On 27 and 30 April the New Stage of the Mariinsky Theatre will present Francesco Cilea’s opera Adriana Lecouvreur. Star of the global opera scene, Hibla Gerzmava, will take on the title role, marking her world debut in this part. Christian Knapp will be conducting.
“Valery Abisalovich Gergiev invited me to sing Adriana in a Mariinsky Theatre production several years ago. But it was only now that I have come to this role, and I am thrilled that my debut will take place on the stage of this magnificent theatre. In the career of every opera singer, Adriana Lecouvreur holds a special place, it always signifies a new stage in one’s creative life. I was waiting for this iconic role to appear in my repertoire, but it was important for me to proceed sequentially and sing Norma first, then Adriana. I am currently working on the role, imbuing it, ‘weaving’ Adriana's musical fabric into a cohesive whole. But this role is not just musically interesting – it’s also an acting challenge for me, as the character of Adriana is complex and multifaceted. Soon I will be in St Petersburg and meet with my wonderful colleagues, stage partners. I love the Mariinsky Theatre, its halls, the company, the orchestra. It’s a joy that the Mariinsky has such a rich opera schedule – no other theatre in the world showcases so many magnificent titles, masterpieces of opera art!” Hibla Gerzmava said.
Adriana Lecouvreur tells the story of the great actress and one of the most significant people in the Enlightenment theatre. Nearly all the characters in the opera are real historical figures. The world premiere of the composition took place on 6 November 1902 at Milan’s Teatro Lirico. Critics received the opera coolly, but the audience and artists sincerely loved it. Adriana quickly spread beyond Italy: within the first few years after the premiere, performances appeared in Lisbon, Hamburg, Buenos Aires, Odessa, Paris, London and New York. In St Petersburg Adriana Lecouvreur was first presented in 1906 – at the Conservatory’s Grand Hall. Since the 1930s the opera has been a staple in theatres’ repertoires, not least due to charismatic soloists.
The role of Adriana Lecouvreur is cherished by many performers worldwide, primarily for its tremendous dramatic potential. Over time such great opera singers as Magda Olivero (acknowledged by the composer as the exemplary Adriana), Renata Tebaldi, Leyla Gencer, Renata Scotto, Mirella Freni, Montserrat Caballé, Joan Sutherland, Raina Kabaivanska, Maria Guleghina, Angela Gheorghiu and Anna Netrebko have taken on this role.
Today at the Mariinsky Theatre Adriana Lecouvreur is presented in a production by Isabelle Partiot-Pieri, who served both as director and set designer. The costume designer is Christian Gasc, and the lighting designer is Pierre Dupouey. The premiere of the production took place in 2017, becoming truly iconic: it was the first staging of Adriana Lecouvreur in the history of the Mariinsky Theatre.
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