In Marseille, Verdi’s opera “Don Carlo” emerges from oblivion

don carlo is a little-known Verdi opera in France. The reason for this relative omission? The rather lukewarm reception of the Parisian public in 1865 during the first performance of Don Carlo at the Paris Opera, the most prestigious stage at the time. Contrary to La Traviata, acclaimed when it premiered a few years earlier, don carlo therefore never entered the hearts of the French public.

An error corrected by the Opéra de Marseille which offers from June 3 to 11 a grandiose version of the creation of Giuseppe Verdi with the staging Charles Roubaud and the musical direction Paolo Arrivabeni. The latter tells us more about the musical particularity of this opera: “The size of the orchestra is one of the largest in a Verdi opera. We have four trumpets, four bassoons. I think it’s a very big orchestra and that’s why ‘Don Carlo ‘ is said to be Verdi’s most Wagnerian opera”.

It is the Italian soprano Chiara Isotton who lends her voice to Élisabeth de Valoiswhose tragedy is to fall in love with Don Carlo, son of the King of Spain to whom she is promised. “I believe the aspect of love is the most important, because I believe it is both love for Don Carlo and love for the duty of the nation”, explains Chiara Isotton. Religion, exile, honour, betrayal… The issues raised by Verdi still ring true today. So, should you listen to your heart or to reason of state?

don carlo by Guiseppe Verdi is performing at the Opéra de Marseille from June 3 to 11.