Acting
Nobleman Boris Godunov accumulates power in Russia, first as regent, then as tsar. But the ghosts of the past catch up with him and he ends up losing not only his power but his sanity. Russia sinks ever deeper into a mire of corruption, intrigue and coups. In his grand choral opera, Modest Mussorgsky deals with a theme that offers poignant parallels to today’s world: the extremes to which one man’s thirst for power can lead. The director Kirill Serebrennikov incorporates his own experiences in Russia to present his take on an opera about political turmoil and its consequences. Serebrennikov’s production focuses on the effect on the people of high-stakes political scheming. Conductor Vasily Petrenko makes his Amsterdam debut leading the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra. A top-flight cast is led bass-baritone Tomasz Konieczny, celebrated for his ability to get into the skin of his characters both vocally and dramatically, singing the title role for the first time.
The former corsair Simon Boccanegra has risen to power in Genoa but carries the burden of personal loss and old rivalries. He is unexpectedly reunited with his long-lost daughter, and their renewed bond becomes entangled with conflicts involving noble families, love and revenge. Simon struggles to preserve peace in the city while protecting those closest to him. Can he overcome betrayal and reconcile the forces tearing his world apart before it is too late?
