When Giuseppe Verdi encountered the drama about the King of the Huns by the German Romantic poet Zacharias Werner, he saw its potential as opera. Although audiences and the press initially welcomed the premiere in Venice in 1846 with a rather cool reception, Attila eventually began his triumphant march through Italian opera houses. Although the founding myth of Venice, which is the subject of the opera, was somewhat ridiculed by some outside the lagoon city, Ezio’s demand, ‘Avrai tu l’universo, resta l’Italia a me (You may have the universe, but leave Italy to me)’, was met with enthusiasm, especially during the Italian struggle for unity. The opera’s real power lies in the drama between Attila, Odabella, Ezio and Feresto – conveyed in Verdi’s fine duets, trios and quartets. In Slippedisc / OperaVision’s first stream from Heidenheim Opera Festival, this acclaimed production directed by Matthias Piro is the ninth of Verdi’s early operas staged in the medieval ruins of the Knights’ Hall of Hellenstein Castle. Marcus Bosch conducts the appropriately named (and local) Cappella Aquileia; Heidenheim was known as Aquileia in Roman times.
The Plot: Attila, the King of the Huns, has conquered the strategically and economically significant Italian city of Aquileia during his campaign of conquest. Admiring the bravery of Odabella, a duke’s daughter, Attila spares her life and presents her with his sword. But she swears bloody revenge for his conquest of her city. When she prevents an attempt on Attila’s life by her former lover Foresto, which he has planned with the Roman general Ezio, she finally wins the Hun’s trust. But has she abandoned her murderous plan?
Streamed on Friday 15th August 2025 at 1900 CET / 1800 London / 1300 New York
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