Giovanna d’Arco
Жанна д’Арк
Giuseppe Verdi premiered Giovanna d’Arco at La Scala on February 15, 1845. It was played for the last time on 23 September 1865. After 150 year’s absence, it returned again for the opening of the season.Verdi himself considered it one of his best works. Despite its relative rarity, it is a work of the utmost musical quality.
In this production staged by the French-Belgian duo Moshe Leiser and Patrice Caurier, Riccardo Chailly, one of the world’s most acclaimed “Verdian” directors, is on the podium, for the first time, with Anna Netrebko and and Francesco Meli. Chailly defined this performance as “an opera about the father-daughter relationship so important in Verdi’s operas.” Anna Netrebko’s interpretation was described as the most exciting in the star’s career and the pairing Netrebko – Meli as a match made in heaven.
Actors
Giovanna
Carlo VII
Giacomo
Talbot
Delil
Crew
Set designer
Christian Fenouillat
Costume Designer
Agostino Cavalca
Lighting Designer
Christophe Forey
Giovanna has been captured by the English army and is awaiting her death at the stake. She has visions of battlefield victories and begs God to stand by her, explaining how she has shown her obedience by forsaking her worldly love for the King as the voices had commanded. Giacomo overhears her pleas and recognizes his error. He loosens his daughter's bonds and she escape. She rushes to the battlefield to turn French defeat into victory once more.
Giacomo pleads with the King, first for punishment and then for forgiveness, which Charles grants. Charles learns of the French victory on the battlefield but also of Giovanna's death. As her body is carried in, Giovanna suddenly revives. Giacomo reclaims his daughter, and the King professes his love. The angels sing of salvation and victory, as Giovanna dies and ascends into heaven.
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