Rossini: Le Comte Ory - Concert Performance

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 (12th and 15th 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. The quartet of principal roles is completed by Icelandic mezzo-soprano Arnheidur Eiríksdóttir and Italian baritone Vincenzo Taormina, both of whom are already familiar from our previous concerts.

After the performance of Don Pasquale in the Smetana Hall in November 2024, Marco Armiliato, one of today’s most sought-after opera conductors, once again accepted our invitation. We are proud that this wonderfully charismatic artist enjoys collaborating with our agency and with our “house” orchestra, the magnificent Prague Philharmonia.

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!