NEW NATIONAL THEATRE, TOKYONEW NATIONAL THEATRE, TOKYO
  • OPERA
    • ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
      ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
    • NEW NATIONAL THEATRE CHORUS
      NEW NATIONAL THEATRE CHORUS
  • BALLET & DANCE
    • ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
      ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
    • THE NATIONAL BALLET OF JAPAN
      THE NATIONAL BALLET OF JAPAN
    • DANCERS & STAFF
      DANCERS & STAFF
  • DRAMA
    • ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
      ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
  • CALENDAR
  • NEWS
  • FACILITIES
    • OPERA PALACE
      OPERA PALACE
    • PLAY HOUSE
      PLAY HOUSE
    • THE PIT
      THE PIT
    • INFORMATION CENTRE
      INFORMATION CENTRE
    • STAGE SET & DESIGN CENTRE
      STAGE SET & DESIGN CENTRE
  • ABOUT US
    • PATRONAGE & SUPPORT
      PATRONAGE & SUPPORT
    • INTERNATIONAL TOURS
      INTERNATIONAL TOURS
    • NNT OPERA STUDIO
      NNT OPERA STUDIO
    • NNT BALLET SCHOOL
      NNT BALLET SCHOOL
    • NNT DRAMA STUDIO
      NNT DRAMA STUDIO
  • YOUR VISIT
    • TICKETS
      TICKETS
    • ACCESS
      ACCESS
    • EXHIBITION
      EXHIBITION
  • OPERA
    • ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
      ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
    • NEW NATIONAL THEATRE CHORUS
      NEW NATIONAL THEATRE CHORUS
  • BALLET & DANCE
    • ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
      ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
    • THE NATIONAL BALLET OF JAPAN
      THE NATIONAL BALLET OF JAPAN
    • DANCERS & STAFF
      DANCERS & STAFF
  • DRAMA
    • ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
      ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
  • CALENDAR
  • NEWS
  • FACILITIES
    • OPERA PALACE
      OPERA PALACE
    • PLAY HOUSE
      PLAY HOUSE
    • THE PIT
      THE PIT
    • INFORMATION CENTRE
      INFORMATION CENTRE
    • STAGE SET & DESIGN CENTRE
      STAGE SET & DESIGN CENTRE
  • ABOUT US
    • PATRONAGE & SUPPORT
      PATRONAGE & SUPPORT
    • INTERNATIONAL TOURS
      INTERNATIONAL TOURS
    • NNT OPERA STUDIO
      NNT OPERA STUDIO
    • NNT BALLET SCHOOL
      NNT BALLET SCHOOL
    • NNT DRAMA STUDIO
      NNT DRAMA STUDIO
  • YOUR VISIT
    • TICKETS
      TICKETS
    • ACCESS
      ACCESS
    • EXHIBITION
      EXHIBITION
  • 日本語
Simon Boccanegra

OPERA

Simon Boccanegra

SCHEDULE

  • Wed, 15 November 2023, 19:00
    TICKETS
  • Sat, 18 November 2023, 14:00
    TICKETS

    Special Event
    Have a taste of Opera and Japanese Whisky

    Click here for more information

    TICKETS

  • Tue, 21 November 2023, 14:00
    TICKETS
  • Thu, 23 November 2023, 14:00
    TICKETS
  • Sun, 26 November 2023, 14:00
    TICKETS
  • Show More

2023/2024 SEASON

New Production

japan-cultural-expo2023-en.png
Presented by New National Theatre Foundation, Japan Arts Council, Agency for Cultural Affairs, Government of Japan


Music by Giuseppe Verdi
Opera in 3 Acts with a Prologue
Sung in Italian with English and Japanese surtitles


OPERA PALACE

15 Nov - 26 Nov, 2023 ( 5 Performances )

TICKETS

At the performance on 15 November 19:00, we will increase the level of security in our theatre.
Baggage inspection and metal detection will be conducted at the entrance. Please be aware that it may take longer than usual to get into the auditorium.

Running time is approx. 2 hours and 50 mins including intervals.

