St Petersburg, Mariinsky II

Attila

dramma lirico in a prologue and three acts
production by the Astana State Opera House
Conductor: Valery Gergiev
dramma lirico in a prologue and three acts

performed in Italian
Astana Opera at the Mariinsky

Performers

Conductor: Valery Gergiev
Attila: Roberto Tagliavini
Ezio: Claudio Sgura
Odabella: Zhupar Gabdullina
Foresto: Luciano Ganci
Uldino: Jean Tapin
Leone: Yeskendir Abzhanov

The Astana Opera Orchestra, Chorus and Ballet

Age category 12+

Credits

Music: Giuseppe Verdi
Libretto: Temistocle Solera after the tragedy Attila, König der Hunnen by Friedrich Zacharias Werner

Musical Director and Conductor: Valery Gergiev
Stage Director & Set and Costume Designer: Pier Luigi Pizzi (Italy)
Lighting Designer: Vincenzo Raponi (Italy)
Choreographer: Roberto Maria Pizzuto (Italy)
Principal Chorus Master: Yerzhan Dautov (Astana Opera House)
Musical Preparation: Elena Sakhno (Astana Opera House)

SYNOPSIS

The action takes place in the Roman city of Aquilea on the Adriatic Sea lagoon, Acts I, II and III close to Rome in 452-453.

Prologue
Scene 1

A square in Aquilea.
Encircled by the Huns at night, the city is lit by fiery torches. The Huns and their allies assemble to meet Attila, their king. His slave Uldino comes to him with young captives from the war who assisted their fathers and brothers. Odabella is among them. She tells of the death of her father and believes that her beloved Foresto is also dead. Attila, amazed by the woman’s beauty, gives her his own sword and begs the captive maiden to join his command. Odabella accepts the sword, though in her soul she swears to exact revenge on him. The Roman general Ezio arrives; he attempts to make peace with Attila and offers Italy to him. The Roman commander states that he will consider Attila his enemy if the latter does not wish to form a union. And yet Attila refuses. He conquers Rome and all Italy without Ezio’s assistance.
Scene 2
Rio-Alto. The Adriatic lagoons.
A thunderstorm rises over the bay. When it at length abates hermits emerge in prayer. Yachts approach the shore carrying soldiers and citizens of Aquilea. Foresto – Odabella’s groom – is among them. The young man is in despair as his bride has been captured by Attila. The people quiet him. He swears that the city of Aquilea will be restored, and more beautiful than before.


Act I
Scene 1

A wood near Attila’s camp, close to Rome.
Night. In tears, Odabella recalls her father and her groom. Suddenly Foresto appears before her. He accuses his betrothed of treachery. She convinces him that she is merely awaiting the opportunity to avenge her father’s death. Foresto and Odabella swear eternal love.
Scene 2
Attila’s pavillion.
Attila is asleep. Uldino is awake and on guard. But suddenly Attila awakes from a nightmare. He has foreseen that some mysterious old man will bar Attila’s way into Rome. Religious songs can be heard in the distance. Leone arrives: he is the old man that Attila saw in his dream. Fear and dread seizes him. Bowing before Leone, the king of the Huns abandons all hope of capturing Rome.


Act II
Scene 1

Ezio’s camp near Rome.
Ezio is enraged at a letter he has received from Emperor Valentinian III ordering his return to Rome. In actual fact, Ezio plans to usurp the young and inexperienced ruler and take command of Rome himself, thus restoring the Eternal City’s former power and glory. The Huns arrive and invite Ezio to Attila’s camp at an attempt at reconciliation. Disguised amongst the Huns is Foresto. Left alone with Ezio, he tells of his intentions against Attila and ask soldiers be sent to help once the king of the Huns is dead. Foresto leaves and Ezio rejoices.
Scene 2
Attila’s camp. A feast is underway.
The warriors and the guests are making merry. Attila welcomes Ezio and offers peace. The priestesses warn their leader of the dangers, but Attila ignores their words and continues to celebrate. A sudden gust of wind extinguishes the torches. The guests are petrified in fear. The entire camp is in darkness. In the end, Attila orders the torches be lit and the feast continues. Foresto informs Odabella that Attila’s wine has been poisoned. Uldino brings Attila the poisoned chalice, but Odabella stops the king. Her personal vengeance must come from her own hand. In fury, the king wishes to make the guilty party pay. Odabella asks Attila to save Foresto’s life. Attila, passionately loving her, cannot refuse her. As a symbol of his gratitude, Attila declares that the next day Odabella will be his wife and he will march on Rome. Odabella begs Foresto to believe in her love.


Act III
A wood dividing Attila and Foresto’s camps.
Uldino, who has betrayed his king, informs Foresto that Attila is to be married to Odabella. Foresto tells the Roman guards to be ready for an attack. In the distance a marriage chorus can be heard. The furious Foresto curses his beloved. Ezio implores him to delay his foolish envy. Odabella manages to seek refuge in the Romans’ camp. She attempts to placate her lover, but Foresto does not believe her. Attila appears and seizes Ezio, Foresto and Odabella. His wrath is terrifying and he swears to take vengeance on all involved in the plot. Suddenly Odabella inflicts a mortal wound on Attila. Her revenge is complete.


World premiere: 17 March 1846 , Teatro la Fenice, Italy
Premiere of this production at the Astana Opera: 21 October 2013, Astana

The performance lasts 2 hours 30 minutes
There will be one interval


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