One of Giuseppe Verdi’s greatest operas returns to the prestigious Gran Teatre del Liceu from the 17th – 29th July.
Musical Director and conductor Daniele Calegari leads the Symphony Orchestra and Chorus of the Liceu Opera Barcelona in this powerful reinterpretation of the classic story set in Saragossa, Spain. Manrico, the troubadour, is desperately in love with Leonora, lady-in-waiting to the Princess. However, the Count di Luna is also set on wooing Leonora. The Count’s younger brother was thought to have been bewitched by a gypsy, who was burned at the stake. Her daughter Azucena’s revenge was to throw the baby into the flames, although remains of body were never found. Di Luna’s father died of sorrow and the Count swore to find the woman who killed his brother.
He collars Manrico, who is chasing after Leonora, and challenges him to a duel. Manrico escapes and is nursed back to health by his mother. When he hears that Leonora believes him dead and has entered a convent he returns, despite his mother’s desperate pleas for him to stay away. His mother is captured wandering near the camp, and suspicions are aroused. It turns out that Manrico’s mother is the gypsy woman di Luna seeks.
The Count captures and tortures Azucena and when Manrico tries to rescue her, he too is captured. Leonora intercedes by offering to marry the Count, but ultimately commits suicide. Then di Luna kills Manrico and Azucena reveals that the troubadour was none other than the Count’s long-lost brother.
Gran Teatre del Liceu
La Rambla, 51-59
