Like every year, on 7 December, on the occasion of the Feast of St. Ambrose, patron saint of Milan, the Teatro alla Scala opens its 2018/2019 season. This year the opening opera is ‘Attila’ by Giuseppe Verdi, which, after the opening night, will remain on the theater’s calendar until January 8, 2019.
‘Attila’ is the ninth opera composed by Verdi and it was first staged at the Teatro La Fenice in Venice in 1846. About it Teatro alla Scala writes: “In this complex opera Verdi experiments with fresh perspectives, featuring spectacular historical settings, introspective angles and moral uncertainties. Attila demands of its performers not only passion and confidence, but also the ability to find subtle accents and psychological nuances.”
After directing ‘Giovanna d’Arco’ in 2015, with ‘Attila’ Musical Director Riccardo Chailly continues his study of Verdi’s early works. In doing so, he also renews a successful collaboration with creative director Davide Livermore on Teatro alla Scala’s stage. The collaboration began with the acclaimed production of Donizetti’s Don Pasquale interpreted as a black and white 1950s Italian movie. The protagonist will be interpreted by Ildar Abdrazakov, while George Petean will be Attila’s rival in politics and Fabio Sartori the love rival. They will be joined by Saioa Hernández interpreting the only leading female role: Odabella who, despite being loved by the king of the Huns, hates him. Hernández, a young Spanish soprano, is a rising star in the opera world; she has a strong voice with a beautiful timbre and a great technique.
Ilona Catani Scarlett