03 April 2018 (Tue), 19:00 World famous Mariinsky Ballet and Opera - Mariinsky II (New Theatre) - Opera Giuseppe Verdi "Attila" (dramma lirico in a prologue and three acts)
Running time: 2 hours 20 minutes (till 21:20)
The performance has 1 intermission
Schedule for Giuseppe Verdi "Attila" (dramma lirico in a prologue and three acts) 2022
Composer: Giuseppe Verdi Principal Chorus Master: Andrei Petrenko Musical Director: Maestro Valery Gergiev Musical Preparation: Alla Brosterman Musical Preparation: Ilona Yansons Lighting Designer: Kamil Kutyev Principal Chorus Master: Pavel Petrenko Lighting Designer: Yevgeny Ganzburg Stage Director: William Friedkin Set Designer: Frank Schloessman Lighting Designer: Mark Jonathan Costume Designer: Hanne Loosen Principal Chorus Master: Dmitry Ralko
Orchestra: Mariinsky Theatre Symphony Orchestra Opera company: Mariinsky (Kirov) Opera
Opera in 3 act
Performed in Italian the performance will have synchronised Russian supertitles
Premiere of this production: 13 July 2010, Mariinsky Theatre, St Petersburg, Russia
erdi's Atilla dates from what the composer dismissively called his "galley period"; nonetheless, like so many of his early works, the opera is interesting both in its own right and as an early indication of Verdi's mature style. Atilla is marked by a steady and rousing energy. While many moments lack elegance, there are also elements of more subtle beauty; the heroine's "Liberamente or piangi" is outstanding, and the "Rome" ensemble is powerful enough to stand with those in Verdi's later works. Odabella's fiery aria and cabaletta in which she determines to kill Attila with his own sword, Foresto's aria lamenting her capture by the Huns, and Attila's own aria describing a vision of an old man barring him from Rome also demonstrate a strong creativity and musical power. While Ezio's music is rather pedestrian, it can be dramatic and effective in the care of the right singer.
The opera is very loosely based on the story of Attila the Hun, and depicts his death at the hands of Odabella, an enemy woman with whom he had fallen in love. Nearly all of the characters, with the exception of the rather bland tenor role, Foresto, present a challenging mix of contradictions. Odabella is bloodthirsty, yet feminine and vulnerable; Attila is a mix of cruelty and generosity; Ezio, the Roman general, is both treacherous and deeply patriotic. Attila's death arouses a mixture of feelings, a sympathy for the treachery surrounding his death, and at the same time a sharing in the sense of victory his demise brings to Odabella, Ezio, and Foresto.
dramma lirico in a prologue and three acts
Music by Giuseppe Verdi Libretto by Temistocle Solera
Director: William Friedkin
Set Designer: Frank Schloessman Lighting
Designer: Mark Jonathan Costume Designers: Frank
Schlossman and Hanne Loosen
World premiere: 17 March 1846, La Fenice, Venice
Premiere of this production: 13 July 2010, Mariinsky Theatre,
St Petersburg
Synopsis
Prologue
Scene 1: The ruined city of Aquileia
Attila and his victorious horde are surprised to see a
group of women spared as prisoners of war. Their leader, Odabella, asks why the
Huns' women remain at home (Allor che i forti corrono / "While your
warriors rush to their swords like lions"). Attila, impressed by her courage,
offers a boon and she asks for her sword to avenge the death of her father at
Attila's own hand (Da te questo or m'и concesso / "O sublime, divine
justice by thee is this now granted"). The Roman envoy Ezio asks for an audience
and proposes a division of the empire: Avrai tu l'universo, Resti l'Italia a
me / "You may have the universe, but let Italy remain mine". Attila
denounces him as a traitor to his country.
Scene 2: A swamp, the future site of
Venice
A boat bearing Foresto and other survivors arrives; he
thinks of the captive Odabella (Ella in poter del barbaro / "She is in
the barbarian's power!") but then rouses himself and the others to begin
building a new city (Cara patria giа madre e reina / "Dear homeland, at
once mother and queen of powerful, generous sons").
Act
1
Scene 1: A wood near Attila's camp
Odabela laments her father and Foresto (Oh! Nel
fuggente nuvolo / "O father, is your image not imprinted on the fleeting
clouds?...") believing the latter to be dead. When he appears, she is put on the
defensive, denying any infidelity and reminding him of the biblical Judith. The
couple is reunited: Oh, t'inebria nell'amplesso / "O vast joy without
measure")
Scene 2: Attila's tent
Attila awakes and tells Uldino of a dream in which an old
man stopped him at the gates of Rome and warned him to turn back (Mentre
gonfiarsi l'anima parea / "As my soul seemed to swell"). In the daylight,
his courage returns and he orders a march (Oltre quel limite, t'attendo, o
spettro / "Beyond that boundary I await you, O ghost!"). However, when a
procession of maidens clad in white approaches, singing a Christian hymn, he
recognizes the Roman bishop Leo as the old man of his dream, and collapses in
terror.
Act
2
Ezio's camp
Ezio has been recalled, after a peace has been concluded.
He contrasts Rome's past glory with the child emperor Valentine
(Dagl'immortali vertici / "From the splendid immortal peaks of former
glory"). Recognizing the incognito Foresto among the bearers of an invitation to
a banquet with Attila, he agrees to join forces (E' gettata la mia sorte
/ "My lot is cast, I am prepared for any warfare" ). At the banquet, Foresto's
plot to have Uldino poison Attila is foiled by Odabella, jealous of her own
revenge. A grateful (and unsuspecting) Attila declares she shall be his wife,
and places the unmasked Foresto in her custody.
Act
3
The forest
Uldino informs Foresto about the plans for the wedding of
Odabella and Attila; Foresto laments Odabella's apparent betrayal (Che non
avrebbe il misero / "What would that wretched man not have offered for
Odabella). Ezio arrives with a plan to ambush the Huns; when Odabella comes
Foresto accuses her of treachery, but she pleads for his trust. Attila finds the
three and recognizes their betrayal. As Roman soldiers approach, Odabella stabs
him with the sword he had given her. The three conspirators cry that the people
have been avenged.
Schedule for Giuseppe Verdi "Attila" (dramma lirico in a prologue and three acts) 2022
Giuseppe Verdi "Attila" |
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About This Video 01:15 Giuseppe Verdi "Attila"
Mariinsky theatre, St. Petersburg, Russia |
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