Above all Simon Boccanegra is a political opera. The people of medieval Genoa, disenfranchised by the nobility, want a leader who understands them, a man of the people, Boccanegra. But his popularity is short lived, and his opponents plot against him, a theme of political rivalry and popular fickleness as relevant today as in the 19th century, or indeed the middle ages. Though one of Verdi’s less performed operas, it is also one of his most dramatic, and the Semperoper team bring it unforgettably to life.
At the helm of this performance was Christian Thielemann, best known for his Strauss and Wagner, but bringing a wonderful sweep to this Italian masterpiece, uniting an extraordinary vocal lyricism with fiery orchestral drama. Both orchestra and singers performed for him with an unwavering commitment and passion drawing on a vast palette of colours, from the powerful declaration of hatred in the prologue to the visceral softness of the final act’s “Piango perché mi parla”, always maintaining perfect balance between orchestra and soloists.
The production, created by director Jan Philipp Gloger, though modern, is simple and doesn’t interfere with the action. There is no attempt to reinterpret the work of Verdi and Piave, just an honest presentation of it, visually stripped down to its essentials. The overall effect is minimalistic, with every alteration, however great or small, achieving a transformative effect. This presentation also creates a universalising effect, underlining the fact that these themes are timeless and global.
My one minor quibble is the dancers, who double the roles of the singers in an effort to support or clarify the action. The simple dramatic presentation here lays the plot bare, and these additions seem to muddy the water, asking far more questions than they answer.