On the occasion of the Eurokontext.sk festival, the Slovak National Theatre presents a valuable program that will be appreciated especially by demanding audiences. The biggest attraction is Simon Boccanegra at the SND Opera, but the story of Romeo and Juliet, as interpreted by the controversial director Diego de Brea, also deserves special attention.
Image and text material provided by the Slovak National Theatre
What is the personal price for political success?
This is also the question addressed in one of the most dramatic operas by Italian composer Giuseppe Verdi, Simon Boccanegra. A somber, historical drama with a touch of ever-present death, it tells the story of a man who, through the choices of his youth, finds himself entangled in a tangle of political intrigue, rebellion, and murderous conspiracy.
Simon's journey to political success begins with his election as Doge on the day he discovers that his beloved Maria, the mother of his missing child Amelie, has died after being brutally abused by her father, Jacob Fiesco. A few years later, when Simon, already Doge of Genoa, finds his lost daughter again, his newfound happiness is tested by political power struggles.
SIMON BOCCANEGRA / Daniel Čapkovič and Filip Tuma. (photo: © Ctibor Bachratý)Giuseppe Verdi was not only one of the most important figures in world opera, but also a composer whose works inspired a generation of Italians in their struggle for independence, as a result of which he often faced the wrath of government censorship. He was often considered by his contemporaries to be a man of strong patriotic convictions. His patriotic and passionate interest in political events at a time when Europe was torn apart by wars, uprisings and other socio-political conflicts, Verdi expressed through his works the ideals of the Italian people torn by unrest.
In Simon Boccanegra, Verdi eschews sentimentality, abandons the stories of the people on the street, and focuses on the centers of power. By depicting the fragility of human ideals, the betrayal of seemingly inviolable morality, and hopes lost in a maze of emotions, he describes society's ever-present quest for truth. The truth that lies behind the painful transition from the idealistic glorification of rebellion to the bitter taste of pragmatic rule.
In the musical staging by conductor Martin Leginus and directed by SND Director General Marián Chudovský, on Saturday, May 20 and Sunday, May 22, 2016, soloists and guests of the SND Opera such as Sergej Tolstov, Anton Keremidtchiev, Eva Hornyáková, Katarína Juhásová-Štúrová, Adriana Kohútková, Tomáš Juhás, Kyungho Kim, Ľudovít Ludha, Jozef Benci, Peter Mikuláš and others will be introduced to you.
The SND presents the opera Simon Boccanegra in Italian.
ROMEO AND JULIET: An Immortal Romance Through the Eyes of a Controversial Director
"The message of the opera Romeo and Juliet is simple. Every love, if it is true, is tragic. Because love is not harmony, it is war. Always. Whether we are talking about the animal world or the human world." (Diego de Brea)
The controversial Slovenian-Spanish director Diego de Brea has left a wave of extreme and even contradictory opinions after each of his productions at the Slovak National Theatre. One group of viewers was carried away by his innovative approach to the great works of world drama, while the other left the theatre in horror, not knowing what to really think. Let us mention at least one of his most controversial works on the SND stage – the production of Brecht's Little Townsman's Wedding, which contained an above-standard number of explicit scenes and was therefore only accessible to viewers over 18. In addition to being nominated for DOSKY awards in two categories, this work has sparked heated discussions, not only in artistic circles…
In the 95th theatre season, Diego de Brea was approached by the management of the SND Opera to take on the direction of the most tragic love story in the history of literature. And it was the first time that Diego had taken on the task of directing an opera. Together with conductor Rastislav Štúr, set designer Marko Japelj and costume designer Blagoj Micevský, they created a completely new take on Shakespeare's tragedy, full of surprising dramatic twists and breathtaking stage moments.
ROMEO AND JULIET / Tomáš Juhás and Ľubica Vargicová (photo: J. Barinka)
"I agreed to direct this because of the music, the dramatic model, because of the problem in this drama that irritates me a lot, because this is a story that discusses war, love and faith. In drama, you only have silence and words. In opera, the interpretation is already ready, but you have to find it somehow, through music and imagination. Opera is a work of all arts. It is something that connects all other art forms. That is why it is the most complete, and I think one of the strongest art forms that exists," said director Diego de Brea about his operatic debut.
The story, which has already been picked up by an incredible number of directors, takes on a new dimension and power in his hands. The deep dramaturgical analysis of the characters is expressed not only by the very well-mastered acting, but also by the captivating visual representation, which, through the intimate scenic spaces created by light, penetrates the viewer deep under the skin - right into the soul. Beautiful and highly emotional scenes without unnecessary scenery reveal the real pain caused by the desire for love, which, like the rays of light of de Bre's scene, arises and disappears in one short, imperceptible moment.
When Gounod began work on Romeo and Juliet in 1867, he was enjoying the extraordinary success of his next adaptation, an opera based on Goethe's Faust. The composer decided to collaborate with the same librettists – Jules Barbier and Michel Carré.
The result of this collaboration is a libretto that is close to Shakespeare's original, but in addition to a significantly different ending, it is also missing several classic memorable scenes. However, this in no way detracts from the significance and dramaturgical intention of the production itself. De Brea's mastery of the turbulent and tragic story of two Veronese lovers is nevertheless full of excitement and acute conflicts between the rival families of the Capulets and Montagues. From the meeting at the ball to the famous death scene, Diego de Brea, with the dynamic musical staging of Rastislav Štúr, creates a captivating tragic odyssey that will force the viewer to reflect on the true value of love.