Themes of romance, revenge drive Pittsburgh Opera's 'Il Trovatore'

Audience members at the Pittsburgh Opera production of “Il Trovatore” might be reminded of a popular medieval fantasy television series.

“In many ways, the setting and staging of ‘Il Trovatore’ feels like it could be from scenes of ‘Game of Thrones,’ minus the White Walkers and dragons,” said Christian Cox, the opera’s director of marketing and communications. “It’s a middle ages vibe with stone castles, for example, and looks like it takes place near King’s Landing.”

Pittsburgh Opera will present Giuseppe Verdi’s 1853 four-act opera in four performances, March 25 through April 2, in the Benedum Center in Pittsburgh’s Cultural District.

Beyond the visual similarities, the television saga and the opera also have similar themes.

”There’s a violent political power struggle between feuding factions. Armies battle, and the protagonists have plenty of sword fights,” Cox said. “Characters’ mysterious backstories are revealed as the show goes on, adding depth to the drama. People have conflicting loyalties.”

Set in late 15th-century Spain during the War of the Castilian Succession, the story follows Count di Luna, who is obsessed with the young noblewoman, Leonora. She instead is in love with a mysterious stranger who serenades her every night.

Romantic and political intrigue, deception and revenge, ensue and, as in “Game of Thrones,” virtue isn’t always rewarded.

“’Il Trovatore’ is opera with a capital ‘O,’” said the opera’s head of music Glenn Lewis.

“It’s grand in every sense of the word,” Cox said. “It has glorious, sweeping music, some of opera’s best-loved scenes and songs and beautiful sets and costumes. ‘Il Trovatore’ is both a bucket-list show for any opera fan, as well as an accessible introduction to the art-form for first timers.

The “Anvil Chorus” from its most famous scene has been featured in movies and many television shows and commercials.

Pittsburgh Opera last presented “Il Trovatore” in 1999.

The cast features “three generations” of Pittsburgh Opera resident artist women, Cox said.

Alexandra Loutsion, a resident artist from 2010 to 2012, will sing the role of Leonora. This season, she will make her debut with Virginia Opera, Washington National Opera and Opera Idaho.

Current resident artist Emily Richter will sing the role of Ines, which Marianne Cornetti sang during her tenure as a resident artist from 1989 to 1991.

Cornetti, who will sing the role of Azucena, is now the artistic director for Pittsburgh Festival Opera and on the voice faculty at Carnegie Mellon University. She is making her debut with Hong Kong Opera in May, also singing the role of Azucena, and will debut with Chicago Lyric Opera in the fall with a debut role in Leos Janacek’s “Jenufa.”

“Azucena is a tour de force for the dramatic Mezzo-soprano, both vocally and dramatically,” Cornetti said.

Antony Walker will conduct and Daniel Rigazzi will direct.

The production comes from Toledo Opera and uses scenery from New Orleans Opera and costumes from Sarasota Opera. It is sung in Italian with English text projected above the stage.

Curtain times are 8 p.m. Saturday, 7 p.m. March 28, 7:30 p.m. March 31 and 2 p.m. April 2. For tickets, from $7.50 to $167.50, call 412-281-0912 or visit pittsburghopera.org.