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Sherrill Milnes, Vasile Moldoveanu, Paul Plishka, Anna Tomowa-Sintow, and Dawn Upshaw star in this lavish production of what many regard as one of Verdi's finest and most challenging operas. Set in 14th century Genoa, two men conspire to have Boccanegra named Doge of Genoa, while another, Fiesco, looks for a way to bring him down. Fiesco's disgust with Boccanegra is not without just cause; Boccanegra seduced Fiesco's daughter, which caused her to have an illegitimate child who died as an infant. Meanwhile, Boccanegra has set his sights on another woman, Amelia, but she will not take his hand. Not only doesn't Amelia love him, but the current Doge has recently learned she is actually his long-lost daughter. Simon Boccanegra was recorded during a live performance at New York's Metropolitan Opera House on December 29, 1984.