On October 7, 2017, Saimir Pirgu will debut the role of Gabriele Adorno in Simon Boccanegra at the Teatro San Carlo in Naples, in a historic production by Sylvano Bussotti (reprised by Paolo Vettori) and under the musical direction of Maestro Stefano Ranzani, the first of a series of four performances running through October 14. He will share the stage with Ambrogio Maestri in the title role, Myrtò Papatanasiu as Amelia Grimaldi and John Relyea as Jacopo Fiesco.

In the past few years, the Albanian born, Italian naturalized tenor has been gradually adding some new roles to his basically lyric repertoire, always following the pattern of singing them for one production, letting them rest for a few years and then reprising them with added maturity, and Gabriele Adorno is no exception. “I often sing Adorno’s aria in my concerts”, says Saimir Pirgu. “Despite its difficulties, I think it’s perfect fit for my voice.”

After this Simon Boccanegra, Saimir Pirgu’s 2017/2018 schedule includes another role debut, that of Pinkerton in Madama Butterfly at the Zurich Opera, as well as the reprise of familiar roles such as Roméo in Romeo et Juliette at the Grand Teatre del Liceu Barcelona, Nemorino in L’elisir d’amore at the New National Theatre Tokyo, Duca di Mantova in Rigoletto at the Bavarian State Opera Munich and the soloist tenor part in Verdi’s Messa da Requiem at the Halle aux Grains Toulouse.

Information about Simon Boccanegra at the Teatro San Carlo Naples:

Simon Boccanegra: Ambrogio Maestri / Amartuvshin Enkhbat; Jacopo Fiesco: John Relyea / Giorgio Giuseppini; Amelia: Myrtò Papatanasiu / Davinia Rodriguez; Gabriele Adorno: Saimir Pirgu / Leonardo Caimi; Paolo Albiani: Gianfranco Montresor / Gezim Myshketa; Pietro: Alessandro Abis / Gianvito Ribba; il capitano dei balestrieri: Antonello Ceron

Sylvano Bussotti (stage director); Stefano Ranzani (conductor)

Performances: October 7, 8, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 2017.