England, 1536. Anne Boleyn, the most famous of the six wives of that murderer of women and lover of pomp, King Henry VIII, is executed for adultery and high treason when Henry wishes to leave her for another. Three hundred years later the librettist Felice Romani transforms this tragic story to meet the tastes of the Romantic age: the queen now suffers bouts of madness, and the festive atmosphere of a new royal wedding is placed in stark contrast to Anna’s dreadful torment. Italian composer Gaetano Donizetti, with his weakness for tragic female characters, composed the opera »Anna Bolena« at the age of 33. Featuring virtuoso solo arias, multi-layered ensembles and even large-scale choral scenes, the opera’s successful premiere in Milan on 26 December 1830 exceeded all expectations and was responsible for Donizetti’s international breakthrough. The normally reticent composer related the excitement to his wife: »Success, triumph, delirium! It was as if the audience had gone mad! Nobody present could remember a similar triumph … »
Concertante opera in two acts by Gaetano Donizetti In Italian with German surtitles
Running time 3 hours
Premiere 06 Jun 2011
Choir: Christof Bauer
