Giacomo Puccini's La fanciulla del West is performed five times at the Hungarian State Opera between 26 April and 9 May 2025, starring Chiara Isotton, one of the most promising sopranos in the international opera scene. The rarely staged production also features Zoltán Nyári and Gaston Rivero, as well as Alexandru Agache and Csaba Szegedi in alternating principal roles. The OPERA ensembles are conducted by Pier Giorgio Morandi.
Chiara Isotton has arrived in Budapest directly from La Scala, Milan for rehearsals, where she recently portrayed another of Puccini’s famous heroines, Tosca – a role in which she also made her debut at the Royal Ballet and Opera in London earlier this year. A former student of the Benedetto Marcello Conservatory in Venice and the Accademia of La Scala, she has, over the past decade, performed at the Metropolitan Opera in New York, both major opera houses in Berlin, and the Bolshoi Theatre in Moscow.
Minnie, the saloon owner, is considered Puccini’s strongest and most independent female character, and portraying her requires exceptional preparation. The young Italian soprano will be partnered by acclaimed artists. In the love triangle at the heart of the story, the mysterious Dick Johnson – whose aria Ch’ella mi creda is a popular tenor piece at gala concerts – will be performed by Zoltán Nyári, who sings the role for the first time after appearances at prestigious German opera houses, and Gaston Rivero, who has earned renown in Paris, Berlin, and Verona. As Sheriff Jack Rance, the embodiment of the law’s severity, Alexandru Agache – whose career spans over four decades and includes performances at the world’s leading opera houses – and Csaba Szegedi, a two-time chamber artist of the Hungarian State Opera, will alternate in the role.
The production involving 17 soloists, a 76-member orchestra, and a 32-member male chorus (chorus director: Gábor Csiki) is conducted by Pier Giorgio Morandi, a renowned expert in the Italian repertoire. Morandi’s career also began at La Scala in Milan, and in the nearly forty years since, he has conducted in nearly every major opera house worldwide. He has been a regular guest at the Hungarian State Opera for more than three decades.
La fanciulla del West is among Puccini’s less frequently performed operas, yet it is considered his most musically exciting and modern work. With a cinematic portrayal of the harsh, violent yet romantically charged world of gold miners, its influence can even be traced in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s The Phantom of the Opera. In Vasily Barkhatov’s 2018 production, the Wild West tale is placed in a setting that is easily understandable, relatable, and accessible for contemporary audiences. His staging reflects a deep understanding of Puccini’s work, enhancing the profound emotions, inner conflicts, and dramatic intensity found in the music.
The performances on 26 April, 2, 4, 7, and 9May 2025, promise a unique experience for both Hungarian and international audiences, with outstanding artistic niveau and a world-class cast.
Photo by John Romano
