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The Greek National Opera will officially open the 2025/26 season with Ponchielli's widely popular opera La Gioconda, in a new major international co-production with two of the world's most prestigious opera companies: the Salzburg Easter Festival and the Royal Opera House in London. Conducting the opera will be Fabrizio Ventura, while Oliver Mears, the Artistic Director of Covent Garden, will take over the stage direction. This production is made possible by a grant from the Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF) to enhance the Greek National Opera's artistic outreach.
La Gioconda is considered one of the greatest grand operas in the repertoire, not only because it tells the dramatic story of a great unfulfilled love and self-sacrifice but also because it is rich in unique melodies, famous arias, and wonderful choral parts. And, of course, because it includes one of the most famous ballets of all time, The Dance of the Hours, which is accompanied by a melody we all know since it has passed into pop culture after being used in Disney's film Fantasia in 1940. The work's world premiere was given at La Scala in Milan in 1876 and was met with tremendous success, similar to that of Verdi's Aida and Otello, which were composed during the same decade. The libretto was penned by Tobia Gorrio -an obvious anagram and pseudonym of the poet and composer Arrigo Boito-, while the plot is based on Victor Hugo's play Angelo, Tyrant of Padua.
In Boito's hands, the work was set in 17th-century Venice. The main character is La Gioconda, a wandering singer who is in love with Enzo Grimaldo. Enzo, however, loves Laura, the wife of nobleman Alvise. After many adventures, La Gioconda helps the two lovers flee, while she kills herself.
In this typical opera of late Romanticism, with influences from French grand operas, Ponchielli -clearly inspired by Verdi- crafts a work featuring tempestuous characters, dramatic scenes, rich orchestration, melodious beauty, and theatrical glamour.
La Gioconda marks Maria Callas' emblematic debut at the Arena di Verona in 1947, which signaled the beginning of her unsurpassable international career. The work's famous aria Suicidio has been inextricably associated with her voice and performance.
The GNO's international co-production opened at the Salzburg Easter Festival in 2023 to great success. Oliver Mears, the Artistic Director of the Royal Opera House in London and one of the most sought-after opera directors in Europe, set the action in contemporary Venice, delivering a staging that is both impressive and faithful to the spirit of the work while unveiling the characters' schemes and motives in depth. According to a review of the British Telegraph: This lavish staging may be as good as this grand but challenging opera is ever going to get. Following the performances in Athens, La Gioconda will be presented in London.
In the title role, the GNO welcomes star dramatic soprano Anna Pirozzi, who left her mark on GNO's recent production of Medea. Joining her in the leading roles will be the highly sought-after tenor Arsen Soghomonyan, renowned mezzo-sopranos Alisa Kolosova and Anita Rachvelishvili, distinguished Greek baritone Dimitri Platanias, and other exceptional soloists.
