The Hungarian State Opera is set to present a new production of Ponchielli’s ‘La Gioconda.”

The rarely performed work is part of a season dedicated to Puccini’s Italy. The work by Puccini’s master Amilcare Ponchielli returns to the Erkel Theatre after a hiatus of 20 years. The new production will be directed by András Almási-Tóth and will star Eszter Sümegi as Gioconda, Bernadett Wiedemann as La Cieca, Alexandru Agache as Barnaba, Gergely Boncsér as Enzo Grimaldi, Erika Gál as Laura Adorno, and Krisztián Cser as Alvise Badoero.

Per a press release, Almási-Tóth, artistic director of the Hungarian State Opera, said, “This opera is performed rarely although it has a great performance tradition. It ought to be a discovery for those who hear it for the first time, whereas those familiar with the piece might also experience a revelation.”

Gergely Kesselyák conducts the new production, which is set to open on Feb. 22, 2019, and run through March 10.