A new production of Umberto Giordano’s 1896 opera Andrea Chénier runs at the Royal Opera House from 30th May to 11th June. I'm not an opera enthusiast, but the sets certainly look terrific....
Andrea Chénier (RoyalBalletOpera.org.uk)
Revolution in the air | Robert Thicknesse | The Critic Magazine
The poet Andrea Chénier attends a party at the Countess di Coigny's mansion. He expresses outrage at the corruption in King Louis XVI's government and the poverty of many Frenchmen. This moves the Countess's daughter Maddalena, and inspires the footman and revolutionary-in-the-making Carlo Gérard to quit his servitude. Soon after, the French Revolution begins.
Five years on, Louis XVI has been executed, the Jacobin party are in power, and their leader Robespierre has imposed 'The Terror'. Gérard has become a leading Jacobin, but Chénier has fallen out of favour with the authorities and is in danger. He delays his flight from Paris to meet a mysterious woman who has written to him. She reveals herself to be Maddalena, and the pair quickly realize they are in love. However, Gérard also desires Maddalena. When Chénier is arrested by the authorities, Gérard realizes that he has the power to destroy the man who once inspired him. As his conscience is tested, so too is the love of Andrea and Maddalena.
The opera can be watched remotely in selected cinemas or on the Royal Opera House Stream.
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