Giuseppe Verdi: I due Foscari

Opera in three acts, sung in Italian with Slovak subtitles.

Hall of Opera and Ballet, the new building of SND, Thursday 10. May 2012 - 19:00

Musical Preparation:	Friedrich Haider
Conductor:	Martin Leginus
Stage Director:	Marián Chudovský
Set Designer:	Jozef Ciller
Costume Designer:	Peter Čanecký
Choirmaster:	Pavol Procházka

Francesco Foscari:	Zoltán Vongrey
Jacopo Foscari:	Boldizsár László
Lucrezia Contarini:	Jolana Fogašová
Jacopo Loredano:	Ján Galla
Barbarigo:	Jozef Kundlák
Pisana:	Denisa Šlepkovská
	Igor Pasek
	Ladislav Šipeky
	Róbert Klenka, Daniel Šlepkovský, Samuel Farley, Lukáš Mňačko

The charming and mysterious town of Venice with its difficult history has long inspired artists, writers and musicians. Several outstanding operas are set in Venice, among them Verdi´s musical drama I due Foscari. The opera is based on a historical figure – the Doge Francesco Foscari, who, despite having power and influence, failed to protect his own son from intrigues and political manipulation by his opponents. The opera is a drama of conjugal faith and love, a drama of a split personality of a ruler and a loving father, a drama driven by hate, greed for power and revenge.

The opera strikes with exalted beauty, captivating melodies and tension. Soloist vocal parts, requiring technical mastery combined with commitment to dramatic portrayal and belcanto-influenced singing are in the foreground, but, typically for Verdi´s early work, the chorus is given an important role, too.

The Slovak National Theatre Opera stages Verdi´s masterpiece for the first time ever. The internationally recognized Austrian conductor Friedrich Haider joins forces with the acclaimed Slovak stage director Marián Chudovský. The cast includes Jolana Fogašová and Louise Hudson, with tenor Rafael Alvarez and the baritone Miguelangelo Cavalcanti appearing at the Slovak National Theatre Opera for the first time.

Perfomance length: 2 hrs 35 mins with two intermissions