Verdi's Simon Boccanegra

The summer season of broadcasts from the Lyric Opera of Chicago begins with Verdi's epic drama.

The intriguing plot unfolds in the incendiary atmosphere of 14th-century Genoa. The music, both hair-raisingly dramatic and sublimely beautiful, illuminates explosive, primary-color emotion — love, jealousy, rage, remorse.

At the center is the noble and desperately conflicted Boccanegra, Doge of Genoa, his violent conflict with his enemy, the nobleman Fiesco, and their reconciliation.

In the title role is baritone Thomas Hampson, who considers Simon Boccanegra "truly one of the greatest operas ever written."

Ferruccio Furlanetto plays Boccanegra’s arch enemy, Fiesco; Bulgarian soprano Krassimira Stoyanova is Amelia; and Frank Lopardo is Adorno. Sir Andrew Davis conducts.

CAST:
Boccanegra Thomas Hampson
Fiesco  Ferruccio Furlanetto
Amelia  Krassimira Stoyanova
Adorno  Frank Lopardo
Paolo  Quinn Kelsey
Pietro  Evan Boyer

CONDUCTOR: Sir Andrew Davis
STAGE DIRECTOR:  Elijah Moshinsky
LYRIC OPERA ORCHESTRA & CHORUS
CHORUS MASTER:  Martin Wright