Andrea Chénier

Foto Gaia Bonanomi
Opera & Ballet 2024-2025

Andrea Chénier | Umberto Giordano

“A complete triumph. Twenty curtain calls for the artists and maestro,” wrote the publisher Sonzogno in a telegram in March 1896 to announce the overwhelming success of Andrea Chénier to the librettist, Luigi Illica, who had so skilfully transformed into an ardent tragedy the real-life story of a French poet who had fallen victim to the French Revolution. In the opera, Chénier is an idealist, helplessly swept up by the schemes of the Jacobin Terror and hopelessly in love with Maddalena, an aristocrat fleeing the revolutionaries. Victims of Gérard’s lust, the two remain united until the end. Encouraged by a libretto filled with historical details and characters driven by extreme passion, the composer Umberto Giordano reworked revolutionary marches such as La Carmagnole and wrote a true wealth of magnificent arias and duets. Few operas can boast such a great number of memorable pieces, including “Un Dì, all’Azzurro Spazio,” “La Mamma Morta,” and “Nemico della Patria,” to name just a few.


The vocal parts for the two ill-fated lovers are especially challenging, requiring expressive power and technical control, for which they will be sung by two acclaimed performers of truly great vocal standing, Gregory Kunde and Maria Agresta. Franco Vassallo will perform the role of their nemesis, Gérard. This staging of the opera will present the spectacular new production by Giancarlo Del Monaco, an experienced director of worldwide renown, who calls himself “an innovator in keeping with tradition.” Maestro Andrea Battistoni returns to the Teatro Regio podium, after his brilliant work with La Bohème last season.
 

Andrea Battistoni conductor
Giancarlo del Monaco direction
Daniel Bianco sets
Jesus Ruiz costumes
Wolfgang von Zoubek lighting
Ulisse Trabacchin chorus master
Orchestra and Chorus Teatro Regio Torino
New staging Teatro Regio Torino

Lecture-Concert: Wednesday 14 May at 6 pm - Foyer del Toro

Historical drama in four scenes

Music by Umberto Giordano
Libretto by Luigi Illica
World première:
Milano, Teatro alla Scala,
Overtitles in italian/english
Indicative duration
165'

Characters and cast

Kunde Gregory
Andrea Chénier Tenor

Gregory Kunde

Andrea Chénier Tenor

Angelo Villari

Carlo Gérard Baritone

Franco Vassallo

Carlo Gérard Baritone

Ernesto Petti

Maria Agrest
Maddalena di Coigny Soprano

Maria Agresta

Maddalena di Coigny Soprano

Yolanda Auyanet

Maddalena di Coigny Soprano

Alessandra di Giorgio

Mara Gaudenzi
Bersi Mezzo-soprano

Mara Gaudenzi

Bersi Soprano

Albina Tonkikh (Regio Ensemble)

La contessa di Coigny Mezzo-soprano

Federica Giansanti

Madelon Mezzo-soprano

Manuela Custer

Adriano Gramigni
Roucher Bass

Adriano Gramigni

Nicolò Ceriani
Pietro Fléville e Fouquier Tinville Baritone

Nicolò Ceriani

Vincenzo Nizzardo
Mathieu Baritone

Vincenzo Nizzardo

Riccardo Rados
Un "Incredibile" Tenor

Riccardo Rados

L'abate poeta Tenor

Mark Kim (Regio Ensemble)

Zimmerman
Dumas Bass

Tyler Zimmerman (Regio Ensemble)

Schmidt Baritone

Janusz Nosek (Regio Ensemble)

Performances

Location: Teatro Regio Full calendar

Opera & Ballet
Andrea Chénier | Umberto Giordano

Anteprima Giovani

2025-06-17 20:00:00 Europe/Rome Andrea Chénier | Umberto Giordano di | Umberto Giordano Teatro Regio di Torino Teatro Regio di Torino

Opera & Ballet
Andrea Chénier | Umberto Giordano
Gregory KundeFranco VassalloMaria Agresta
2025-06-18 20:00:00 Europe/Rome Andrea Chénier | Umberto Giordano di | Umberto Giordano Teatro Regio di Torino Teatro Regio di Torino

Opera & Ballet
Andrea Chénier | Umberto Giordano
Angelo VillariErnesto PettiYolanda Auyanet
2025-06-19 20:00:00 Europe/Rome Andrea Chénier | Umberto Giordano di | Umberto Giordano Teatro Regio di Torino Teatro Regio di Torino

Opera & Ballet
Andrea Chénier | Umberto Giordano
Angelo VillariErnesto PettiYolanda Auyanet
2025-06-21 20:00:00 Europe/Rome Andrea Chénier | Umberto Giordano di | Umberto Giordano Teatro Regio di Torino Teatro Regio di Torino

Opera & Ballet
Andrea Chénier | Umberto Giordano
Gregory KundeFranco VassalloMaria Agresta
Baby Club
2025-06-22 15:00:00 Europe/Rome Andrea Chénier | Umberto Giordano di | Umberto Giordano Teatro Regio di Torino Teatro Regio di Torino

