Simon Boccanegra

Duty and personal desires 

Verdi’s Simon Boccanegra revolves around two central themes: the relationship between father and daughter and the conflict between public responsibility and personal desires. These emotions resonate in vocal lines full of feeling and colourful orchestral accompaniment with dramatic contrasts. 

Dutch director Jetske Mijnssen returns to our theatre for a new production after her compelling interpretation of Donizetti’s Tudor Trilogy. Mijnssen’s remarkable ability to explore the emotional depth of characters makes her ideally suited to handle the intricate dynamics of Simon Boccanegra and his long-lost daughter Amelia.  

World-class Verdi interpreters

A dazzling cast of Verdi interpreters has been engaged for this final opera of the season. George Petean, a world-class Verdi baritone, returns to Amsterdam to sing the multi-faceted title role of Simon Boccanegra. The role of Boccanegra’s daughter, Amelia Grimaldi, will be performed by the celebrated soprano Federica Lombardi, who received great praise in Amsterdam for her part in Verdi’s Messa da Requiem. Tenor Joshua Guerrero – renowned for his glowing sound – will take the stage as Amelia’s lover, Gabriele Adorno. Bass Georg Zeppenfeld lends his warm voice to the role of Boccanegra’s opponent, Jacopo Fiesco.