Salome Jicia in star cast for Opera Royal de Wallonie show of ’La Donna del lago’

Georgian soprano Salome Jicia will be part of a star-studded cast of performers in Opera Royal de Wallonie’s bill of La Donna del lago, to be performed for the first time in 15 years at the Belgian venue this spring.

Staged at the Liege-based theatre, the show will see Jicia perform with acclaimed singers including Italian mezzo soprano Marianna Pizzolato, Russian tenor Sergey Romanovsky and Spanish bass-baritone Simon Orfila.

The Georgian artist will be cast as Elena, a principal protagonist in Gioachino Rossini’s 1819-premiered classic, regarded as the maiden Romantic opera production.

Jicia's recent performances included a show of 'Guillaume Tell' at Italy’s famed Teatro Massimo in January. Photo: Salome Jicia artist Facebook page.

To a background of rivalries in Scotland between the King and the rebels in the 16th century, Elena, the daughter of a dissident chief, is promised in wedlock to one of the rebels”, the venue said in its preview of the show.

Opening in the first week of May, the production will host opera-goers in a five-show bill of the staging based on Walter Scott’s 1810 poem The Lady of the Lake.

Directed by Damiano Michieletto, the three-hour show will be conducted by Michele Mariotti, winner of the 2016 Premio Abbiati Award for Conductor of the Year.

Debuting in 1819, the history of Rossini’s piece was characterised by periods of fame followed by obscurity.

It was "triumphantly received” at the 2016 Rossini Opera Festival in Italy, followed by its staging at the Liege venue, in collaboration with the festival team.

Within the current opera season, Jicia recently performed along with fellow Georgian soprano Nino Machaidze at Italy’s famed Teatro Massimo in the opera classic Guillaume Tell.

Born in the western Georgian city of Zugdidi, she graduated from the Tbilisi State Conservatoire and the Tbilisi Zakaria Paliashvili Central Music School.

Continuing her studies at the opera studio of the Santa Cecilia National Academy in Rome, the soprano debuted at the Royal Opera during the 2016-2017 season.

Jicia is a recipient of awards including the Grand Prix of the Istanbul International Music Festival as well as the First Prize and the Maria Foltyn Prize at the International Stanislaw Moniuszko Vocal Competition.