Latvian National Opera invites to the premiere of the opera “Simon Boccanegra” on September 26. Giuseppe Verdi's masterpiece is staged at the Latvian National Opera for the first time. The production is based on an original production concept by Stephen Lawless; music director and conductor of the production is Normunds Vaicis, the set and costume design is created by Leslie Travers, choreography by Lynne Hockney and lighting design by Oskars Pauliņš.

The leading roles will be interpreted by Rinalds Kandalincevs, Tatjana Trenogina, Tadas Girininkas and Mihails Čuļpajevs. The title character of this opera becomes the doge of Genoa, defeating the aristocrat Fiesko in the vote, but they are both connected not only by the struggle for power, but also by a fateful woman. The opera "Simon Boccanegra" was written by Giuseppe Verdi as early as 1857, but only the second edition of the work, which premiered in 1881, become popular with the public and critics. In the 21st century, “Simon Boccanegra” is appearing on the stage of opera houses more and more often. 

“Verdi is an ingenious composer of melody; his music is simple and very honest.  He possesses an outstanding ability to paint with the colors of the instruments and with the rhythmical structure, creating a deeply felt soulfulness that supports the soloist’s treatment of the melody and vocals. In this Riga production, our creative team would like to reveal to the public the truthful and human gradations of power and weakness created by Verdi and the authors of the libretto Piave and Boito, both in the narrative and music. Honesty, nobility, true love – this is what Verdi sees in music; and his music is direct and powerful. Let these qualities in music help remind us of such values in life,” tells Normunds Vaicis, the music director and conductor of the production.

“Simon Boccanegra is a remarkably fast moving and intense political thriller and not without flashes of humour in the same way that Verdi's idol Shakespeare used humour to lighten the darkness of his historical dramas. It has a cinematic fluidity which we have attempted to match,” explains Stephen Lawless, the author of the original production concept.

The following performances will be on September 28 and 30, as well as October 2.

Tickets are available at the box offices of Latvian National Opera and Ballet and Biļešu paradīze, as well as online. The production is financially supported by the State Culture Capital Foundation. Its premiere is included in the program of Riga Opera Festival 2021, supported by Riga City Council and State Culture Capital Foundation.