IRINA LUNGU TO RETURN TO THE VIENNA STATE OPERA AS DONNA ANNA IN DON GIOVANNI

On January 23, 26 and 29, 2016 Irina Lungu will sing the role of Donna Anna in Don Giovanni at the Vienna State Opera in a production by Jean-Louis Martinoty conducted by Adam Fischer. The series marks her return to the Vienna State Opera after the triumphant house debut as Violetta in La traviata in the 2015/16 season. Irina Lungu will be surrounded by a prestigious cast that includes Simon Keenlyside (Don Giovanni), Erwin Schrott (Leporello), Benjamin Bruns (Don Ottavio), Dorothea Röschmann (Donna Elvira), Sorin Coliban (Il Commendatore), Manuel Walser (Masetto) and Ileana Tonca (Zerlina). On February 8, 2017, she will reprise the role in a gala concert performance of Don Giovanni with the Vienna State Opera on tour to TCA Abu Dhabi Classics.

“I made my debut as Donna Anna in 2015 at the Arena of Verona in a marvelous production by Franco Zeffirelli”, says the Russian soprano. “ I had wanted to sing it for a long time, but I believe one needs to be both scenically and vocally experienced before tackling the mature Mozart masterpieces, and so I waited for the right occasion. I adore Donna Anna, the character – in my view – with the most complex and articulated personality in the opera. Vocally, it calls for a rich timbre and wide-ranging extension, reflecting her multi-faceted spectrum of emotions and thoughts: this role requires bel-canto coloratura but also dramatic and pathos-filled accents. Donna Anna finds herself in an ambiguous situation, and the color of the voice , which should be deep, noble and rich, ought to convey such variety and depth.”

This 2016/17 season Irina Lungu opened the season of the Teatro Regio of Turin as Mimì in La bohème, sang the same Puccini role at the Teatro San Carlo and Gilda in a new production of Rigoletto at the Teatro Comunale of Bologna. After this Viennese engagement, the soprano faces an impressive series of bel-canto role debuts: Giulietta in I Capuleti e i Montecchi at the Teatro Filarmonico of Verona, Elvira in I Puritani in Modena, Piacenza and Reggio Emilia, and the title role of Anna Bolena at the Opéra Grand Avignon. Her season ends with a new production of Lucia di Lammermoor in Bologna.

Information about the production of Don Giovanni at the Vienna State Opera:

Simon Keenlyside (Don Giovanni), Irina Lungu (Donna Anna), Benjamin Bruns (Don Ottavio), Dorothea Röschmann, Erwin Schrott (Leporello), Sorin Coliban (Il Commendatore), Manuel Walser (Masetto), Ileana Tonca (Zerlina)

Adam Fischer (conductor), Jean Louis Martinoty (director)

Performances: January 23, 26, 29, 2017 at Vienna State Opera.

https://www.wiener-staatsoper.at/spielplan-tickets/detail/event/963138534-don-giovanni/