Booking Opens: Sat, 9 Sep 2023, 10:00am

Co-production with Finnish National Opera and Ballet, Teatro Real Madrid

DETAILS

Originally composed during Verdi's middle period when the composer was 43 and then revised to great acclaim 24 years later, Simon Boccanegra will be staged for the first time at the New National Theatre Tokyo. Based on the real-life figure Simon Boccanegra who lived during the 14th century and became the first Doge of Genoa, this powerfully dramatic work depicts battles between plebeians and patricians, where the love and hate of parents, children and lovers all intertwine. It offers endless delights for the ears, including Fiesco's pensive aria 'Il lacerato spirit', Amelia's romanza 'Come in quest'ora bruna', Simon and Amelia's duet, Gabriele's aria 'Sento avvampar nell'anima', Simon's monologue 'Plebe! Patrizi! Popolo!' as well as highly-charged ensembles and a variety of chorus scenes. Featuring many of Verdi's unique, remarkably appealing characters with lower male voices like the reformed pirate, Simon (Baritone), and the stern patrician, Fiesco (Bass), this is also a work that requires superb singers to perform it.

The production will be directed by world-renowned opera director, Pierre Audi, who led the Dutch National Opera for many years and has been serving as the general director of the Festival d'Aix-en-Provence since 2018. Contemporary artist Anish Kapoor joins the team as collaborator. Ono Kazushi, famed for his passion for Italian opera, will conduct. This production has an impressive cast, with the role of Simon sung by Roberto Frontali, an internationally acclaimed Verdi-Baritone, Fiesco by Riccardo Zanellato, who has performed numerous bass roles in major theatres such as Teatro alla Scala and Paulo by the talented Simone Alberghini along with a star soprano Irina Lungu as Amelia, and Amelia's lover, Gabriele, portrayed through the glorious voice of Luciano Ganci.

This is a co-production with the Finnish National Opera and Teatro Real, and after the premiere at the New National Theatre Tokyo, the next performance is planned to be presented in Helsinki and Madrid.

NEWS & FEATURES

26TH October, 2023
Interview: Pierre Audi on "Simon Boccanegra"
READ MORE
26TH October, 2023
Baggage inspection and metal detection at Opera "Simon Boccanegra" (15 November 19:00)
READ MORE
31ST October, 2023
Special Event: 'Have a taste of Opera and Japanese Whisky' to be held at opera "Simon Boccanegra" (Updated on 31 Oct)
READ MORE

SYNOPSIS

Paolo, a plebeian in Genoa, wants to make Simon Boccanegra the new doge and wrest power away from the patrician aristocracy. Simon agrees to become a candidate for doge in hopes of receiving permission to marry Maria, the daughter of a noble patrician family. However, imprisoned by her father Fiesco, Maria has already died of an illness. Simon asks Fiesco for permission to marry Maria. While concealing Maria’s death, Fiesco asks Simon to give him the daughter he shares with Maria, but the child has vanished. Having turned away from Fiesco, Simon sees the body of his beloved.

25 years later. Simon’s daughter, Maria, has been adopted by the Grimaldi family and renamed Amelia Grimaldi. She has been raised by Fiesco, who now goes by the name Andrea Grimaldi. Amelia’s lover Gabriele says that he wants to marry Amelia and that he doesn’t care that she was an orphan. When hearing about Amelia’s situation, the doge, Simon, realizes that Amelia is his missing daughter, and the father and daughter are reunited. Paolo also wants to marry Amelia but is refused by Simon. Paolo decides to kidnap Amelia. Gabriele kills the man who kidnapped Amelia, causing violence to erupt, and is brought before the council with Andrea. Gabriele denounces Simon as the culprit behind it all and attacks him. But Amelia, who has escaped, takes control of the situation. Simon admonishes everyone and arrests the pair. Ordered by Simon to curse the true criminal, Paolo trembles with fear as he curses himself.

Filled with hatred for Simon, Paolo puts poison in water intended for him and urges Andrea to kill Simon, but he refuses. But then, intrigued by Paolo and convinced that Simon had been toying with Amelia, Gabriele calls for his death. Hiding an infuriated Gabriele, Amelia asks Simon to pardon her lover. After drinking the water, Simon loses consciousness. Gabriele attacks, but apologises when he realises that Amelia is Simon’s real daughter. Gabriele turns to confront the uprising that has taken place against the doge.

