The Love of Three Kings (L’Amore dei tre Re)

7:30PM, Friday, May 9, 2025
Athenaeum Theater
2936 N Southport Ave
Chicago, IL 60657
2:00PM, Sunday, May 11, 2025
Athenaeum Theater
2936 N Southport Ave
Chicago, IL 60657
Music by:Italo Montemezzi
Libretto by:Sem Benelli
ConductorUff. Emanuele Andrizzi
DirectorSasha Gerritson
Performed in Italianwith English Supertitles
Venue:Athenaeum Center for Thoughts & Culture
Running Time:120 Minutes (there will be a 15 minutes intermission)
Tickets:$25 – $50

Ticket sales will be available soon.

Premiered in 1913 at La Scala in Milan, Montemezzi’s opera became an international success.

Forty years after conquering Altura, the blind king Archibaldo faces growing resentment from its people. He recalls the conquest as a thrilling victory, likening it to winning a beautiful woman. His son, Manfredo, is married to the Alturan princess Fiora, who secretly loves another Alturan prince, Avito. Though Archibaldo suspects Fiora’s infidelity, his blindness and uncooperative servants leave him without proof.

Amid love duets and tense confrontations, Archibaldo grows increasingly enraged and strangles Fiora at the end of the second act. In the final act, Fiora’s body lies in a crypt as the Alturans mourn. Archibaldo poisons her lips, intending to trap her lover. Avito kisses Fiora and dies, revealing their affair to Manfredo, who, in grief, also kisses her and succumbs. Archibaldo enters to confirm his scheme but is devastated to hear the voice of his dying son.

Starring:

  • Andrea Silvestrelli | King Archibaldo
  • Matthew DiBattista | Flaminio
  • Franco Pomponi | Manfredo
  • Maria Kanyova | Fiora