Adriana Lecouvreur at Joan Sutherland Theatre

Mystery, intrigue, murder? Lovers’ liaisons don’t come any more dangerous than this.

She’s a superstar. Adored by all. She can have any man she chooses. Or can she?

Based on a true story, Adriana Lecouvreur is renowned as “the operatic equivalent of Sunset Boulevard” (The Guardian). Ermonela Jaho, “the world’s most acclaimed soprano” (The Economist), blazes in a role that calls for a pure diva.

This is a tryst with a twist. A tumultuous real life entanglement is a love triangle ripe for operatic excess: the stellar actress, her aristocrat admirer, and his jealous ex who just happens to be Adriana’s greatest rival. Lashings of secrets, pungent violets, and composer Francesco Ciléa’s seductive score make this a high verismo drama.

From Montserrat Caballé and Joan Sutherland to Anna Netrebko, prima donnas of every era have aspired to sing Adriana. Ermonela’s voice of a ‘fiery angel’ meets its match in Carmen Topciu’s smouldering mezzo as the Princess.

Tensions between the two simmer then explode over the attention of Count Maurizio, played by opera’s “high-flying leading man” (Vanity Fair), Michael Fabiano. Baritone Giorgio Caoduro adds depth to the potent mix as Michonnet, Adriana’s doting stage director.

Opera’s definitive statement on celebrity scandals brims with passion and peril. Inventive Italian director Rosetta Cucchi takes this salacious tale from the repertoire’s shadows to the limelight – where Adriana Lecouvreur rightfully belongs.

A CO-PRODUCTION BETWEEN TEATRO COMUNALE DI BOLOGNA, FUNDACIÓN ÓPERA DE OVIEDO AND OPERA AUSTRALIA.