Simon Boccanegra (2010): cast, story & where to watch

Released in 2010, Simon Boccanegra is a music film directed by Federico Tiezzi, running about 149 minutes. “Strong traditional production with a few modern touches.” — that tagline sets the tone.

What it’s about. Coming just before the mature final works, Verdi's Simon Boccanegra - along with Un Ballo in Maschera, Les Vêpres Siciliennes, La Forza del Destino and Don Carlos - occupy a strange but fascinating hinterland in the career of the composer. Each of the operas, influenced by Verdi's political involvement in the Risorgimento for the reunification of Italy during the period, are very much concerned with the exercise of power, but they all rely on typically operatic conventions of bel canto and French Grand Opéra in their use of personal tragedies and unlikely twists of fate to highlight the human feelings and weaknesses that lie behind their historical dramas. Written in 1859, but revised by the composer in 1881, Piave's libretto given an uncredited reworking by Arrigo Boito, Simon Boccanegra is consequently one of the more interesting works from this period, certainly from a musical standpoint. Live from Teatro all Scala, Milan 2010.

Who’s in it. Simon Boccanegra stars Plácido Domingo as Simon Boccanegra, Ferruccio Furlanetto as Jacopo Fiesco-Andrea, Anja Harteros as Amelia and Massimo Cavalletti as Paolo Albani, among others.

Where to watch. Streaming options change often. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch Simon Boccanegra page.

If you liked it. Fans of Simon Boccanegra tend to enjoy Whiplash, Coco, Green Book and The Legend of 1900.