2012 opera programme:
(Performance dates are provisional at this stage, but we are confident that they will run as stated)
Strauss - Intermezzo
July 7, 10, 13, 19, 22 (matinee 4pm), 25 at 7:15pm
Festival production, with the Northern Chamber Orchestra
An autobiographical comedy of jealousy with some gorgeous Strauss music
CREATIVE TEAM:
Director: Stephen Unwin
Designer: Paul Wills
Conductor: Stephen Barlow
Lighting Designer: John Bishop
CAST:
Christine Storch: Janis Kelly
Robert Storch: Stephen Gadd
Baron Lummer: Andrew Kennedy
Notary: Jonathan Best
Kammersinger: Njabulo Madlala
Commercial Counsellor: Robert Poulton
Stroh: Richard Roberts |
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Handel - Jephtha
July 8, 11, 14, 18, 21
Festival production, with the Orchestra of The Sixteen and Festival Chorus
Harry Christophers conducts one of Handel's greatest oratorios
CREATIVE TEAM:
Director/Designer: Frederic Wake-Walker
Conductor: Harry Christophers
Lighting Designer: John Bishop
CAST:
Jephtha: James Gilchrist
Iphis: Gillian Keith
Storge: Sue Bickley
Zebul: Jonathan Best
Hamor: Billy Purefoy |
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Sibelius and Rimsky-Korsakov double bill:
July 9, 12, 17 (matinee), 20, 24
Festival productions, with the Northern Chamber Orchestra and Festival Chorus
Two operas concerning damsels in distress by Finnish and Russian masters
Rimsky-Korsakov - Kashchei the Immortal
CREATIVE TEAM:
Director: Stephen Lawless
Designer:
Russell Craig
Conductor: Stuart Stratford
Lighting Designer: John Bishop
CAST:
The Princess: Kate Ladner
Kashchei's Daughter: Emma Selway
Kashchei: Richard Berkeley-Steele
Storm Wind: Robert Poulton
Ivan the Illustrious: William Dazeley |
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Sibelius - The Maiden in the Tower
CREATIVE TEAM:
Director: Stephen Lawless
Designer:
Russell Craig
Conductor: Stuart Stratford
Lighting Designer: John Bishop
CAST:
The Maiden: Kate Ladner
Lady of the Castle: Emma Selway
Fogden (Bailiff): William Dazeley
The Lover: Richard Berkeley-Steele
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Vivaldi - L'Olimpiade
July 11, 21 (both matinees)
Production by La Serenissima
A timely tribute to the Olympic games in a score of great lyrical beauty
CREATIVE TEAM:
Director: Richard Williams
Musical Director: Adrian Chandler, violin
Musical Director: James Johnstone, harpsichord
Costumes: Olivia Wells
CAST:
Clistene: Stephen Gadd
Aristea: Rachael Lloyd
Argene: Sally Bruce-Payne
Megacle: Louise Poole
Licida: Marie Elliott
Aminta: Mhairi Lawson
Alcandro: Jonathan Gunthorpe |
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Portugal - The Marriage of Figaro
July 15, 18 (matinee), 23
Production by Bampton Classical Opera
'a gorgeous production…the nocturnal shenanigans in the garden make perfect sense' Opera Magazine
CREATIVE TEAM:
Director/Designer: Jeremy Gray
Conductor: Robin Newton
Costumes: Fiona Hodges
Lighting: John Bishop
CAST:
Figaro: Nicholas Merryweather
Susanna: Emily Rowley Jones
Marcellina: Cara Curran
Dr Bartolo: Mark Saberton
Cherubino: Joana Seara
Don Basilio: Robert Winslade Anderson
Rosina, Countess Almaviva: Lisa Wilson
Count Almaviva: John-Colyn Gyeantey
Antonio: Nicholas Morris
Cecchina: Caroline Kennedy
Gusmano: Robert Gildon |
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Britten - The Turn of the Screw
July 16, 20 (matinee)
Production by Northern Ireland Opera
Henry James's chilling ghost story
CREATIVE TEAM:
Director: Oliver Mears
Designer:
Annemarie Woods
Conductor:
Nicholas Chalmers
Lighting: Kevin Treacy
CAST:
Governess: Fiona Murphy
Peter Quint: Andrew Tortise
Miss Jessel: Giselle Allen
Mrs Grose: Yvonne Howard
Flora: Lucia Vernon
Miles: Thomas Copeland |
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Too Hot to Handel
July 10 (matinee)
Production by the Armonico Consort
A Handel opera, as never heard before…
CREATIVE TEAM:
Creators: William Towers & Emma Rivlin
Music Director: Christopher Monks
CAST:
William Towers
Yvette Bonner
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'Rivlin is a deep-thinking young director and her staging was ingenious, often hilarious. The singing duo was a delight… and the playing from Armonico's period-instrument ensemble was of the high calibre we have come to expect.' Roderic Dunnett, Opera magazine.
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