EPSG:4326

Carmen

Teatro La Fenice

The inspiration for Fortner’s opera resembles an ancient Greek tragedy. The Spanish poet Garcia Lorca took up an all too familiar tale for his play Blood Wedding, which was first performed in 1933. His vitriol aimed at the uncompromising nature of blood feuds: a bridegroom’s mother lost her husband and oldest son in fights between the two clans and now fears for her youngest son’s life. She’s worried his wedding will reignite the war, because the bride still loves her former beloved Leonardo, a member of the enemy family. Leonardo abducts her during the wedding. They escape into the woods, but are caught. Two scores are settled: both rivals die in a duel.

Blood Wedding

Oper Frankfurt

La bohème

San Carlo Theatre

Manon Lescaut flees to Europe, dreaming of a better life, where she enters into a passionate relationship with a student, Des Grieux. But their happiness is short-lived: fed up with living in penury she takes up with Geronte, working in his nightclub as a dancer. Des Grieux reappears and they rekindle their love. Geronte finds them and words are exchanged, he calls for the police, and Manon, unable to escape in time, is arrested. After fleeing to America together their journey ends in a desert.

Manon Lescaut

An opera seria in a prologue and three acts to a libretto by Francesco Maria Piave, Simon Boccanegra debuted at the Teatro La Fenice in Venice on 12 March 1857. However, after many years, Verdi became convinced of the need to rework it, and assisted by Arrigo Boito for the libretto, he prepared a second version that debuted successfully on 24 March 1881 at La Scala in Milan. The action, set in and around Genoa around the middle of the 14th century, recounts the drama of the protagonist, Doge Boccanegra, victim of intrigues and conspiracies. The subject was taken from the drama of the same name by the Spaniard Antonio García Gutiérrez, from whose repertoire Verdi had already drawn inspiration for Trovatore. After its debut, the Gazzetta di Venezia described Boccanegra as an opera “too grand and severe”, characterised by a “lugubrious hue”. Verdi, deliberately and precisely because of the nature of a drama characterised by a thirst for power, a desire for revenge, and respect for the reason of state, chose to focus all his attention on the dark-toned male voices (basses and baritones), entrusting them with the narration of the intestine struggles that torment the republic of Genoa.

Alfons Flores

Events

Upcoming events

15 - 24 Nov, 2026

Simon Boccanegra · Teatro del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino

Past events

May 24 - Jun 3, 2026

Carmen · Teatro La Fenice

May 10 - Jun 15, 2026

Blood Wedding · Oper Frankfurt

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