Luisa Miller by Verdi, lör 27 dec 2014, Från (2014/2015), Regisserad av Damiano Michieletto, Dirigent Carlo Rizzi, Opernhaus, Zürich, Schweiz

Luisa Miller "It's a great drama, full of passion and theatrically very effective," said Giuseppe Verdi about intrigue and love, when he decided to tackle an opera based on a play by Friedrich Schiller for the third time. Verdi was particularly impressed by Schiller's psychological insight into the characters and the inevitability with which the plot races towards its tragic end: Rodolfo courts Luisa, the daughter of the old soldier Miller. However, both fathers oppose the marriage for reasons of status, as Rodolfo is the son of a count. When Rodolfo threatens to reveal a dark secret about his family, Miller is arrested at the instigation of the scheming administrator Wurm, who has his eye on Luisa himself. In order to save her father from death, Luisa agrees to marry Wurm. Rodolfo is so desperate about the alleged infidelity of his beloved Luisa that he poisons her and himself. The exquisite ensemble of soloists in our revival once again presents the great Leo Nucci in the role of Father Miller. Nucci's performances at the Zurich Opera House are legendary: he made his debut here as Miller in the 1981/82 season. Nino Machaidze sings the title role, while the celebrated American tenor Matthew Polenzani sings Rodolfo.