdi himself, in a letter to Giraldoni, wryly picked {…}
Ludovic Tézier has withdrawn from his performances of “Simon Boccanegra” at the Berlin State Opera. The baritone took to social media and said, “Dear friends, I am sorry to confirm that the rest of my series at the Staatsoper Berlin has to be cancelled. Prudence must lead and rest must prevail. I am sure you will understand. Take good care {…}
The Polish National Opera is set to perform Verdi’s “Simon Boccanegra” in a new production by Agnieszka Smoczyńska. The production, which will be performed on Feb. 14, 16, 19, 21, 23, 2025, will offer a fresh take in which the story is transformed into a futuristic tale of Europe that resembles the biblical desert – a place scorched by the sun, {…}
Rai5 is set to present the Teatro dell’Opera di Roma’s opening night production of Verdi’s “Simon Boccanegra.” Rai Cultura will produce the recording which will be shown at 7:15 p.m. on Nov. 27, 2024. The production will be directed by Richard Jones with sets and costumes by Antony McDonald. Michele Mariotti will conduct the production which will star Luca Salsi {…}
Prima Classic is hinting at a new recording of Verdi’s “Simon Boccanegra.” The recording company posted a picture of the Teatro San Carlo’s poster of the current cast of the Verdi opera and said, “‘Simon Boccanegra!’ Something is going on…” The cast for the upcoming concert performances includes Ludovic Tézier in the title role, Michele Pertusi as Jacopo Fiesco, Mattia Olivieri as {…}
The Wiener Staatsoper has announced another cast change for its performance of “Simon Boccanegra” on April 11. The company announced that Daniel Luis de Vicente will sing the title role replacing Luca Salsi. De Vicente is making his debut at the Wiener Staatsoper in the title role of Verdi’s work. He has performed at the Oper Frankfurt, Staatsoper Hannover, Volksoper {…}
The Wiener Staatsoper has announced a cast change for its performance of “Simon Boccanegra” on April 8. The company announced that George Petean will sing the title role replacing Luca Salsi. Petean has already performed the opening performance on April 6, also taking over for Salsi. He is a well-known baritone who has performed at the Royal Opera House, Hamburg {…}
Soprano Nicole Car took to social media to address the events at the Opéra de Paris on March 25, 2024. The company presented “Simon Boccanegra” on March 25, but was forced to stop the performance and send audiences home without completing the opera. The soprano clarified what had happened in her post. Car clarified, “Dear friends, During last night’s performance {…}
(Photo credit: Vincent Pontet-OnP) A few years ago, when Bieito’s staging of “Simon Boccanegra” premiered at the Paris Opera, the reviews were abysmal. Few things are as catchy in the opera world as negative consensus. I got to see the same production with a very similar cast last weekend, and, somehow, I think it was one of the most emotional {…}