The story begins…
Count Maurizio and the beautiful actress Adriana Lecouvreur fall passionately in love. But their affair is threatened not only by their mutual preoccupation with their respective careers, but by the furious jealousy of the Princesse de Bouillon, Maurizio’s cast-off mistress.
The real story of Adriana
The title role of Cilea’s opera Adriana Lecouvreur is inspired by the 18th-century French actress Adrienne Lecouvreur, one of the greatest tragic actresses of her era, particularly known for her interpretations of Racine’s heroines. While Adrienne did indeed have a long-term love affair with Maurice of Saxony (who had also attracted the attention of the young Duchesse de Bouillon) it is thought that her early death – despite rumours of poisoning – was from natural causes.
Cilea’s greatest hit
Adriana Lecouvreur was the only successful opera by Francesco Cilea, a contemporary of Puccini who, unlike many Italian composers of his generation, was not particularly drawn to verismo opera. Adriana’s premiere in November 1902 at the Teatro Lirico, Milan, met with acclaim from public and press alike, not least because the great tenor Enrico Caruso was singing Maurizio. The opera soon toured internationally, and in recent years has re-entered the regular repertory.
⇒ Adriana Lecouvreur runs 7 February–2 March 2017. Tickets are still available.
The production is a co-production with Gran Teatre del Liceu, Barcelona, Vienna State Opera, San Francisco Opera and Opéra National de Paris, and is given with generous philanthropic support from The Friends of Covent Garden.
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