Simon Boccanegra

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April 2024
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PROLOGUE. Genoa, 1300s. In a public square, Paolo and Pietro conspire to gain power over the aristocracy by electing a popular corsair, Simon Boccanegra, as doge. Boccanegra accepts, hoping it will make possible his marriage to Maria, who has been imprisoned by her father, Jacopo Fiesco, because she bore Boccanegra a daughter out of wedlock. 
 

ACT I. Twenty-five years later, in a seaside garden, Amelia Grimaldi awaits her lover, Gabriele Adorno. He arrives, and she expresses fear for their safety in strife between the patricians and plebeians. Gabriele, learning the doge wishes her to marry Paolo, obtains for himself the blessing of Amelia's guardian, "Andrea" (the fugitive Fiesco). Determined to overthrow the doge, the men depart...
 

ACT II. In the doge's quarters at night, Paolo sends Pietro to free Gabriele and "Andrea" from detention, then pours poison into Boccanegra's goblet. When Gabriele and "Andrea" enter, Paolo tries to persuade the old man to assassinate the doge, then incites Gabriele with insinuations about the doge's relationship with Amelia. The youth raves with jealousy until Amelia enters, but before she can explain, Boccanegra approaches. Gabriele hides while Amelia asks the doge to pardon her lover, for she would rather die than live without him; Boccanegra agrees, on the condition that Gabriele desert the conspirators...
 

ACT III. Genoa is celebrating Boccanegra's victory over the rebels. "Andrea," set free, encounters the traitorous Paolo, who has been condemned to death, and who tells him he has poisoned the doge. A herald announces the revelry must end in memory of the fallen heroes; then Boccanegra comes in, mortally ill. "Andrea" reveals he is Fiesco — only to learn from the doge the actual identity of Amelia....

Program and cast

Photo gallery

Vienna State Opera

Public Transport
 

Subway lines: U1, U2, U4
Trams: 1, 2, D, J, 62, 65
Buses: 59A
Local Railway: Badner Bahn
Stops: Karlsplatz / Opera

Taxi stands are available nearby.
 

Parking



Parking is only € 6, - for eight hours!

The Wiener Staatsoper and the ÖPARK Kärntner Ring Garage on Mahlerstraße 8, under the “Ringstraßengalerien”, offer the patrons of the Vienna State Opera a new, reduced parking fee. You can park in the Kärntner Ring Garage for up to 8 hours and pay only a flat fee of € 6, -. Just validate your ticket at one of the discount machines inside the Wiener Staatsoper. The normal rate will be charged for parking time greater than 8 hours. The validation machines can be found at the following coat checks: Operngasse, Herbert von Karajan-Platz, and the right and left and balcony galleries.

Important: In order to get the discount, please draw a ticket and do not use your credit card when entering the garage!

After devaluing your ticket in the Wiener Staatsoper you can pay comfortably by credit card or cash at the vending machines.

The machines accept coins and bills up to 50.- Euro. Parking time longer than 8 hours will be charged at the normal rate.
 

History



The structure of the opera house was planned by the Viennese architect August Sicard von Sicardsburg, while the inside was designed by interior decorator Eduard van der Nüll. It was also impacted by other major artists such as Moritz von Schwind, who painted the frescoes in the foyer, and the famous "Zauberflöten" (“Magic Flute”) series of frescoes on the veranda. Neither of the architects survived to see the opening of ‘their’ opera house: the sensitive van der Nüll committed suicide, and his friend Sicardsburg died of a stroke soon afterwards.

 

On May 25, 1869, the opera house solemnly opened with Mozart's Don Giovanni in the presence of Emperor Franz Joseph and Empress Elisabeth.
The popularity of the building grew under the artistic influence of the first directors: Franz von Dingelstedt, Johann Herbeck, Franz Jauner, and Wilhelm Jahn. The Vienna opera experienced its first high point under the direction of Gustav Mahler. He completely transformed the outdated performance system, increased the precision and timing of the performances, and also utilized the experience of other noteworthy artists, such as Alfred Roller, for the formation of new stage aesthetics.

 

The years 1938 to 1945 were a dark chapter in the history of the opera house. Under the Nazis, many members of the house were driven out, pursued, and killed, and many works were not allowed to be played.

 

On March 12, 1945, the opera house was devastated during a bombing, but on May 1, 1945, the “State Opera in the Volksoper” opened with a performance of Mozart's THE MARRIAGE OF FIGARO. On October 6, 1945, the hastily restored “Theaters an der Wien” reopened with Beethoven's FIDELIO. For the next ten years the Vienna State Opera operated in two venues while the true headquarters was being rebuilt at a great expense.

 

The Secretary of State for Public Works, Julius Raab, announced on May 24, 1945, that reconstruction of the Vienna State Opera would begin immediately. Only the main facade, the grand staircase, and the Schwind Foyer had been spared from the bombs. On November 5, 1955, the Vienna State Opera reopened with a new auditorium and modernized technology. Under the direction of Karl Böhm, Beethoven’s FIDELIO was brilliantly performed, and the opening ceremonies were broadcast by Austrian television. The whole world understood that life was beginning again for this country that had just regained its independence.

 

Today, the Vienna State Opera is considered one of the most important opera houses in the world; in particular, it is the house with the largest repertoire. It has been under the direction of Dominique Meyer since September 1, 2010.

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