Revenge and jealousy are the driving forces behind this eerily beautiful opera. Even before our story starts, disaster is already running its course: Azucena is said to have killed old Count Aragón’s son in revenge for her own mother’s death, burned at the stake as a witch. But in her delirium, she murders her own son. Manrico, the brother of the young count, survives and is raised by Azucena who make him believe he is her own biological child. Now the brothers face each other as rivals, competing for the same woman. Jealousy and thoughts of revenge drive the Count to the extreme. As the drama escalates, a cruel showdown ensues. And the music Giuseppe Verdi composed to Cammarano’s text is as bleak as it is stirring: Verdi incorporated vocal climaxes and large tableaux, creating enticing contrasts to the darkness. »When you go to India or Central Africa, you will hear the Trovatore,« the composer spoke confidently about his work – and he was right. Alongside Rigoletto and La traviata, Il trovatore became part of Verdi’s famous so-called Trilogia Popolare.

This abridged Il trovatore, presented without an intermission, is directed for the stage by Jakob Peters-Messer. He recently wowed Leipzig audiences with his Kafkaesque production of Don Carlo  in 2017. Now, his stunning version of Il trovatore, with sets by Markus Meyer and costumes by Sven Bindseil, will premiere. Additionally, Marina Prudenskaya will make her house debut at the Oper Leipzig as Azucena.

»IL TROVATORE«
Dramma lirico by Giuseppe Verdi, abridged version
Premiere online live 6 Dec. 2020, 6:00pm
www.oper-leipzig.de

Musical Direction Antonino Fogliani
Stage Direction Jakob Peters-Messer
Set Design Markus Meyer
Costume Design Sven Bindseil
Lighting Design Raoul Brosch
Chorus Master Thomas Eitler-de Lint
Dramaturgy Nele Winter

With the Chorus of the Oper Leipzig, the Gewandhausorchester and:

Roberta Mantegna as Leonora
Marina Prudenskaya as Azucena
Sandra Maxheimer as Ines
Gaston Rivero as Manrico
Dario Solari as Conte di Luna
Alvaro Zambrano as Ruiz
Sejong Chang as Ferrando