“As soon as you have an audience and a stage visually palpable onstage, you start to reflect on your own situation sitting inside the auditorium,” says dramaturg Alexander Meier–Dörzenbach of the Royal Opera House’s new production of Verdi’s Les Vêpres Siciliennes, which stars Bryan Hymel as Henri. “The singing onstage can trigger the emotions of the real audience in Covent Garden,” he adds of the production concert.

Opening this Thursday at Covent Garden, this production of Vêpres can be explored further in Meier-Dörzenbach’s interview here. You can also click here to view the trailer. Bryan Hymel makes an eagerly-anticipated return to the Royal Opera House in this production, which will also be broadcast worldwide to cinemas on November 4.

Making his return to London’s Royal Opera House tenor Bryan Hymel stars opposite soprano Marina Poplavskaya and bass–baritone Erwin Schrott in Verdi’s stirring political drama Les Vêpres Siciliennes. Directed by Stefan Herheim in a co-production with the Royal Danish Opera, Copenhagen, these performances mark the opera’s first with the company.

In the role of Henri, a rebellious patriot in French-occupied Sicily, Bryan has several standout musical moments in Verdi’s epic work, including “La brise souffle au loin” and “O jour de peine.” The production is conducted by Antonio Pappano and will be broadcast to cinemas worldwide as part of the Royal Opera House’s live cinema season on November 4. Les Vêpres Siciliennes opens October 17 and runs through November 11.

“There’s a generosity of spirit about Hymel’s youthful enthusiasm that is infectious and engaging,” writes Hugh Canning of the Sunday Times.

Canning recently profiled Bryan for the leading British newspaper in advance of his return to the Royal Opera House for Les Vêpres Siciliennes. Subscribers can read the full interview here.

This week, tenor Bryan Hymel joins the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra and for a performance of Verdi’s epic Requiem on August 31. Led by noted expert Donald Runnicles, the performance also features the vocal talents of soprano Erin Wall, mezzo Karen Cargill, and bass Eric Owens. The concert will be recorded for future broadcast on BBC Radio 3.

The event closes the Edinburgh International Festival’s 2013 concert series at Usher Hall and pays tribute to Verdi in his bicentennial year. Bryan’s schedule continues in the fall with more Verdi when he returns to the Royal Opera House in London for Les Vêpres Siciliennes.