The opera makes its national debut 67 years after its premiere at the Metropolitan Opera House in New York City.
The plot of the opera revolves around Vanessa, who has been waiting for 20 years for a former lover and her great love, believing he will return. This wait holds the family hostage until ostensibly the former lover returns; however, there is doubt whether it is truly him “or an imposter pretending to be him,” according to a statement from Ópera do Castelo, which co-produces ‘Vanessa’ with S. Luiz – Teatro Municipal.
“Will Vanessa choose to continue living in an illusion—caught in the web she created to escape reality—or will she finally have the courage to face the truth?” reads the statement.
The opera, running until next Sunday, features performances by Catarina Molder, Ermin Asceric, Beatriz Volante, Luís Rodrigues, Alexandra Calado, Tiago Amado Gomes, and the Operafest Choir, accompanied by the Portuguese Philharmonic Orchestra.
In the same statement, Catarina Molder draws a parallel between the operatic theme of “Vanessa” and “the rich Portuguese tradition of saudade,” which “deeply resonates with the themes of this opera, the unattainable love.”
“This opera has an almost chamber-like intimacy that demands raw emotional authenticity instead of artifice, allowing the singers to delve into the subconscious motivations of the characters,” says the soprano.
