In his day, Amilcare Ponchielli was considered the most important Italian composer of the generation after Verdi, but today we know him primarily for La Gioconda, and in particular its famous ballet, 'La danza delle ore'. The story is set in 17th-century Venice, where conspiracies and regattas form the backdrop to the fortunes of the singer Gioconda. Frustrating the machinations of the spy Barnaba, she sacrifices everything to save Enzo, her beloved, and his adulterous mistress Laura. Her last request is: 'Sometime in your memories / Give a thought to Gioconda'. La Gioconda is an intense work, with many scenes in which Ponchielli demonstrates a mastery of drama. It is the link between Verdian drama and the operas of Puccini. The director Olivier Py has a unique ability to shape this kind of historical fresco, while Paolo Carignani can be relied on to steer this grande opera in the right musical direction.
