“Riga Opera Festival 2023: Premiere of Adriana Lecouvre by Francesco Chilea”

Riga Opera Festival 2023 will begin on June 9 with the premiere of Francesco Chilea’s opera “Adriana Lecouvre”.

As Irbe Treile, representative of the Latvian National Opera, informs “Delfi”, the new production is created by musical director and conductor Mārtiņš Ozoliņš, conductor Andris Veismanis, director Vensāns Busārs, scenographer Vensāns Lemērs, costume designer Klara Pelufo Valentini, lighting designer Nikolas Žilīs and video artist Nikolas Irtevāns.

In the title role – Tatjana Trenogina or Yulia Vasilieva, in the role of Mauricio or Saksia Moritz – Raimonds Bramanis or Artjoms Safronovs, in the role of the Duchess of Bujon – Carmena Topčiu or Irma Pavare, in the role of Michonne – Rinalds Kandalintsevs or Jānis Apeinis.

The author of the opera “Adriana Lecouvreur” was delighted by the picturesque historical events in the story of love, jealousy and its consequences. Thanks to its masterful and sophisticated music, this Italian opera is regularly staged on major theater stages around the world. In the interpretation of the creative team, the era depicted in the opera will be intertwined – the beginning of the 18th century, the time of the creation of the opera – the 19th/20th century. turn of the century – and today, when this performance is created. The theater as a special community will play an important role in the production, which unites all those involved throughout the ages, working towards a common goal.

The prototype of the main heroine of the opera is the star of the “Comédie-Française” Adrienne Lecouvre (1692-1730), who gained fame for her simplicity and sincerity, abandoning the pathetic declaiming acting characteristic of her time. A passionate love affair connected the actress with Moritz of Saxony, who desired the honor of the Duke of Courland, who in turn was in love with the Duchess of Bouillon. The love triangle has become the inspiration for a play by Eugène Scribe and Ernest Legué and an opera by Francesco Chilea.

Francesco Chile’s opera “Adriana Lecouvreur” was performed for the first time in 1902 in Milan. This will be the third production of this work at the Latvian National Opera.

“Adriana Lecouvreur” is the best-known opera of Francesco Chilea, rooted in the verismo tradition dominant in Italy in the late 19th century; the opera is characterized by beautiful, wide-ranging melodies in the arias, sincere and heightened emotions in the duets, recitative and dramaturgy-driven dialogue, complemented by vivid, witty and at times comic characters. The composer has also introduced the hierarchy, relationships and intrigues prevailing in the theater society into the music, against the background of which the charming personality of the main character, the talent and feelings of the actress are revealed,” says Mārtiņš Ozoliņš, the musical director of the new production.

“With this story, I would like to give every audience a chance to be moved. The music is very effective, it creates a really dramatic effect in a good way. This opera is the story of a young actress who is in love with Maurizio. Unfortunately, this Count of Saxony is also torn by ambition without love, which because of this, he is forced to come into contact with toxic people. The heroine of the opera, Adriana, is a victim of this game,” says director Vanceans Busars.

He describes the show as more of a romantic drama than a true story about the historical figure Adrienne, whose life was far from exciting. “I like that the real image of the actress is starting to become a kind of myth. In life, Adrienne was quite mysterious, even her death was so ambiguous that it has opened the door to different interpretations. I could talk about Adrienne Lecouvreur for hours, I feel a special connection with this person “I sympathize with the way she existed in an environment full of intrigue, lies, poison and toxicity. She was always simple and true, spoke the language of the heart. She combines naivety and a very strong personality. This gives hope,” emphasizes the director.

Vincent Boussard’s career as a director began in the “Comédie-Française” troupe, whose brightest star at one time was Adrienne Lecouvreur. The performance of this director and his creative team has been highly appreciated by our viewers and critics in the interpretation of Francis Poulenc’s opera “Carmelish Dialogues”.

As usual, the “Conversation before the premiere” is also expected. It will take place in the New Hall of the Latvian National Opera on June 5 at 6:30 p.m. The program includes an audio-visual lecture by opera historian Mikus Čeže “Conquered Lecouvre and the coveted Kurzeme”, Liene Jakovleva’s conversation with director Vanceans Busars and the soloists of the production, as well as musical performances.