Verdi: Attila ****
Teatro La Fenice, Venice, 9th December 2016
On the nearby island of Torcello, there is a stone throne which is said to have been used by Attila, King of the Huns, during his 5th-century invasion of Italy. Alas, it’s a legend without foundation. Local fiction also plays a part in Verdi’s opera Attila when Foresto and other refugees from Aquileia establish the city of Venice, raising it from the swamps. But Verdi knew the scene would appeal to the local audience when it premiered at La Fenice in 1846. This evening, Attila returned to its Venetian home, where it was given a performance bursting with energy.
Roberto Tagliavini (Attila), Vittoria Yeo (Odabella) and chorus
© Michele Crosera
Read the full review on Bachtrack.