Attila: twice post poned and triumphantly returned
Opera Australia is bringing back Verdi’s Attila, the Company’s first co-production with the prestigious Teatro alla Scala, after the COVID pandemic suspended its hugely successful 2020 premiere after only two performances and its 2021 run days before opening.
“We had magnificent feedback when Attila opened in 2020 and we’ve received requests to reschedule it ever since, so I’m ecstatic that we are able to present it again in the Sydney Opera House with most of the original cast and enable more people to experience such a marvellous production,” says OA Artistic Director Lyndon Terracini.
Known for his work with Opera Australia’s innovative digital productions, renowned director Davide Livermore fuses together modern and traditional staging for Attila with digital projections, a colossal set and even two live horses.
The incredible direction, Giò Forma’s formidable sets, D-Wok’s captivating video designs and Gianluca Falaschi’s stunning costumes combine with Verdi’s soaring music and gripping story to ensure this production of Attila is nothing short of epic and one not to be missed.
Telling the story of the King of the Huns’ invasion of Italy, this revenge opera will feature a world-class cast including renowned bass Taras Berezhansky who will reprise his role as the barbarous Attila. “Firm and focused across his range, Berezhansky’s appealing, dark-hued timbre and resounding strength captured Attila’s imposing authority and arrogant certainty.” – The Australian
Opera Australia favourites, soprano Natalie Aroyan and tenor Diego Torre will also reprise their roles of the warrior princess Odabella and her fiancé Foresto respectively. After performing to great acclaim as Giorgio Germont in La Traviata with Opera Australia earlier this year, Mario Cassi joins the cast as the determined Roman General Ezio.
OA principal singer, Virgilio Marino, will reprise his role as Breton slave Uldino, whilst regular OA principal bass Richard Anderson joins the cast as Pope Leo I.
One of the most outstanding young conductors in the world today, Italian Maestro Andrea Battistoni will lead the Opera Australia Orchestra, the Opera Australia Chorus and the Opera Australia Children’s Chorus in Verdi’s rarely performed work.
The success of this “blockbuster spectacle” (Financial Times, 2018) led OA to a second collaboration with Teatro alla Scala, presenting Verdi’s rarely performed Ernani in Australia in 2021, which received a 2022 Green Room Award for Best Direction as well as several other nominations.
For more information or tickets visit the Opera Australia website.
Media release supplied.
