Rossini: Le Comte Ory

Angelica Disanto – Adèle
Petr Nekoranec – Le Comte Ory
Arnheidur Eiríksdóttir – Isolier
Alessio Arduini – Raimbaud
Monika Jägerová – Ragonde
Davide Giangregorio – Le Gouverneur

Kühn Choir of Prague & students of Czech musical schools
Choirmaster: Zuzana Kadlčíková

Prague Philharmonia
Gianluca Capuano – conductor

Ladies, stand at attention; gentlemen, be on your guard: Count Ory is coming! The tireless seducer, master of disguise, and hopeless romantic sets out on a mission with a single goal — to enchant yet another unsuspecting heart. Expect a charming comedy about a man willing to do anything (and disguise himself as anyone) to win the favor of his next beloved, this time the graceful Countess Adèle.

Musically, Le comte Ory ranks among the pinnacles of Rossini’s work: it offers virtuosic arias, brilliant coloratura, exquisite duets and ensembles, and enchanting choruses. Every melody, every note is filled with elegance, vitality, and lightness — the very charm of bel canto that Rossini perfected to absolute brilliance.

For the third time (after Rossini’s La Cenerentola and Donizetti’s Don Pasquale), we present a semi-staged performance of an Italian opera — in this case, in its original French version. And once again, in a star-studded cast! The title role will be performed by Petr Nekoranec, for whom French holds a special affinity. He has repeatedly received enthusiastic ovations on leading French stages, including the Théâtre des Champs-Élysées in Paris, the Aix-en-Provence Festival, Toulouse, Lyon, and others. Recently, he was even invited to step in for the indisposed Benjamin Bernheim in a new production of Hector Berlioz’s La Damnation de Faust at the Théâtre des Champs-Élysées (12^th and 15^th November 2025). The role of the charming Countess Adèle will be sung by Angelica Disanto, a welcomed guest on many Italian stages, making her Prague debut. Further roles will be performed by Icelandic mezzo-soprano Arnheidur Eiríksdóttir, Italian baritone Alessio Arduini, Czech mezzo-soprano Monika Jägerová and Italian bass Davide Giangregorio.

The Italian conductor Gianluca Capuano will lead the musical production. One of today´s foremost conductors is closely associated with the artistic projects of Cecilia Bartoli. Since 2019, he has served as Music Director of Les Musiciens du Prince – Monaco. Together, they appear regularly at Europe’s foremost festivals and opera houses. In May 2023, he and the ensemble joined Cecilia Bartoli for a concert in Prague’s Smetana Hall, presented by Nachtigall Artists.

In Prague, Rossini’s comedic gem was performed only once before, when the opera company of the National Theatre Brno appeared at the Opera Festival in 2017. Now, you have a unique opportunity to experience again the humor, elegance, and virtuosity of Le comte Ory in all its glory, as the Smetana Hall transforms into a place of laughter, surprise, and vocal fireworks.

Come and enjoy Rossini’s masterful opera, which has captivated audiences around the world for nearly two centuries!

Patronage over the project was provided by the Minister of Culture.

www.petrnekoranec.eu
www.prgphil.cz
www.kuhnchoir.cz