dell'Arte Opera Ensemble > Anna Bolena

Anna Bolena

at The Rose Nagelberg Theater

Ashraf Sewailam, Stage Director
David Štech, Conductor and Music Director

Anna Bolena (premiered in Milan in 1830) as the second of Donizetti’s four “Tudor” operas, preceded by Il castello di Kenilworth (1829), and later including Maria Stuarda (1834/35) and Roberto Devereux (1837).  The fictionalized account of the last days of Anne Boleyn, second wife of Henry VIII, and mother of Elizabeth I has a masterful libretto by Felice Romani.  The original cast, including two of the finest singers of the day, Giuditta Pasta and Giovanni Battista Rubini, combined with Donizetti’s formal innovations, made the piece a breakout composition in his output.  dell’Arte Opera Ensemble last presented Anna Bolena in 2010 at Theatre 80 St. Marks. The cast of that production have distinguished themselves well, with Met debuts by Matthew Anchel and Blythe Gaissert; Cherry Duke serving as a respected and vibrant teacher at University of Texas, El Paso; Kirk Dougherty navigating a strong regional solo career with appearances at Sarasota Opera, Wichita Grand Opera, Utah Festival Opera, etc.; and Jill Dewsnup, who in addition to her solo appearances has served in the choruses of the Metropolitan Opera and the Chicago Lyric Opera.

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Cast

	Cast A	Cast B
Enrico VIII	Connor Lidell
Anna Bolena	Christine Lyons	Monica Niemi
Giovanna Seymour	Christina Esser	Jessica Mirshak
Lord Rochefort	Ian Joyal	Rick Agster
Lord Riccardo Percy	Frederick Schlick	Stephen Steffens
Smeton	SarahAnn Duffy	Andrea Howland Myers
Sir Hervey	Tyler Dobies	Stefan Barner

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