DomStufen-Festspiele in Erfurt 2012
Set against the backdrop of the First Crusade, this opera tells the story of a bitter feud between two brothers. Pagano was banished after attempting to kill his brother Arvino in a dispute over the hand of Viclinda. Upon his return to Milan, his desire for revenge is rekindled—he still loves Viclinda, who is now married to Arvino. When Arvino is also named leader of the Crusaders, Pagano once again attempts murder—this time killing his own father by mistake. In a second exile, Pagano adopts the life of a hermit. As an act of penance, he now seeks to help the Crusaders defeat the Muslims.
I Lombardi alla prima crociata (The Lombards on the First Crusade), premiered in 1843, marks the true beginning of what Verdi himself referred to as his “years in the galleys.” Between 1843 and Rigoletto (1851), he composed no fewer than fourteen operas in rapid succession. I Lombardi continues along the path set by Nabucco: instead of a tightly woven plot, the opera unfolds in a series of dramatic tableaux, providing space for powerful choruses and spectacular scenic moments. Solera’s libretto, once often criticized, proves in hindsight to be remarkably forward-looking—especially in its portrayal of the clash of cultures and religions, which resonates strongly with audiences today.
Premiere / July 12, 2012
Cast
Arvino Gabriele Mangione, Marwan Shamiyeh | Pagano Vazgen Gazaryan, Tigran Martirossian, Roberto Scandiuzzi | Viclinda Jie Zhang, Susann Vent | Giselda Louise Hudson, Katia Pellegrino, Claudia Sorokina | Pirro Wieland Lemke, Gonzalo Simonetti | Milanese Prior Reinhard Becker, Christoph Dyck | Acciano Juri Batukov, Sebastian Pilgrim | Oronte Richard Carlucci, Stéphane Sénéchal, Gabriele Mangione | Sofia Daniela Gerstenmeyer, Hyun Jin Park