Verdi's Attila opera premieres on Ankara stage

ANKARA – Anadolu Agency

‘Attila’ was staged by the Ankara State Opera and Ballet with the contribution of the Ankara Italian Culture Center.

World renowned Italian composer Guiseppe Verdi’s “Attila” opera made its premiere on Feb. 22 on Ankara’s Opera Sahnesi stage. The work was staged by the Ankara State Opera and Ballet with the contribution of the Ankara Italian Culture Center. 

Among the attendees of the premiere were Italian Ambassador to Ankara Gianpaolo Scarante, Hungarian Ambassador Jano Hovari and Belorussian Ambassador Andrei Savinykh along with many art lovers. The opera, directed by Andrejs Zagars, is based on the 1809 play “Attila, King of the Huns” by Zacharias Werner. 

Lorenzo Castriota and Alessandro Cedrone are the orchestra conductors for the opera. 

In the opera, Attila invades Italy. The Huns celebrate their victory as a group of captured Roman women is brought in. The Roman leader is Odabella, daughter of the Lord of Aquileia, who has been killed by Attila. She declares that Italian women will always defend their country. Impressed by her courage, Attila offers to grant her a favor and Odabella asks for a sword. When Attila gives her his own, she vows to use it against him.