Organization

Singer

Baritone

Christian Gerhaher

Simon Boccanegra

Soprano

Jennifer Rowley

Amelia Grimaldi

Bass

Christof Fischesser

Jacopo Fiesco

Tenor

Otar Jorjikia

Gabriele Adorno

Nicholas Brownlee

Paolo Albiani

Brent Michael Smith

Pietro

Mezzo-soprano

Siena Licht Miller

Amelia's maid

Savelii Andreev

Captain of the Crossbowmen

Conductor

Fabio Luisi

Stage director

Andreas Homoki

Set designer

Christian Schmidt

Lighting designer

Franck Evin

Chorus master

Janko Kastelic

Dramaturge

Fabio Dietsche

Opernhaus Zürich

Others

Chorzuzüger

Orchestra

Philharmonia Zürich

Chor der Oper Zürich

Statistenverein am Opernhaus Zürich

Taljan

Zurich

Switzerland

Opernhaus

Genoa, 14th century: the privateer and plebeian Simon Boccanegra is swept into power by a rallying crowd, stirred into a frenzy by his supporters Pietro and Paolo Albiani. He hopes that, in acceding to the title of doge, he will be able to sway his adversary, the aristocrat Jacopo Fiesco, into letting him marry Fiesco's daughter Maria. Fiesco accepts, conveniently neglecting to tell Boccanegra that Maria has just died, under the condition that Simon let him have the granddaughter born in secret to Simon and Maria—but she has gone missing…

An intensely political opera, Simon Boccanegra offers a glimpse of the internecine battles that wracked the various kingdoms of Italy all through the composer's life—especially in its 1881 version, presented here with richness and depth at the Zürich Opera House, led by an astonishing Christian Gerhaher in the title role. The tragedy takes on an extra, personal dimension in the biography of Verdi, who relived—through the character of Simon Boccanegra, for whom he bore a particular affection—the early loss of his wife and children…

Ritratti