Anna Bolena - Performance History

Performance History

After its opening performances in Italy in 1830, Anna Bolena was first given in London at the King's Theatre on 8 July 1831 while its first US performance was given in New Orleans at the Théâtre d'Orléans on 12 November 1839. The opera was performed infrequently during the latter half of 19th century and early 20th century, but it was revived with more frequency in the post-war years. The Santa Fe Opera claims to have been the first company to give "the first full stage production in over a century" in the US on 26 June 1959. On 30 December 1947, the opera was performed at Gran Teatre del Liceu in Barcelona, celebrating the centennial of this theatre, which had opened in 1847 with Anna Bolena. The cast was Sara Scuderi as Anna, Giulietta Simionato as Jane Seymour and Cesare Siepi as Henry VIII.

In April 1957, the opera was revived at La Scala for Maria Callas (one of the performances was recorded) in a lavish production directed by Luchino Visconti, and it proved to be one of her greatest triumphs. Similarly it was one of the last new roles performed by Dame Joan Sutherland in a concert performance at Avery Fisher Hall. Some other famous leading ladies that have lent their voices to the role of Anna have been Leyla Gencer, Montserrat Caballé, Renata Scotto, Edita Gruberova and Mariella Devia. In addition, Beverly Sills earned a considerable degree of fame in the 1970s, when she appeared in all three of Donizetti's "Tudor" operas in a series presented by New York City Opera. She also made studio recordings of all 3 operas.

Anna Bolena is somewhat regularly performed now and there are several recordings. It was presented by the Dallas Opera in November 2010, the Vienna State Opera in spring 2011 (with Anna Netrebko in the title role and Elina Garanca in Seymour's role), and by the Metropolitan Opera for the first time in September 2011 — for the opening of the New York company's 2011-2012 season, with Netrebko, and with David McVicar directing.