“Don Carlo”, the latest opera project staged by the Croatian National Theatre in Zagreb, had its opening night on Monday, April 10th 2017.
Knows as one of the greatest operas in history, “Don Carlo” was composed by Giuseppe Verdi based on a historic tragedy written by the German literary giant Friedrich Schiller in 1787. Even though the original libretto is written in French, Verdi’s opera has frequently been staged in Spanish (thus also known as “Don Carlos”) and Italian, the latter being the choice for this adaptation by the CNT. The plot is based on the life of Carlos, Prince of Asturias, and merges a love story with political turmoils in 16th century Spain.
As stated on the official website of the CNT, “this opera showcases the best features of Verdi, the great Romantic composer with a flair for drama and melody, and it illustrates complex relationships between the protagonists, whose psychology is portrayed in a markedly contemporary way”.
“Don Carlo” is conducted by Elio Boncompagni, who adapted the work in five acts including the last version of the opera from 1886 and parts from the premiere in Paris in 1867, considering them both to be crucial in highlighting the musical and dramaturgic values of the original. The adaptation is staged by the director Derek Gimpel and features Tomislav Mužek in the title role.
The re-runs of “Don Carlo” are scheduled for April 15th, April 18th and April 22nd. You can get tickets online or at the CNT box office.
