Event description
Giuseppe Verdi's opera Don Carlo is one of the most important productions of the theatre and, despite the great controversy, it has a very strong impact. And could it be otherwise? After all, Verdi's Don Carlo, which belongs to the genre of 'grand opera', is a powerful work, not only because of its wonderful music, but also because of the characters of its historical characters and its dramatic plot. The opera premiered in Paris in 1867 and is based on a play by Friedrich Schiller. Schiller's drama was what Verdi was looking for in his later operas: after leaving the theatrical external dramas and librettos full of romantic passions, the composer turned towards an inner tragedy; these works have little external action, but aim to express inner experiences, the search for truth and the yearning for humanity. The 2016 staging of this opera did not opt for an illustrative presentation of the drama, but sought to reveal its deepest layers. The director's main goal was to delve deeper into Verdi's work and to abandon the clichés that have accompanied the opera since the 19th-century Parisian stage. In this production, Günter Krämer has made unexpected choices and connections: the video for Blackstar and its meanings were influenced and inspired by the pre-death farewell message of rock star David Bowie. The production won 3 Golden Stage Crosses - Günter Krämer was named Best Director of the Year, while Herbert Schäfer (for Best Set Design) and mezzo-soprano Eglė Šidlauskaitė (for her role as Eboli) also received awards. Premiere on 4 March 2016.