.Said Angela in a recent interview given to the Romanian newspaper "Adevarul", speaking about the new production of Adriana Lecouvreur at ROH. It was published on April 15th and it can be read online (in Romanian) HERE.
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You perform for the first time a part inspired by a real person, Adrienne Lecouvreur. How did you prepare for it? What documentation did you use?
A lot of materials. Adrienne Lecouvreur was the most important tragedienne of her time. She seduces with her elegance, talent, novelty and noble attitude. At 15 she was hired at the French Comedy and she performed the most important dramatic parts. She performed Racine, Corneille and Moliere, great figures of universal literature. But she died alone, poisoned, because of jealousy. Catholic Church refused to bury her. Voltaire dedicated a poem to her. The audience and the Royal House adored her. Later on, Sarah Bernhard, Yvonne Printemps and other great actresses from the previous century performed in the play entitled “Adrienne Lecouvreur”, co-written by two great French writers: Eugene Scribe and Gabriel Legouve. The latter was among the first French to fight for the rights of women. Later, in 1902, the Italian composer Franceco Cilea had the brilliant idea to compose an opera having a libretto based on this fantastic character. The premiere was in Milan and then at Covent Garden in 1904 and Metropolitan in 1906. Since then, great divas from the world of the opera have been portraying this character: Lina Cavalieri, Renata Tebaldi, Mirella Freni
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Why have you accepted the leading part in an opera whose libretto was found ambiguous and difficult to follow?
It’s impossible to answer this question with a critical approach. So many geniuses created a character that existed in real life, such as Adrienne Lecouvreur. I intend to follow the example of modesty in the memory of a great actress who changed an era.
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How would your cooperation with David McVicar be, as he’s knows as an “enfant terrible” of the opera?
I suggested that he should direct this new production, as I did with Richard Eyre. We worked together for Traviata at Covent Garden and he was hired by the Metropolitan to direct Carmen, which I’ll do in 2012. David was happy to accept the new production of Adriana Lecouvreur at Royal Opera House. We worked together before for Faust at Covent Garden and Monte Carlo. We fir together as we are both “enfant terrible” of the opera. I love the way he works and he has a great team.
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What would be the touch of originality in his direction?
David already sent me some sketches with details of the production and I’m very fond of them. I hope that the audience will like it too. This is our great cause as artists: to be able to present an innovative and spectacular opera people to enjoy.
.
What side of Angela Gheorghiu would this production of ROH reveal?
Maybe I’ll be able to answer this question after the premiere.
.
The premiere is scheduled for November 18th 2010 and the cast includes Jonas Kaufmann.
A lot of materials. Adrienne Lecouvreur was the most important tragedienne of her time. She seduces with her elegance, talent, novelty and noble attitude. At 15 she was hired at the French Comedy and she performed the most important dramatic parts. She performed Racine, Corneille and Moliere, great figures of universal literature. But she died alone, poisoned, because of jealousy. Catholic Church refused to bury her. Voltaire dedicated a poem to her. The audience and the Royal House adored her. Later on, Sarah Bernhard, Yvonne Printemps and other great actresses from the previous century performed in the play entitled “Adrienne Lecouvreur”, co-written by two great French writers: Eugene Scribe and Gabriel Legouve. The latter was among the first French to fight for the rights of women. Later, in 1902, the Italian composer Franceco Cilea had the brilliant idea to compose an opera having a libretto based on this fantastic character. The premiere was in Milan and then at Covent Garden in 1904 and Metropolitan in 1906. Since then, great divas from the world of the opera have been portraying this character: Lina Cavalieri, Renata Tebaldi, Mirella Freni
.
Why have you accepted the leading part in an opera whose libretto was found ambiguous and difficult to follow?
It’s impossible to answer this question with a critical approach. So many geniuses created a character that existed in real life, such as Adrienne Lecouvreur. I intend to follow the example of modesty in the memory of a great actress who changed an era.
.
How would your cooperation with David McVicar be, as he’s knows as an “enfant terrible” of the opera?
I suggested that he should direct this new production, as I did with Richard Eyre. We worked together for Traviata at Covent Garden and he was hired by the Metropolitan to direct Carmen, which I’ll do in 2012. David was happy to accept the new production of Adriana Lecouvreur at Royal Opera House. We worked together before for Faust at Covent Garden and Monte Carlo. We fir together as we are both “enfant terrible” of the opera. I love the way he works and he has a great team.
.
What would be the touch of originality in his direction?
David already sent me some sketches with details of the production and I’m very fond of them. I hope that the audience will like it too. This is our great cause as artists: to be able to present an innovative and spectacular opera people to enjoy.
.
What side of Angela Gheorghiu would this production of ROH reveal?
Maybe I’ll be able to answer this question after the premiere.
.
The premiere is scheduled for November 18th 2010 and the cast includes Jonas Kaufmann.
.
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