Welsh National Opera's 2012 spring season focuses on matters of the heart, seen from a woman's perspective. Rebecca Evans, Sara Fulgoni and Joyce El-Khoury, a rising star from the New York Metropolitan Opera's Lindemann Young Artists Development Programme, take centre stage at Swansea Grand Theatre.In the mood for love?: Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing is the inspiration for Berlioz's opera, here transformed to a Mediterranean setting rich in colour and atmosphere. Beatrice and Benedict are possibly the most famous quarrelsome couple in western art and they play out their relationship at Swansea Grand Theatre on Thursday 19th April at 7.00pm. Elijah Moshinsky's production is performed for the first time in a decade with Sara Fulgoni returning to sing the role of Beatrice, with Robin Tritschler as her sparring partner Benedict. Donald Maxwell also returns in the role of Somarone and Laura Mitchell takes on the role of Hero. The conductor is Michael Hofstetter. Sung in English with surtitles in English and Welsh. There is a pre-performance talk at 6.00pm. Love hurts: David McVicar's highly acclaimed production of Verdi's La Traviata, set in 19th century Paris, returns to Swansea Grand Theatre on Friday 20th April. Canadian soprano Joyce El-Khoury makes her European debut in the role of Violetta; Mexican tenor Carlos Osuna sings the role of Alfredo Germont in his debut for the company. McVicar's detailed production evokes a world where the aspirations of a young courtesan Violetta Valèry are cruelly defeated by social convention, leaving her to make the ultimate sacrifice for love. The conductor is Simon Phillippo. Sung in Italin with surtitles in English and Welsh. I'm getting married in the morning: Rebecca Evans sang the role of Countess Almaviva for the first time in 2009 in Luis Pasqual's stylish production of The Marriage of Figaro for WNO, set in the early 1930s. She makes a welcome return to the role in this revival, bringing poignancy and insight to the plight of the Countess who is slighted by her husband's attempts to seduce the household maid Susanna, Elizabeth Watts, on her wedding day. The cast also includes David Soar as Figaro, Dario Solari as Count Almaviva and Cora Burggraaf as Cherubino. The Marriage of Figaro is at Swansea Grand Theatre on Saturday 21st April. The conductor is Anthony Negus. Sung in Italian with surtitles in English and Welsh. There is a pre-performance talk at 6.00pm. To book tickets for any of these prestigious performances please call the Box Office on 01792 475715 or reserve tickets online at www.swanseagrand.co.uk. Tickets start at £5.00 up to £37.50 with selected concessions available. |
| Swansea Grand Theatre web site: www.swanseagrand.co.uk |
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Thursday, March 29, 2012 |
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