“A complete triumph. Twenty curtain calls for the artists and maestro,” wrote the publisher Sonzogno in a telegram in March 1896 to announce the overwhelming success of Andrea Chénier to the librettist, Luigi Illica, who had so skilfully transformed into an ardent tragedy the real-life story of a French poet who had fallen victim to the French Revolution. In the opera, Chénier is an idealist, helplessly swept up by the schemes of the Jacobin Terror and hopelessly in love with Maddalena, an aristocrat fleeing the revolutionaries. Victims of Gérard’s lust, the two remain united until the end. Encouraged by a libretto filled with historical details and characters driven by extreme passion, the composer Umberto Giordano reworked revolutionary marches such as La Carmagnole and wrote a true wealth of magnificent arias and duets. Few operas can boast such a great number of memorable pieces, including “Un Dì, all’Azzurro Spazio,” “La Mamma Morta,” and “Nemico della Patria,” to name just a few.
The vocal parts for the two ill-fated lovers are especially challenging, requiring expressive power and technical control, for which they will be sung by two acclaimed performers of truly great vocal standing, Gregory Kunde and Maria Agresta. Franco Vassallo will perform the role of their nemesis, Gérard. This staging of the opera will present the spectacular new production by Giancarlo Del Monaco, an experienced director of worldwide renown, who calls himself “an innovator in keeping with tradition.” Maestro Andrea Battistoni returns to the Teatro Regio podium, after his brilliant work with La Bohème last season.
