THE CORONATION OF POPPEA
Music: Claudio MonteverdiLibretto: Giovanni Francesco Busenello
Production: Academy of Music University of Ljubljana, Slovenian National Opera and Ballet Theatre of Ljubljana, Ljubljana FestivalPremière: Slovenian National Opera and Ballet Theatre of Ljubljana, July 4, 2025
Director: Eva Hribernik
Conductor: Egon Mihajlović
Set designer: Jaro Ješe
Costume designer: Andrea Quadri
Lighting designer: Andrej Hajdinjak
Lecturer: Lucia Rizzello
Assistant conductor and répétiteur: Branimir Rezić
Make-up: Marijana Sešek
Hairstylists: Meta Podkrajšek, Tjaša Pugelj
Assistant production: Vedran Kirin
Assistant costume designer: Neža Plestenjak
Stage manager: Višnja Fičor
Producers: Simon Dvoršak, Theresa Plut, Polona Kante, Katja Bogovič
Photographer: Darja Štravs Tisu
From the directing concept:
“The performance wants to look at Nero, the “destroyer” of Rome, from a new perspective. The “destructive” energy opens up a new space. This becomes the subject of our interest. Nero destroys so that something new can be born. It opens up the possibility of change. Nero’s transformation is liberating, for him and for all of us who are present and co-create his story.”
From the review:
“Director Eva Hribernik had the entire demanding and very long performance in three acts (the first act 1 hour 20 minutes, the second a good hour, the third 42 minutes or a total of around three hours and twenty minutes of the memorized program) under careful supervision and a comprehensive stage image. She conceived the performance as epic historical, baroque and ancient, but with all the elements of passion, love in different profiles and changes, power relations, rapid scene changes, use of the possibilities of the stage and even both boxes above the stage on the first balcony.” (Marijan Zlobec, KRITIK.SI, 6.7.2025)