Verdi's Alzira is hardly one of his better known operas, yet it was his eighth opera, coming between Giovanna d'Arco and Attila. It was premiered in Naples in 1845, but received only a handful of performances, the first performance at La Scala in 1846 was very poorly received and the works seem to have disappeared from the opera stage.. Later in life Verdi was dismissive of it. Now Chelsea Opera Group are giving us the chance to hear for ourselves. Conducted by Gianluca Marciano they perform Verdi's Alzira on Sunday 2 June 2013 at the Queen Elizabeth Hall on London's South Bank with Majella Cullagh in the title role and Mario Sofoniou as Zamora. The is based on Voltaire's play of the same name. It is set in Peru in the 16th century and involves Peruvian tribesmen.
Conductor Gianluca Marciano has conducted a number of works with Chelsea Opera Group, notably Puccini's Manon Lescaut, Verdi's La Traviata and Donizetti's La Favorite, he has also conducted a number of notable performances with Grange Park Opera including Tosca and Madama Butterfly and he returns there in the summer to conduct Bellini's I Puritani.
Next season Chelsea Opera Group continue their meanderings through the byways of operative literature. Well, perhaps not byways, after all I Capuleti e i Montecchi by Bellini does get outings, but nevertheless it is a lovely opera to encounter. The roles of the lovers will be sung by Ana Maria LAbin and Catherine Carby, with Robin Newton conducting. The performance takes place on 16 March 2014 at the Queen Elizabeth Hall. Then on 8 June 2014, again at the Queen Elizabeth Hall, it is time for more Verdi, Stiffelio with Nelly Miricioiu as Lina.
Further information from the Chelsea Opera Group website.
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