Giordano, U: Andrea Chénier

Set and Costume Design by GIANCARLO DEL MONACO

Arthaus presents Andrea Chenier, one of the important works of Italian verismo, in a realistic staging at the Teatro Communale di Bologna. With José Cura and Maria Guleghina in the lead roles, the production proved to be a visual and musical feast for opera lovers.

Umberto Giordano wrote his best-known work in 1896. It is based on the life of the French poet, André Chénier. The historical figure was born in Constantinople in 1762, the son of a French father and a Greek mother. In 1794, only a few days before Robespierre suffered the same fate, he was executed for his part in a prison uprising. He had been imprisoned for having visited the house of the painter and staunch royalist, the Marquis de Pastoret.

Initially he had espoused the ideals of the Revolution, but his attitude had changed as a result of the arbitrary rule that had led to the murder of Marat and to the beginning of the Reign of Terror.

Carlo Rizzi, highly-acclaimed conductor of the Italian repertoire with international standing, leads the ensemble through the score in an admirable Italian singer-conductor tradition.

Sound Format: PCM Stereo, DD 5.1, DTS 5.1

Picture Format: 16:9

DVD Format: DVD 9, NTSC

Subtitle Languages: IT (Original Language), GB, DE, FR, ES

Running Time: 123 mins

FSK: 0

This Dino Yannopoulos-directed production ran at the Metropolitan Opera at irregular intervals until 1977, with the title role attracting the likes of Carlo Bergonzi, Franco Corelli, and Plácido Domingo. Maddalena would be sung by Renata Tebaldi, Martina Arroyo, and Eileen Farrell; Gérard by Robert Merrill and Ettore Bastianini; and Fausto Cleva, Lamberto Gardelli, and James Levine presided in the pit.

Levine again conducted when Nicolas Joël’s production premiered in April 1996 with Luciano Pavarotti in the title role, opposite Aprile Millo and Juan Pons. This DVD captures a telecast from the following season, with Pavarotti and Pons reprising their portrayals and Maria Guleghina as Maddalena.

Staged by Keith Warner.

First Andrea Chénier on Blu-ray!

After the huge success of Aida, here is the spectacular new production from the Bregenz Festival 2011.

Girodano Umberto’s Andrea Chénier is set against the backdrop of the horrors of the French Revolution and tells the tragic tale of a doomed love affair involving the historical figure of the poet Andrea Chénier, who initially champions the Revolution but later turns against its leaders, before ending up on the scaffold.

Staged by Keith Warner who has worked at major opera houses including Bayreuth, Covent Garden, Vienna etc.

Stage designer David Fielding has worked at important opera houses and with bands including the Pet Shop Boys

“Giordano’s music is verismo of the very highest caliber and drives the high voltage plot forward with breathtaking speed.” Artistic director David Pountney

Total: 120 minutes

BD:DTS-HD MA 5.1, PCM Stereo

Staged by Keith Warner.

After the huge success of Aida, here is the spectacular new production from the Bregenz Festival 2011.

Girodano Umberto’s Andrea Chénier is set against the backdrop of the horrors of the French Revolution and tells the tragic tale of a doomed love affair involving the historical figure of the poet Andrea Chénier, who initially champions the Revolution but later turns against its leaders, before ending up on the scaffold.

Staged by Keith Warner who has worked at major opera houses including Bayreuth, Covent Garden, Vienna etc.

Stage designer David Fielding has worked at important opera houses and with bands including the Pet Shop Boys

“Giordano’s music is verismo of the very highest caliber and drives the high voltage plot forward with breathtaking speed.” Artistic director David Pountney

Total: 120 minutes

DVD: DTS 5.1, PCM Stereo