Verdi wrote «Simon Boccanegra» during the peak of his career. By 1857, he had already created «La Traviata,» «Rigoletto,» and «Il Trovatore»: each of these operas opened up new paths for opera and was imbued with social pathos, which always caused problems with censorship. «Simon Boccanegra» is more akin to Verdi’s earlier works — «Nabucco» or «Attila,» which echoed the ideas of uniting Italy, boosting the national spirit, and resisting invaders. The main character, however, does not wage wars or oppose them; he is concerned only with internal political conflicts, but their circumstances put his human dignity to the test.
Directed by Andrea DeThe production was transferred to the Mariinsky Theatre from the Italian theatres Carlo Felice (Genoa) and La Fenice (Venice). It combines historical costumes with minimal stage design: a large part of the stage is occupied by an ever‑changing black wall, in which doors sometimes open, Renaissance Venetian windows appear, or it is stripped down to its lattice structure. The deliberate conventionality of the space allows the nuances of the acting to be highlighted and focuses on the complex relationships between the characters. Throughout the entire performance, a video featuring stunningly beautiful views of the Ligurian Sea is projected onto the backstage, accompanying the action and responding to it with changes in lighting. The water surface here acts as the horizon toward which Simon Boccanegra is inwardly устремлён, a symbol of the freedom and purity of his soul.
