Renowned director Davide Livermore delivers a spectacular new digital production of Giuseppe Verdi’s Il Trovatore for Opera Australia premiering at the Sydney Opera House this July.
The first time OA will perform this popular Verdi opera in almost ten years, Livermore’s production will explore the darkness of jealousy and obsession, underpinned by the intensity of Verdi’s arias and creating an esoteric world of circus acrobats and nomadic characters navigating what it means to curse and be cursed.
Recognised as one of Verdi’s most powerful scores, Il Trovatore demands four of the world’s most formidable voices to sing the stunning arias, and the all-star cast assembled by OA for this production are equal to the task.
Following his triumphant portrayal of Otello earlier this year, South Korean tenor Yonghoon Lee returns to the Joan Sutherland Theatre as Manrico whilst internationally successful Belarusian baritone Maxim Aniskin will make his Opera Australia debut as Count di Luna.
After her Sydney Opera House debut as Aida in 2021 was cut to only one night by pandemic restrictions, American soprano Leah Crocetto returns to Sydney to shine as Leonora. The role of Azucena will be sung by mezzo soprano Elena Gabouri following her critically acclaimed performance in Lohengrin at Arts Centre Melbourne earlier this year.
Dynamic Italian conductor, Andrea Battistoni will bring his signature energetic style to lead the cast, chorus and orchestra through some of Verdi’s finest music, including the stand-out Anvil Chorus and the Di Quella Pira with its famous high C.
For this production of Il Trovatore the dream-team who delivered OA’s first digital production, Aida, in 2018 and Anna Bolena in 2019 have reunited. Livermore’s legendary vision and stagecraft will combine with set designs by Giò Forma, costumes by Gianluca Falaschi, lighting by John Rayment and video content by D-Wok, which will combine to keep audiences on the edge of their seats.
Conductor: Andrea Battistoni | Director: Davide Livermore | Featuring: Yonghoon Lee, Leah Crocetto, Elena Gabouri, Maxim Aniskin, David Parkin, Sian Sharp, Iain Henderson, Luke Gabbedy, Thomas Strong, Opera Australia Chorus, Opera Australia Orchestra | Associate Director: Carlo Sciaccaluga | Set Designer: Giò Forma | Costume Designer: Gianluca Falaschi | Lighting Designer: John Rayment | Digital Content: D-Wok
Il Trovatore
Joan Sutherland Theatre – Sydney Opera House, Bennelong Point, Sydney
Season: 15 – 30 July 2022
Information and Bookings: www.opera.org.au
Image: Il Trovatore – photo courtesy of Opera Australia 2022