RNCM Opera Scenes / Thu 4 – Thu 18 Jun
Thu 4 Jun
Ermanno Wolf-Ferrari Le donne curiose
Libretto: Luigi Sugana
Stuart Barker director
Chris Binns conductor
Antonia Sotgiu language coach
Sheldon Miller repetiteur
Mila Johannsen Beatrice
Safia Mckinney-Askeur Rosaura
Alaw Evans Eleonora
Imogen Lock Colombina
Beatrice is with her daughter Rosaura. Beatrice does not know what her husband gets up to when he pays regular visits to a mysterious gentlemen-only establishment. To make matters worse, he has taken his daughter’s fiancé there too. Could there be women of dubious moral character? Eleonora arrives. Her husband also spends considerable amounts of time there. Although she has some difficulty remaining on topic, she explains that she believes they are practising alchemy. Colombina joins them. She is sure they are searching for treasure. The true answer remains a mystery.
Samuel Barber A Hand of Bridge Op 35
Libretto: Gian Carlo Menotti
Stuart Barker director
Jamie Gunn conductor
Sheldon Miller repetiteur
Eirwen Roberts Geraldine
Kate South Sally
Matthew Hamilton Bill
Benjamin Finnie David
Two couples are playing bridge. One by one we hear their inner thoughts.
Vicente Martín y Soler Il burbero di buon cuore
Libretto: Lorenzo Da Ponte
Stuart Barker director
Davide Trolton conductor
Antonia Sotgiu language coach
Sheldon Miller repetiteur
Ruijia Zhang Angelica
Tamsin Sandford Smith Lucilla
Morgan Rosati Marina
We are in the garden of Ferramondo. Lucilla, the wife of his nephew Giocondo, has been unknowingly spending far too much money, leaving no dowry for Giocondo’s sister Angelica (who plans to marry Valerio). Angelica has been told that she will need to live the rest of her life in a convent, and is understandably not remotely happy about this prospect, blaming Lucilla. Marina, the housekeeper, attempts to calm the situation before Ferramondo arrives.
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart La finta giardiniera
Libretto: Unknown
Stuart Barker director
Elisabeth Streichert conductor
Antonia Sotgiu language coach
Sheldon Miller repetiteur
Sophie Akka Sandrina
Phoebe Higham Arminda
Yu-Ting Hsu Il Contino Belfiore
Mila Johannsen Ramiro
Haihao Wu Il Podestà
Imogen Lock Serpetta
Bryan Au Yeung Nardo
Previously, Belfiore has wounded his lover Violante, mistakenly leaving her for dead. After her recovery, she has come to work at the Podestà’s house as a gardener under the name of Sandrina, together with her servant who is going by the name of Nardo. Belfiore is now engaged to the Podestà’s niece Arminda, who had been in love with Ramiro. The Podestà’s servant Serpetta is amorously attracted the Podestà, whilst being unresponsive to Nardo’s advances.
Belfiore is shocked to find that Sandrina is none other than his lost Violante, who he thought he had killed. Sandrina/Violante finds herself looking into the eyes of Belfiore. Arminda is surprised to come face to face with Ramiro. The Podestà enters and demands an explanation, but no one knows quite what to say. Belfiore begs Sandrina/Violante for forgiveness, but she decides not to reveal herself as Violante. The others observe and general confusion ensues.
Tue 9 Jun
Gaetano Donizetti L’elisir d’amore A 36
Gaetano Donizetti L’elisir d’amore A 36
Libretto: Felice Romani
Jonathan Cocker director
Davide Trolton conductor
Antonia Sotgiu language coach
Tom Henderson repetiteur
Sophia Parker Adina
Jay Broadhurst Nemorino
Khaled Issa Belcore
Amber Sellars Giannetta
Nemorino is in love with the seemingly indifferent Adina. He buys a love potion from the travelling quack, Dulcamara which fills him with hope. To make a safe escape, Dulcamara tells Nemorino the potion needs 24 hours to take effect – by which time, the doctor will be long gone. Nemorino drinks the potion in haste to watch the effect the following day. Emboldened by the “elixir” (in fact, drunk), Nemorino feigns indifference when he encounters Adina, as he expects that the elixir will facilitate his conquest the next day. She becomes increasingly annoyed; perhaps she has feelings for Nemorino after all? Belcore returns and proposes marriage to Adina. Still riled by Nemorino and wishing to teach him a lesson, Adina falsely promises to marry Belcore in six days’ time. Yet, Nemorino only laughs in response: such confidence is sustained in the belief in the magic potion. However, when Belcore learns that his regiment must leave the next morning, Adina promises to marry him before his departure, this very day. In a panic Nemorino cries out for Dr. Dulcamara to come to his aid, and implores Adina to wait just for one day (by which time the potion will have had its effect)
Jules Massenet Cendrillon
Jules Massenet Cendrillon
Libretto: Henri Caïn
Jonathan Cocker director
Elisabeth Streichert conductor
Lynne Dawson language coach
Tom Henderson repetiteur
Amber Sellars Noémie
Mila Johannsen Dorothée
Sarah Rappoport Madame de la Haltière
There has been an invitation to a grand ball at the Palace. Mme de la Haltière explains to her daughters, Noémie and Dorothée how to look their best to attract the Prince; after all, love ‘is a battlefield’. She is determined that they should be successful in attracting a husband, but can not deny that they are both charmless and awkward.
Igor Stravinsky The Rake’s Progress
Igor Stravinsky The Rake’s Progress
Libretto: W H Auden and Chester Kallman
Jonathan Cocker director
Juan Jose Munoz Borja conductor
Tom Henderson repetiteur
Sophia Parker Anne Trulove
Arhan Kumar Tom Rakewell
Sarah Rappoport Baba the Turk
The scene opens with Anne finding Tom’s London house. She is unsure of what she will find there. She is shocked to discover that Tom has actually married Baba the Turk, a famous bearded lady. Tom is ashamed of his behaviour towards Anne and sends her away. She is heartbroken.
Léo Delibes Lakmé
Léo Delibes Lakmé
Libretto: Edmond Gondinet and Philippe Gille
Jonathan Cocker director
Juan Jose Munoz Borja conductor
Lynne Dawson language coach
Tom Henderson repetiteur
Amber Sellars Miss Ellen
Phoebe Higham Miss Rose
Kate South Mistress Bentson
Matthew Hamilton Gérald
Khaled Issa Frédéric
The gentlemen, Frédéric and Gérald, accompany the excited English ladies, Misses Ellen and Rose into the garden of a Hindu temple. They have forced their way in through the bamboo fence. The young ladies are enchanted, but their governess, Miss Bentson, is less taken with the whole situation. Frédéric tries to give the women an insight into the Hindu culture, though his authority is that of an outsider and the other Europeans are convinced that their own ways are the best. They find some beautiful jewellery, but Frédéric warns them to leave it alone for fear of it bringing bad luck. Gérald offers to stay and sketch the jewellery while the others return home.
