Riccardo Chailly Verdi: Opera 'La Forza Del Destino' DVD

Release date: 2026-07-08

Overview

This is a live performance recording of Giuseppe Verdi's opera La forza del destino from La Scala in 2024, featuring Korean subtitles. Conducted by Riccardo Chailly, the performance involves the Teatro alla Scala Orchestra & Chorus, with Anna Netrebko as Leonora, Brian Jagde as Don Alvaro, Ludovic Tézier as Don Carlo, Vasilica Bejan as Preziosilla, Alexander Vinogradov as the Prior, and stage direction by Leo Muscato.

La forza del destino is one of Verdi's most intense operas, premiering in 1862 in St. Petersburg, Russia, though the 1869 revised edition is the version commonly performed today. The story revolves around the love between Alvaro, an Incan descendant, and Leonora, the daughter of a Spanish nobleman, an accident causing her father’s death, and the subsequent pursuit by her vengeful brother Carlo. The concept of "fate" here represents the overlapping tragedies of coincidence. Muscato's staging spans from 18th-century wars through World War I to modern ruin, using a grand revolving stage to portray timeless human and war tragedies. At the heart of this production is Anna Netrebko, who, despite recent political and personal challenges, affirms her status as a premier prima donna.

Additional Notes

• La forza del destino premiered in 1862 but is usually performed in its 1869 revised edition. This revision, influenced by the Ricordi publishing house with a libretto significantly altered by Antonio Ghislanzoni, features differences from the original, including an expanded overture and modifications to key scenes such as the duel and the finale. Notably, in the revised version, Alvaro survives in the trio with the Prior and Leonora, unlike in the original where all three protagonists die. This video represents the revised edition.
• Soprano Anna Netrebko experienced significant professional setbacks following the 2022 Russia-Ukraine conflict due to her previously publicized connections with Vladimir Putin and donations to pro-Russian organizations, impacting her relationship with the Metropolitan Opera in New York. However, outside the U.S., she has largely regained her status as a leading prima donna.
• In June 2024, Netrebko amicably divorced tenor Yusif Eyvazov after ten years of marriage. They continue to collaborate artistically, performing together in gala concerts and other events, maintaining a strong professional partnership despite ending their marital relationship.
• Critics note that entering her 50s, Netrebko’s voice has evolved from a flexible lyric style into a darker, more robust spinto timbre, fitting for Verdi’s later works and Puccini’s dramatic roles, with her stage presence remaining uniquely powerful.