Joining in the celebrations of the Year of Verdi (2013), the Wielki Theater/National Opera in Warsaw is staging on Jan.22 a new production of the great Italian composer’s opera Don Carlos.

Written by Joseph Méry and Camille du Locle, the libretto to Do
n Carlos is based on a play by Friedrich Schiller. The plot is set in 16th-century Spain and focuses on King Philip II’s son, the titular Don Carlos, who in the Warsaw production is played by Giancarlo Monsalve. The opera exposes the dark side of the history of Spain and of King Philip II, who is collaborating with the Holy Inquisition. Themes prominently featured in the Verdi opera include the love of Carlos’s stepmother Elizabeth (Nataliya Kovalova) for Don Carlos, the friendship between Carlos and Rodrigo, the Marquis of Posa (Davide Damiani) and the struggle of the Flemish people for independence.

The Warsaw production is directed by Willy Decker, an acclaimed opera director whom Polish audiences remember for a superb production of Richard Strauss’ Elektra.

The sets for Don Carlos were designed by Wolfgang Gussmann and the orchestra will be conducted by Carlo Montanaro, the music director of the National Opera. The new version is co-produced by De Nederlandse Opera in Amsterdam.

Wielki Theater/National Opera, 1 Teatralny Sq., Jan. 22, 7 pm