Set in 14th-century Genoa, Simon Boccanegra is a gripping story of political intrigue and personal
tragedy.
At its core is a decades-long feud between political rivals: Simon Boccanegra, former pirate
and man of the people, and Jacopo Fiesco, a leading member of the nobility. But these enemies are
bound together by the strongest of family ties: one is the father and one is the grandfather of the
same woman, Amelia.
Premiered in 1857, Verdi revised the opera in 1881 with the librettist Arrigo Boito, with whom he
later collaborated on his final masterpieces, Otello and Falstaff. Together, they crafted a
Shakespearean drama of love, loss, and reconciliation which, in its celebrated Council Chamber
scene, contains Verdi’s most impassioned plea for peace and unity.
With music full of dark-hued grandeur and excitement, Opera North’s first ever performances of
Simon Boccanegra follow our acclaimed concert stagings of large-scale Italian classics such as
Turandot and Aida. It promises to be an unmissable event.
Language: Sung in Italian with English subtitles
Length: 2 hours 30 minutes
Cast and creatives:
Simon Boccanegra Roland Wood
Jacopo Fiesco Brindley Sherratt
Gabriele Adorno Andrés Presno
Paolo Albiani Mandla Mndebele
Conductor Antony Hermus
Stage Director PJ Harris
