Franck - Stradella

Opéra Royal de Liege, Belgium. On September 19, 2012, Liege, the economic and cultural centre of Wallonia, reopened its Opera house, anchoring one of Europe's most important Operas in modernity. The season opens with Stradella, the uncompleted work of the youth of the composer César Franck, who was born and raised in Liege, the 1842 manuscript of which was found in the National Library of France in 1984. The world's first production is therefore performed at the Royal Opera House of Wallonia, orchestrated by Luc Van Hove and directed by the film maker Jaco Van Dormael. The opera tells the story of the Duke of Pesaro. He has ordered his lieutenant Spadoni to abduct the beautiful maiden Leonor in the middle of the Carnival in Venice. Having locked her away in his mansion, the Duke tries to win her love by employing the famous singer Stradella to woo her, unaware that Stradella and Leonor are actually an item. Music by César Franck, Libretto by Emile Deschamps and Emilien Pacini.