La forza del destino - schedule, program & buy tickets

Opera in four acts [1869 version] by Giuseppe Verdi
Libretto by Francesco Maria Piave and Antonio Ghislanzoni, based on the play *Don Alvaro o la Fuerza del sino* by Ángel de Saavedra, Duke of Rivas, as well as texts by Heiner Müller and excerpts from Curzio Malaparte’s *The Skin*
Premiere on November 10, 1862, in St. Petersburg [first version]
on February 27, 1869, in Milan [second version]
Premiere at the Deutsche Oper Berlin on September 8, 2019

Introduction: 45 minutes before the start of each performance in the Rang Foyer on the right
Language: In Italian with German and English surtitles
Running time: 3 hours 45 minutes / including an intermission after approximately 100 minutes
Age rating: 16 and older 

With *La forza del destino*, Verdi broke new ground. The title itself points to this paradigm shift, as it does not take its name from a character or a historical event, but rather evokes the universal “power of fate.” Accordingly, the composer wrote a drama of ideas that explores the fate of entire social groups and nations. Building on this, Frank Castorf—in his only opera production in Berlin—draws connections to the Spanish Civil War of the 20th century as well as to the struggle against fascism during World War II, interweaving the individual fates of the characters with the horrors of colonial history. In the production by the legendary Frank Castorf, the “Triangle of Fate” is embodied this time by an internationally sought-after trio consisting of Guanqun Yu, Pavel Yankovsky, and Luciano Ganci, making his house debut. Massimo Zannetti, who has frequently appeared as a guest conductor at the Berlin State Opera, makes his debut at the podium of the Deutsche Oper Berlin with this revival.

Subject to change.