Giuseppe Verdi. Atilla

Outstanding opera bass Ildar Abdrazakov in the title role of Giuseppe Verdi's opera Attila on the historic stage of the Mariinsky Theatre.

Giuseppe Verdi's opera Attila is based on the play by German playwright Zacharias Werner, Attila, King of the Huns. This play captivated the composer so much that in September 1845 he began to think about the plot for his new opera. The composer entrusted the work on the libretto to Francesco Maria Piave, with whom he had been successfully working for several years. The poet's task was to translate the text of Werner's play from German into Italian. However, soon the composer, apparently not entirely satisfied with Piave's work, handed over the unfinished manuscript to Temistocle Soler. But soon Solera, without finishing the translation, left for Barcelona; Giuseppe Verdi was forced to return the text to Francesco Maria Piave for revision. On March 17, 1846, the opera was first staged in Venice at the Teatro La Fenice. In 1865, the composer created a French version with ballet scenes for the Paris Opera.

In Russia, the opera "Attila" was first performed on the Odessa stage in 1849, and in St. Petersburg it was staged on the stage of the Mariinsky Theater only in 2010.

Aquileia and the Adriatic lagoons, the outskirts of Rome, around the middle of the 5th century.

Attila and his warriors invaded Italy. Among the captives of the Hunnic leader is Odabella, the daughter of the ruler of Aquileia, who died on the battlefield. Attila is greatly impressed by Odabella's courage. He gives her his own sword and takes her into his retinue.

The Roman military leader Ezio seeks an alliance with Attila against the emperor, but he rejects his offer. Meanwhile, Odabella's betrothed Foresto arrives in Rio Alto and calls on the refugees from Aquileia to build a new city - the future Venice.

During a meeting with Foresto, Odabella tries to dissuade him from believing that she has betrayed Italy. She assures him that she is simply waiting for an opportunity to take revenge on the tyrant. Meanwhile, Attila tries to shake off the memories of a terrible dream he had the day before: an old man of enormous stature blocked the Huns' path to Rome. However, his courage leaves him when the dream comes true. Leone enters the camp to prevent Attila from entering Rome. Attila recognizes him with horror as the old man he dreamed of.

Foresto and Ezio, who is invited to Attila's feast, make plans to defeat the Huns. Foresto reports that the leader of the Huns will be poisoned at night and the Roman soldiers must be prepared to suddenly attack the enemy camp. But Odabella's intervention saves the king from poisoning: not wanting to cede her right to revenge to anyone else, she warns Attila of the assassination attempt. Attila declares that Odabella will become his wife tomorrow, and then he will lead his troops to Rome. Taking advantage of the general jubilation, the girl begs Foresto, who tried to poison Attila, to flee.

During the wedding ceremony, the Huns' camp is surrounded by the Romans, and when they rush to the attack, Odabella kills Attila.

PERFORMERS:

Attila, King of the Huns - Ildar Abdrazakov

Ezio, Roman commander - Vladislav Sulimsky

Odabella, daughter of the ruler of Aquila - Anna Markarova

Foresto, her fiancé - Sergey Skorokhodov

Uldino, Attila's slave - Mikhail Makarov

Leone, an old Roman - Timur Abdikeyev

Musical director and conductor - Valery Gergiev

Stage director - Arturo Tama

Mariinsky Theatre, St. Petersburg