Afternoon at the Opera

Simon Boccanegra

 
A king and his guard on stage

metopera.org

From The Metropolitan Opera website:

Simon Boccanegra is Verdi’s compelling portrayal of a man who is both a leader and an outsider, set against one of the most incisive depictions of politics ever put on the stage. The premiere was not successful, but more than 20 years later the composer revised the opera. Although Boccanegra remains just outside the core repertory of Verdi favorites, it is a rewarding example of his genius at its most humane and insightful.

The legendary pair of James Levine and Plácido Domingo have defined Verdi’s art for more than four decades. They demonstrate their mastery with this remarkable character study of the wise Doge forced to confront his past. The spectacular cast includes tenor Joseph Calleja and another legend, bass Ferruccio Furlanetto, as Boccanegra’s rival, Fiesco.