La Gioconda

By Leanora Volpe

An exciting addition to Opera Holland Park's 2008 season is Ponchielli's well-known opera La Gioconda, which is a tantalising prospect for audiences. Conductor Peter Robinson, director Martin Lloyd Evans and designer Jamie Vartan are the team who created the stunning L'amore dei tre Re in 2007. The opera was first performed in 1876 in Milan, and received a cordial reception from its audience proving a major success for Ponchielli, alongside other operatic masterpieces of the time including Verdi's Aida and Otello.

La Gioconda, an opera in four acts entitled 'The Lions Mouth', 'The Rosary', 'Ca' d'Oro' and 'The Orfano Canal', involves La Gioconda, who in return for giving herself to Barnaba - the captor of her lover and her mother's saviour - has them freed so that they can be together before stabbing herself with Barnaba whispering that he has killed her mother anyway.

Yvonne Howard (left) as Leonora, Fidelio

The well-celebrated soprano Gweneth-Ann Jeffers, who has performed internationally at Madrid, Melbourne and Rome, and in 2001 represented England in the Cardiff singer of the World, will sing the title role. Other leading roles include Barnaba, sung by renowned Opera Holland Park favourite Olafur Sigurdarson, and Yvonne Howard, who has previously sung at OHP as Leonore in Fidelio, will sing the role of Laura Adorno.

With its rich sounds and lavish designs, La Gioconda sits among the grand Italian operas that Opera Holland Park has become famous for in recent years. La Gioconda is amongst the most exciting productions in London this summer, and promises delights for its audience.

Olafur Sigurdarson (left) as Rigoletto, 2006.

Look out for the famous 'Dance of the Hours' ballet scene, and Enzo's stunning aria 'Cielo e mar' with its long legato lines and heartbreaking melodies.

Leanora has spent time with Korn/Ferry Opera Holland Park on work experience