The auditorium of the Erkel Theatre is once again open to the public (in possession of an immunity certificate) to see the new production of Umberto Giordano's masterpiece directed by Fabio Ceresa. The cast of the 29 May 2021 premiere includes Boldizsár László, Eszter Sümegi and Mihály Kálmándy under the baton of Balázs Kocsár.
“The revolution has no need for poets!” Supposedly these were the public prosecutor’s closing words when the Revolutionary Tribunal condemned Andrea Chénier to death during the bloodiest period of the French Revolution. In Giordano’s work, Chénier’s fate transcends actual events and becomes the story of a tragic love triangle in which the lives of the protagonists are subjected to the forces of history, betrayal, and amorous passion. The music by Giordano captures the atmosphere of Paris perfectly both before and during the French Revolution. Along with presenting elegant aristocratic dances and popular revolutionary songs, such as La Marseillaise, he also endows the main characters with melodies of irresistible beauty.
After the 2018 premiere of Un ballo in maschera, director Fabio Ceresa returns to the Erkel Theatre to stage a production that evokes the hardship experienced by the protagonists during the French Revolution and attempts to establish a universal cycle of historical transitions: monarchy, tyranny, revolution, terror and chaos leads once more to the resurrection of a monarchy. The spectacular sets and costumes reminiscent of the age were designed by Ceresa's regular team including Tiziano Santi and Giuseppe Palella as well as choreographer Mattia Agatiello, all of who also contributed to Un ballo in maschera as well. The title role of the premiere is sung by Boldizsár László, Maddalena de Coigny is performed by Eszter Sümegi, the scheming servant Carlo Gérard is performed by Mihály Kálmándy. Further cast includes Bernadett Wiedemann, Ildikó Megyimórecz, Lajos Geiger, Máté Fülep, János Szerekován and András Hábetler. The Hungarian State Opera Orchestra and Chorus are conducted by general music director Balázs Kocsár.
