At the heart of the programme lies the fateful fourth and final act of Ponchielli’s La Gioconda—performed exactly 150 years to the day since its Milan premiere. Hailed in his time as Italy’s greatest composer alongside Verdi, Ponchielli achieved his breakthrough with this magnificent grand opéra.
At the centre of the drama stands a woman who sacrifices everything for the man she loves—and for the woman he loves. The famously demanding title role, immortalised by the likes of Maria Callas, is performed by Åsa Jäger, recipient of the 2024 Tidskriften Opera Award for her acclaimed portrayal of Senta in Wagner’s Der fliegende Holländer at the Göteborg Opera—an interpretation that enthralled both audiences and critics:
“Åsa Jäger dazzles.” – Svenska Dagbladet
“Her voice—its clarity and individuality—her stage presence—her charisma. From the moment she steps onto the stage, one is utterly spellbound.” – Göteborgs-Posten
“Åsa Jäger is a dramatic Wagnerian soprano of the highest calibre.” – Tidskriften Opera
The concert opens in a burst of carnival energy with Tchaikovsky’s Capriccio Italien, infused with the vibrant rhythms of Italian folk music. Respighi’s Fontane di Roma follows, a sumptuous tone poem that captures the fountains of his native city in all their shimmering, atmospheric splendour.