Opera & Ballet
Andrea Chénier | Umberto Giordano
Angelo VillariErnesto PettiAlessandra di Giorgio
2025-06-25 15:00:00 Europe/Rome Andrea Chénier | Umberto Giordano di | Umberto Giordano Teatro Regio di Torino Teatro Regio di Torino

Opera & Ballet
Andrea Chénier | Umberto Giordano
Gregory KundeFranco VassalloYolanda Auyanet
2025-06-26 20:00:00 Europe/Rome Andrea Chénier | Umberto Giordano di | Umberto Giordano Teatro Regio di Torino Teatro Regio di Torino

Opera & Ballet
Andrea Chénier | Umberto Giordano
Angelo VillariErnesto PettiAlessandra di Giorgio
2025-06-28 20:00:00 Europe/Rome Andrea Chénier | Umberto Giordano di | Umberto Giordano Teatro Regio di Torino Teatro Regio di Torino

Opera & Ballet
Andrea Chénier | Umberto Giordano
Gregory KundeFranco VassalloYolanda Auyanet
2025-06-29 15:00:00 Europe/Rome Andrea Chénier | Umberto Giordano di | Umberto Giordano Teatro Regio di Torino Teatro Regio di Torino

Synopsis

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Scene 1: The Coronation Hall

The royal Danish court is celebrating the coronation of Queen Gertrude who has married Claudius, brother of the late King Hamlet. Claudius places the crown on Gertrude's head. All leave, and Prince Hamlet, son of the late King and Gertrude, enters. He is upset that his mother has remarried so soon. Ophélie enters, and they sing a love duet. Laërte, Ophélie's brother, enters. He is being sent to Norway and gives his farewells. He entrusts Ophélie to the care of Hamlet. Hamlet refuses to join Laërte and Ophélie as they leave to join the banquet, and goes off in another direction. Courtiers and soldiers, on their way to the banquet, enter the hall. Horatio and Marcellus tell the soldiers that they have seen the ghost of Hamlet's father on the ramparts of the castle the previous night and go off to tell Hamlet.

Scene 2: The Ramparts

Horatio and Marcellus meet Hamlet on the ramparts. The Ghost appears, Horatio and Marcellus leave, and the Ghost tells his son that Claudius murdered him with poison. The Ghost commands Hamlet to take vengeance on Claudius, but Gertrude must be spared. The Ghost withdraws. Hamlet draws his sword and swears to avenge his father.

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Scene 1: The Gardens

Ophélie, reading a book, is concerned at Hamlet's new indifference. Hamlet appears in the distance, but leaves without speaking. The Queen enters. Ophélie says she would like to leave the court, but the Queen insists she should stay. Ophélie leaves the garden and King Claudius enters. Gertrude suspects that Hamlet now knows about the murder of his father, but Claudius says he does not. Hamlet enters and feigns madness. He rejects all overtures of friendship from Claudius, then announces he has engaged a troupe of actors to perform a play that evening. Claudius and Gertrude leave, and the players enter. Hamlet asks them to mime the play The Murder of Gonzago and then sings a drinking song, playing the fool, so as not to arouse suspicion.

Scene 2: The Play

The King and Queen and the other guests assemble in the castle hall where the stage has been set up. The play begins, and Hamlet narrates. The play tells a story similar to the murder of Hamlet's father. After the "poison" is administered, the "assassin" places the "crown" on his head. Claudius turns pale, rises abruptly, and commands the play to stop and the actors to leave. Hamlet accuses Claudius of the murder of his father, and snatches Claudius' crown from his head. The entire assembly reacts in a grand septet with chorus.

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Closet Scene

In the Queen's chambers Hamlet delivers the monologue "To be or not to be", then hides behind a tapestry. Claudius enters and prays aloud of his remorse. Hamlet, deciding Claudius' soul may be saved, if he is killed while praying, delays yet again. Polonius enters and in his conversation with Claudius reveals his own complicity. The King and Polonius leave, Hamlet emerges, and Gertrude enters with Ophélie. The Queen tries to persuade Hamlet to marry Ophélie, but Hamlet, realizing he can no longer marry the daughter of the guilty Polonius, refuses. Ophélie returns her ring to Hamlet and leaves. Hamlet tries to force Gertrude to confront her guilt, but she resists. As Hamlet threatens her, he sees the Ghost, who reminds him he must spare his mother.

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The Mad Scene

After Hamlet's rejection, Ophélie has gone mad and drowns herself in the lake.

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Gravediggers Scene

Hamlet comes upon two gravediggers digging a new grave. He asks who has died, but they do not know. He sings of remorse for his ill treatment of Ophélie. Laërte, who has returned from Norway and learned of his sister's death and Hamlet's role in it, enters and challenges Hamlet to a duel. They fight, and Hamlet is wounded, but Ophélie's funeral procession interrupts the duel. Hamlet finally realizes she is dead. The Ghost appears again and exhorts Hamlet to kill Claudius, which Hamlet does, avenging his father's death. The Ghost affirms Claudius' guilt and Hamlet's innocence. Hamlet, still in despair, is proclaimed King to cries of "Long live Hamlet! Long live the King!".

[In the much shorter "Covent Garden" ending the ghost does not appear, and, after Hamlet finally attacks and kills Claudius, he embraces Ophélie's body and dies. This version had apparently never been used until recently].