Live from the Royal Opera House, CoventGarden A performance of VERDI'S tragic opera about love, intrigue and poison.
Libretto by SALVATORE CAMMARANO after SCHILLER'S play Kabale und Liebe
Act 1: Love
Sung in Italian with English sub-titles. starring Katia Ricciarelli Placido Domingo Renato Bruson
Verdi's opera, set in the Tyrol in the early 18th century, tells of the love of Luisa for Rodolfo. Rodolfo is expected to marry the Duchess Federica. When he refuses he is imprisoned by his father, Count Walter, who also arrests Miller, Luisa's father, and gets his steward Wurm to make Luisa write a letter to Rodolfo saying she is in love with someone else. When Rodolfo is released from prison he makes Luisa confess to writing the letter and poisons both himself and Luisa. Before the poison takes effect Luisa reveals Wurm forced her to write the letter and Rodolfo kills him.
Cast in order of appearance
Lorin Maazel conducts
THE ROYAL OPERA CHORUS chorus-master JOHN BARKER
ORCHESTRA OF THE
ROYAL OPERA HOUSE leader MEYER STOLOW
Luisa Miller is produced and designed by FILIPPO SANJUST
Introduced by HUMPHREY BURTON
Sound by JEFF BAKER
Lighting by HARRY THOMAS Directed by BRIAN LARGE (Act 2 follows at 9.5* pm)