Mega cast for Adriana Lecouvreur
Image: Adriana Lecouvreur - Sydney 2023 Credit: Opera Australia
Epic opera, Adriana Lecouvreur by Francesco Cilea will make its Australian premiere this February at the Sydney Opera House, and it will feature a gold-star cast. Opera Australia has managed to attain four acclaimed international singers for the principle roles in this much lauded production by Italian director, Rosetta Cucchi.
Albanian soprano Ermonela Jaho will play the title role which is loosely based on the real life French actress, Adrienne Lecouvreur (1692 – 1730). It is a demanding role that requires excellence in both vocal delivery and acting. Jaho played the role early in 2022 in Teatro Comunale Di Bologna, receiving ecstatic reviews.
Romanian mezzo-soprano, Carmen Topciu will play Adriana’s arch nemesis, the Principessa, sparring with Jaho in a rematch after their respective characters, Anna and Jane, clashed in OA’s 2019 production of Anna Bolena.
Making his role debut as Maurizio, the romantic lead, is award-winning American tenor, Michael Fabiano. Fabiano has performed previously for OA, in Werther (2019), Lucia di Lammermoor (2018), and Faust (2015). Fabiano will come via Melbourne where he will perform his first solo recital on February 12 at Melbourne City Recital Hall.
Giorgio Caoduro has visited Australia to sing with OA many times and returns for this production to play Michonnet. The Italian baritone returns in March for Roberto Devereux in Concert.
Stellar Opera Australia talent, Jane Ede, Angela Hogan, Virgilio Marino, Richard Anderson, Adam Player and Anthony Mackey round out the cast, each making role debuts in this exciting production.
The sets for this opera are lush and ornate, as is Cilèa’s music. A lengthy romantic-drama, Adriana Lecouvreur is one to tick off the list for opera-lovers.
