Rival brothers, a lady to conquer, a daughter avenging her mother: welcome to the medieval, Spanish and thrilling intrigue of the Trovatore , a work which established Verdi as national composer of romantic Italy, in 1853. This work stands out as the second part of Verdi's popular trilogy, which began with Rigoletto and ended with La Traviata . The composer, accustomed to literary inspirations, here relied on a play by the Spanish playwright Antonio García Gutiérrez, disciple of Victor Hugo.

It is Louis Désiré who will direct this new production of the Opéra de Saint-Étienne. The audience at our house had already applauded him in Puccini's Tosca , in Massenet's Don Quixote and in Wagner's Lohengrin . The title role is performed by the Italian tenor Antonio Corianò. This Verdi lover has already participated in two creations of the Trovatore , in Italy and Spain. The musical direction is provided by the principal conductor of the Saint-Étienne Opera, Giuseppe Grazioli.

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Il Trovatore

Grand Théâtre Massenet

The former director of La Comédie de Saint-Étienne Daniel Benoin gives us the pleasure of directing this Macbeth , in co-production with the Opéra de Nice Côte d'Azur and Anthéa Théâtre d'Antibes. This work, created in 1847 in Florence and finalized in its current version in 1865, is Verdi's first adaptation of a Shakespeare play, before Otello and Falstaff . The genius of romantic opera draws on the sources of Shakespearean genius with this drama built around a couple, Macbeth and Lady Macbeth, ready to kill without limits for royal power. The witches encourage crime, but remorse will ultimately assail the assassins, cornered by the Scots allied with the English. The vocal breadth of dramatic soprano Catherine Hunold, performing Massenet's The Virgin on our stages in 2021, serves the dark and evil character of Lady Macbeth. The orchestra is conducted by Giuseppe Grazioli. The rumblings, the fright, the terror: Verdi's music embraces the emotions of the characters, creating a highly theatrical atmosphere. The libretto by Francesco Maria Piave, Verdi's faithful companion, faithfully transposes the Shakespearean plot. The director's vision transposes the story into a 20th century Scottish industrial town , full of violence and suffering; it gives pride of place to women, who seize power.

Opéra de Saint-Etienne

17 - 21 Nov, 2023

Il Trovatore

16 - 20 Jun, 2023

Macbeth

Opéra de Saint-Etienne