On April 29, 2018 Annalisa Stroppa will debut the role of Giovanna Seymour in Anna Bolena at the Teatro Filarmonico of Verona, in a Graham Vick production under the musical direction of Maestro Jordi Bernàcer, the first of a series of four performances running through May 6, 2018. She will share the stage with Irina Lungu and Elena Mosuc alternating in the title role, Antonino Siragusa and Mert Süngü as Lord Riccardo Percy, Mirco Palazzi as Enrico VIII and Martina Belli as Smeton.

“Graham Vick describes Anna Bolena as an opera where ‘two women use sex to reach the throne and one man uses the throne to get sex’ “, explains the Italian mezzosoprano. “In his view power sets the events in motion, everyone loves in order to gain something back and it is from this perspective that I must give life to my Giovanna Seymour, a woman who is willing to do anything in order to become queen. She knows the king is in her power and manipulates him with her shady sensuality, letting him know under no uncertain terms that she is not going to be one of his numerous lovers. When he asks her what she wants, she resolutely answers: ‘Love and Reputation’. She clearly has a strong inner turmoil, because if on the one hand she is characterized by her ambition and this great passion for the king, on the other hand she feels terribly guilty towards Anna. She tries hard to save the queen’s life, mostly because she doesn’t want to have her on her conscience, but to no avail. In my personal opinion she is sincerely in love with Enrico and she finds herself between two fires: the king and her queen’s tragic fate. Vocally it is an extremely demanding role: Donizetti wrote it for a mezzo-soprano able to sail effortlessly to the top register, but at the same time with a full-bodied instruments and dramatic accents. It’s a huge challenge and I will do my best to do it full justice.” Regarding the production, Annalisa Stroppa adds: “It is a revival of Mr. Vick’s famous ‘British Style’ mise-en-scene, where the characters strongly stand out in the manner of Elizabethan theatre. I am guided by Maestro Bernàcer’s extraordinary musical sensitivity and surrounded by exceptional colleagues!”

Annalisa Stroppa made her Teatro Filarmonico debut as Rosina in Il barbiere di Siviglia in 2015, though she had also previously appeared in 2014 at the Arena Verona as Stéphano in Roméo et Juliette. After this Anna Bolena, her upcoming engagements include the title role in Carmen at Opera Las Palmas and the Bregenz Festival and Dorabella in Così fan tutte at the Teatro Regio Turin.

Information about Anna Bolena at the Teatro Filarmonico Verona

Anna Bolena: Irina Lungu / Elena Mosuc; Giovanna Seymour: Annalisa Stroppa; Riccardo Percy: Antonino Siragusa / Mert Süngü; Enrico VIII: Mirco Palazzi; Smeton: Martina Belli; Rochefort: Romano Dal Zovo; Sir Harvey: Nicola Pamio.

Jordi Bernàcer, conductor; Graham Vick, stage director

Performances: April 29; May 2, 4, 6, 2018