Greenbrier Valley Theatre (GVT), in partnership with The Met: Live in HD, presents Donizetti’s tale of love and deceit Roberto Devereux Saturday, Apr. 16, at 12:55 p.m. The simulcast will run approximately 3 hours and 30 minutes with one intermission. Dr. James Caplinger, from the University of Charleston, will give a complimentary lecture beginning at 12:15 p.m.
Tickets are $18 for general admission, $12 for seniors and $10 for children/students. For tickets or more information, call GVT’s Box Office at 304-645-3838 or visit www.gvtheatre.org.
The tale of Queen Elizabeth I and her doomed relationship with the Earl of Essex, Roberto Devereux stars Sandra Radvanovsky as Queen Elizabeth, Matthew Polenzani in the title role, Elīna Garanča as Essex’s forbidden love Sarah and Mariusz Kwiecień as Sarah’s husband, the Duke of Nottingham. The production is conducted by Maurizio Benini.
“Ms. Radvanovsky sings with searing power, flinty attack and incisive coloratura passagework. The company has assembled an ideal cast and an insightful conductor, Maurizio Benini. The superb tenor Matthew Polenzani excels in the title role, his lyrical elegance matched by youthful ardor… The baritone Mariusz Kwiecień, singing with virile sound and soaring lyricism, captures the confusions of the Duke, shattered by personal betrayal. And it is true luxury casting to have the great mezzo-soprano Elīna Garanča bring her sumptuous voice and charisma to the role of the retiring, love-struck Sara…” – The New York Times
The production benefits from the depth of experience of its principal performers. Radvanovsky is the first singer since the 1970s to sing the lead in Donizetti’s entire Tudor Trilogy, and Polenzani has been in over 300 Met performances since his debut in 1997.