Peace returns to Genoa, and Paolo, who had joined in the uprising, is arrested. A distant wedding song is audible, and the dying Simon thinks of the sea. When Fiesco visits, Simon is finally enjoying peaceful, happy days, and tells Fiesco that Amelia is his granddaughter. Simon dies after naming Gabriele as his successor.

Read More

CREATIVE TEAM & CAST

CREATIVE TEAM

Conductor: ONO Kazushi
Production: Pierre AUDI
Set Design: Anish KAPOOR
Costume Design: Wojciech DZIEDZIC
Lighting Design: Jean KALMAN

CAST

Simon Boccanegra: Roberto FRONTALI
Amelia (Maria Boccanegra): Irina LUNGU
Jacopo Fiesco: Riccardo ZANELLATO
Gabriele Adorno: Luciano GANCI
Paolo Albiani: Simone ALBERGHINI
Pietro: SUDO Shingo
Un capitano dei balestrieri: MURAKAMI Toshiaki
Un'ancella di Amelia: SUZUKI Ryoko

Chorus: New National Theatre Chorus
Orchestra: Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra

  • CREATIVE TEAM
  • CAST
  • ONO Kazushi
    Conductor
    ONO Kazushi
    Pierre AUDI
    Production
    Pierre AUDI
    Anish KAPOOR
    Set Design
    Anish KAPOOR
  • Roberto FRONTALI
    Simon Boccanegra
    Roberto FRONTALI
    Irina LUNGU
    Maria Boccanegra (Amelia)
    Irina LUNGU
    Riccardo ZANELLATO
    Jacopo Fiesco
    Riccardo ZANELLATO
    Luciano GANCI
    Gabriele Adorno
    Luciano GANCI
    Simone ALBERGHINI
    Paolo Albiani
    Simone ALBERGHINI

TICKETS

Booking Opens: Sat, 9 Sep 2023, 10:00am

Booking Z seats (Day tickets) 1,650 yen

  • You are able to purchase Z seat tickets online from 10:00 am. Click "BUY TICKETS" next to "Z" under each performance information.
  • There is a handling charge of ¥330 (incl. tax).
  • Only when seats allocated as Z seats are still available at 11:00 am, you are able to purchase these tickets at the Box Office of the theatre.
  • Note that all Z seats are on a first come, first served basis and will come with restricted views.

Concession Prices

Under 15s discounts and Z seats (Day Tickets) are available online. Other types of discount tickets are not available online. Please inquire at the Box Office or by telephone.

Please Note

  • Latecomers will not be admitted to the auditorium unless there is a suitable break or interval.
  • For Seat D of Opera performances, maximum of 2 tickets per person on the first day of ticket sale.
  • No admittance to pre-school children. Each child older than this age requires a ticket for entry, even when accompanied by a parent or guardian.
  • Tickets may not be changed or refunded except in the case of a cancelled performance.
  • A special discount price is available for disabled guests. Please inquire at the Box Office for details.
  • Users of wheelchairs are requested to contact the Box Office.
  • Please note that cast or programme change may be required depending on the situation.
GALLERIES
BrochureBrochure Press ImagesPhoto Gallery
TICKETS & RESERVATIONS

Box Office:

+81-(0)3-5352-9999

10:00 - 18:00

HOW TO BUY TICKETS

THEATRES OF JAPAN ARTS COUNCIL
  • - National Theatre
  • - National Engei Hall
  • - National Noh Theatre
  • - National Bunraku Theatre
  • - National Theatre Okinawa
  • - Traditional Performing Arts Information Centre
  • FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK
  • FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM
  • CONTACT US
Opera Production Rentals
Privacy Policy  Cookie Policy  Terms of Use
NEW NATIONAL THEATRE, TOKYO
2024/2025 SEASON SPECIAL CORPORATE SPONSORS
  • ONWARD
  • KINOSHITA GROUPE
  • SUMITOMO CHEMICAL
  • TBS
  • TOYOTA
  • PIA
Copyright © NEW NATIONAL THEATRE, TOKYO. All Rights Reserved.