LES VÊPRES SICILIENNES

A bloody Easter Monday, 1282: the call to vespers in Palermo sparks the Sicilian uprising against the French invaders. Verdi’s fame having spread throughout Europe, the Opéra de Paris commissioned him to write his first original work in French for the 1855 Paris Exposition. The result was The Sicilian Vespers, a historical drama full of theatrical twists and the product of bold experimentation. With Daniele Rustioni and the forces of the Opéra de Lyon, the Festival continues its exploration, in concert version, of a repertoire at the crossroads between bel canto and grand opera; and to perform some of the most demanding parts ever composed by Verdi, it has assembled a cast of the highest international calibre: following her performances as Norma and Vitellia, Karine Deshayes will be taking on the highly challenging role of Hélène for the first time; and buoyed by his recent successes in Aix-en-Provence, John Osborn will be tackling the murderous tessitura of Henri. Finally, with their polished style and crystal-clear French, Nicola Alaimo and Christian Van Horn will be their worthy “bass clefs”.