Royal Opera House: I due Foscari

Plácido Domingo returns to give his first London performances of another major Verdi baritone role. I due Foscari is based on a play by Byron set in 15th century Venice. The two Foscari of the title are the city's Doge, Francesco Foscari (sung by Domingo) and his son, Jacopo (Francesco Meli), who has been brought back from exile to face charges of treason. Jacopo is innocent, but neither the pleas of Jacopo's wife Lucrezia (Maria Agresta) nor those of his powerful father are enough to save Jacopo from condemnation by the hostile Council of Twelve. This taut, sombre drama provides the basis for one of Verdi's most arresting early scores, not heard at the Royal Opera House since 1995 and newly presented in an acclaimed staging by the American director Thaddeus Strassberger, which had a much praised premiere in Los Angeles in 2012 and has gone on to furthersuccess in Valencia and Los Angeles.