La Forza del Destino, Royal Opera House

All families have their ups and downs, but perhaps none more so than in Verdi's La Forza del Destino, with its Shakespearean levels of tested loyalty and revenge.

And its staging at Covent Garden is a rare chance to catch superstar German tenor Jonas Kaufmann, in London. He last appeared at the Royal Opera House in Verdi's Otello.

A new co-production at the Royal Opera House, first seen in Amsterdam, is directed by Christof Loy. Russian soprano Anna Netrebko as Leonora leads the first of two casts, with Kaufmann as Don Alvaro and Ludovic Tezier as Don Carlo.

Leonora loves Don Alvaro, but her father forbids her to marry him. When Don Alvaro accidentally kills the Marquis (as you do), Leonora's brother Don Carlo swears to avenge his father's death.

Later both men join the army under assumed identities, and become friends, until a portrait of Leonora, who is now in hiding in a convent, reveals Alvaro's true identity...

Soprano Anna Netrebko, seen here in Verdi's Macbeth in 2018, returns to the Royal Opera House for the same composer's 'La Forza del Destino'. Photo: Bill Cooper

Verdi's mighty opera was first performed not in the composer's native Italy, but in St Petersburg, in 1862. With some revisions and restagings, including one in London in 1869, it evolved into its most commonly seen form at La Scala, Milan, in 1869, with a new ending for Alvaro.

La Forza del Destino was first staged in Amsterdam. Photo: ROH

Antonio Pappano is sure to conduct the hard-working Royal Opera Chorus and Orchestra of the Royal Opera House with passion and intelligence.

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'La Forza del Destino' is sung in Italian with English surtitles. Jonas Kaufmann sings on 27 March, and 6, 9 and 12 April. General booking opens 9AM, Wed 30 Jan. The opera, with Kaufmann and Netrebko singing, is relayed live to cinemas across London, Tues 2 April: click here for more details and booking