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May. 17 2015

06/13/15 – Anna Bolena – 1pm

By WBJC Programming | Posted in Operafest | Comments Off on 06/13/15 – Anna Bolena – 1pm

Lyric Opera of Chicago

  • by Gaetano Donizetti
  • In Italian with projected English texts
  • Approximate running time: 3hrs, 18 min

 

Doomed queen…tour-de-force drama!

Anne Boleyn may be Queen of England, but she doesn’t stand a chance. Henry VIII wants her gone — with Jane Seymour taking her place on the throne and in his bed. And Henry’s minions do the dirty work, finding “proof” of Anne’s infidelities.

Donizetti exploits all of the glories of the human voice in this bel canto gem and trailblazes with a theatricality that hadn’t been seen in opera before. Listen to vocal fireworks and watch one of opera’s most gripping confrontations: the Queen rages when she finally discovers that Jane is her arch rival, and Jane is haunted by guilt — desperate to marry the King, yet knowing that she’s the reason he’ll send Anne to the scaffold.

Maria Callas and Joan Sutherland made this opera famous—and today Sondra Radvanovsky makes it her own.

Lyric Opera coproduction generously made possible by The Monument Trust (UK) and the Donna Van Eekeren Foundation.

Coproduction of Lyric Opera of Chicago and Minnesota Opera.

 


Click here for articles, video previews, audio commentaries, & more

 

Starring

  • Sondra Radvanovsky

    Anne Boleyn

    Sondra Radvanovsky

    “Dazzling Sondra Radvanovsky tears into the taxing role of the Queen…sending an electric current through the music and effectively conveying Anne’s pride and vulnerability.” Baltimore Sun
  • Jamie Barton

    Jane Seymour

    Jamie Barton

    Dmitri Hvorostovsky won the hugely prestigious BBC Cardiff Singer of the World competition…and so did Jamie Barton. “With her plush, impassioned voice, she’s on opera’s fast track!” Chicago Tribune
  • John Relyea

    Henry VIII

    John Relyea

    King Henry must be menacing, manipulative, and suave. John Relyea‘s “magnificent black velvet cloak of a voice wraps itself around everything in sight.” The Times, London
  • Bryan Hymel

    Percy

    Bryan Hymel

    This dashing young tenor takes on the role of Percy in his Lyric debut! “Bryan Hymel has the best high notes in the business.” Philadelphia Inquirer
  • Kelley O

    Smeton

    Kelley O’Connor

    Kelley O’Connor has “dark, lustrous vocal tone and an arresting command of melodic phrase. Her moments in the spotlight left a listener wanting more.” San Francisco Chronicle

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