Singer

Madame Angot's Daughter is a successful 19th century comic opera, written by Charles Lecocq in the style of his greatest rival, Jacques Offenbach. This love story features Clairette, a sharp-tongued orphan, and Pomponnet, the neighborhood's hairdresser – a nice man deemed unattractive by Clairette. While these two are fictitious, some other characters actually existed: the rebel poet Ange Pitou, actress Mademoiselle Lange, and a whole other range of Parisian figures. The story takes place at the end of the French Revolution, when the Incroyables and Merveilleuses ruled over the French capital as it was slowly recovering from the Reign of Terror. In this frenzied atmosphere, sweet romance and humorous ensemble numbers go hand in hand.

Madame Angot’s Daughter

Opéra National De Lyon

Deeply moved by Oscar Wilde’s play, Richard Strauss changed the course of music history with his intense, frantic eponymous opera. The set is King Herod’s Palace; young Salome is infatuated and rejected by Prophet Jochanaan, and, desperate to kiss him at all costs, subsequently asks for his severed head. The expressionist libretto drawn from this mysterious plot is both sensuous and dramatic. As an object – and mostly a subject – of desire, Salome’s magnetic quality is gradually unveiled. The piece, written at the turn of the 20th century, reads like a discovery of the subconscious mind or an exploration of urges. The hypnotic score is replete with unique colours and sounds; Strauss pushed the very limits of music in his time, at the risk of breaking the norms. The lead must be sung by a mesmerising performer, both in terms of voice and presence.

Salome

Based on Victor Hugo’s play, Donizetti’s Lucrezia Borgia is a powder keg of horrendous crimes, fierce passion, and rivalry between powerful 18th-century Italian leaders. The notoriously cruel Lucrezia Borgia must fight for her independence and reputation, tarnished by slander and jealousy, while protecting her heart-wrenching secret. The piece paints the portrait of a determined, powerful woman, reduced to criminal revenge by a society which forbids her from straying from her path. A true epitome of bel canto, the melodramatic opera genre is embodied by large ensembles and arias replete with vocal prowess. The lead must be dazzlingly virtuosic; at the Lyon Opera, it is sung by phenomenal soprano Lidia Friedman, in a production directed by Tatjana Gürbaca. Following L’Incoronazione di Poppea and The Girl of the Golden West, Gürbaca continues her exploration of major opera sagas with her Lucrezia Borgia.

Lucrezia Borgia

Based on Gogol’s piece, May Night takes place in a quaint village where the peace is joyfully disturbed by a conflict between a father and his son, the former being opposed to the latter’s wedding. Fortunately, in addition to being charming and fiercely generous, the son is incomparably cunning. Supernatural layers round off the plot: an abandoned house, a lake haunted by a witch, and waters full of magic creatures. Rimsky-Korsakov’s second opera is a fairy tale for all, with humorous twists and turns, ecstatic lovers rendezvousing, and satirical village scenes. Conducted by the dazzling Timur Zangiev, this truly unique piece, replete with charming melodies and traditional music, is making its French debut in a production directed by Christof Loy. Following Peter Grimes and Louise, Christof Loy, who was named Director of the Year at the Opera Awards 2024, tackles this generational conflict with his usual psychological finesse.

Unknown

Stefan Petković

Events

Upcoming events

Dec 14, 2026 - Jan 3, 2027

Madame Angot’s Daughter · Opéra National De Lyon

Mar 19 - Apr 4, 2027

Salome · Opéra National De Lyon

Mar 19 - Apr 4, 2027

Salome · Opéra National De Lyon

Mar 20 - Apr 5, 2027

Lucrezia Borgia · Opéra National De Lyon

Mar 20 - Apr 5, 2027

Lucrezia Borgia · Opéra National De Lyon

Future and recently performed repertoire

Ascanio Petrucci in Lucrezia Borgia by Donizetti

Opéra National De Lyon

A Cappadocian in Salome by Strauss

Opéra National De Lyon

Two Nazarenes in Salome by Strauss

Opéra National De Lyon

Cadet / Un officier / Buteux (spoken) / Guillaume in Madame Angot's Daughter by Lecocq

Opéra National De Lyon

Clerk in May Night by Rimski-Korsakov

Opéra National De Lyon

About

Stefan Petković hasn't added a bio