TRIUMPH, BETRAYAL AND SACRIFICE: Strong, Passionate Women Dominate at Opera North this Winter
Press Release
18 January 2012
Opera North at
The Lowry, Salford Quays
28 February – 3 March 2012
Press Nights at The Lowry, Salford Quays
Wed 29 Feb Norma 7.00pm NEW PRODUCTION (note time)
Thu 1 Mar Giulio Cesare 7.00pm NEW PRODUCTION (note time)
TRIUMPH, BETRAYAL AND SACRIFICE: Strong, Passionate Women Dominate at Opera North this Winter
It’s a season of ‘Strong Women’ both on and off stage at Opera North in Winter 2012, with three operas highlighting female strength of character; Norma (Norma), Cleopatra, (Giulio Cesare) and Butterfly (Madama Butterfly). Some of the most impressive female singers on the current UK and European stage give everything to their roles: Annemarie Kremer (Norma), Sarah Tynan (Cleopatra), Pamela Helen Stephen (Caesar) and Anne Sophie Duprels (Butterfly).
This season also brings some of the North West’s female opera talent back home, with the up-and-coming young mezzo soprano Kathryn Rudge, originally from Liverpool, giving her first professional opera performance in the North West in Giulio Cesare at the Lowry. She is joined by mezzo soprano Ann Taylor, who was born in Wrexham, studied at the RNCM in Manchester and now lives in Cheshire. Ann appears as Cornelia in Giulio Cesare and also performs the role of Suzuki in Madama Butterfly.
GIULIO CESARE
NEW PRODUCTION
Handel (1724)
Sung in Italian
In Handel’s Giulio Cesare, Cleopatra battles against the brutality of the King, her brother Ptolomy. Using her considerable wiles to seduce the visiting Roman general, Julius Caesar, she enlists his support in an epic struggle for power.
This baroque masterpiece features music full of sensuality and gracefulness, particularly in the lavish music for the Egyptian queen, Cleopatra, sung by soprano Sarah Tynan in her Opera North debut. Her many previous roles have included Adina in Donizetti’s L’elisir d’amore (ENO, 2010) and Sophie in Der Rosenkavalier (ENO, 2008). Internationally acclaimed mezzo soprano Pamela Helen Stephen sings the role of Julius Caesar, making a welcome return to Opera North where she performed several roles early in her career, including Lazuli in L’étoile (1994).
The young mezzo Kathryn Rudge makes her Opera North debut as Sesto, following critical acclaim for her recent performance (and professional debut) as Cherubino in ENO’s The Marriage of Figaro (2011). Originally from Liverpool, Kathryn studied at the RNCM in Manchester, where she graduated in 2009, before completing the RNCM’s International Artist Diploma Scheme in 2011.
Director Tim Albery returns to the Company following his productions of Fidelio (2011) and Madama Butterfly (2007 /2011), while early music specialist Robert Howarth makes his debut conducting for Opera North. He has worked extensively with English Touring Opera on works by Handel and Monteverdi, including Alcina, L’Orfeo and Tolomeo.
Cast and Production Team:
Cesare Pamela Helen Stephen Conductor Robert Howarth
Cleopatra Sarah Tynan Director Tim Albery
Cornelia Ann Taylor Set & Costume Designer Leslie Travers
Tolomeo James Laing Lighting Designer Thomas Hase
Sesto Kathryn Rudge
Nireno Andrew Radley
Curio Dean Robinson
Achilla Jonathan Best
NORMA
NEW PRODUCTION
Bellini (1831)
Sung in Italian
Norma leads her people in the battle to protect their way of life in a new production of Bellini’s acclaimed opera. A high priestess in her society’s pagan religion, Norma is hiding a terrible secret – the man leading the destruction of all she holds dear is the father of her two children.
Passion, war and destiny collide as Opera North tackles Norma for the first time in 25 years, with Dutch soprano Annemarie Kremer taking on the one of the most celebrated bel canto roles following recent success in the title role of Salome in Vienna. Mexican tenor Luis Chapa, who has previously appeared with Welsh National Opera in the title role of Don Carlos and as Radames in Aida, sings Pollione, while American soprano Keri Alkema sings Adalgisa.
Director Christopher Alden returns to Opera North following an electrifying Tosca in 2008. His recent international productions have included Don Giovanni (2009) and Bernstein’s A Quiet Place (2010) for New York City Opera. Conductor Oliver von Dohnányi leads the musical team in this production.
The Company was left a legacy by Gertrude (Gertie) Pfaffinger, who produced stage props for many years. This production of Norma is in her memory and as a tribute to Maria Callas.
Cast and Production Team
Norma Annemarie Kremer Conductor Oliver von Dohnányi
Pollione Luis Chapa Director Christopher Alden
Adalgisa Keri Alkema Set Designer Charlie Edwards
Oroveso James Creswell Costume Designer Sue Willmington
Clotilde Gweneth-Ann Jeffers Lighting Designer Adam Silverman
Flavio Daniel Norman
MADAMA BUTTERFLY
REVIVAL
Giacomo Puccini (1904)
Sung in Italian
Madama Butterfly is a touching story of innocent love crushed amidst two utterly different cultures, which resonates as strongly as ever in today’s world. Widely hailed as one of the world’s best-loved operas, it features some of the most popular, beautiful and recognisable operatic music, such as the ‘Humming Chorus’ and ‘Un bel di.’
French soprano Anne Sophie Duprels has won widespread praise in the role of Cio-Cio-San, a young Japanese woman who sacrifices everything for the love of a visiting U.S. Naval Officer. She is re-joined for this production by Rafael Rojas in the role of Pinkerton. Peter Savidge returns to sing Sharpless, while Ann Taylor reprises Suzuki, the devoted servant.
With its exquisite set and costumes, this moving production has again received critical acclaim for its 2011/12 run. Director Tim Albery has taken a fresh look at his production, while Wyn Davies conducts the Orchestra of Opera North during the Winter 2012 Season.
Cast and Production Team
Cio-Cio-San Anne Sophie Duprels Conductor Wyn Davies
Pinkerton Rafael Rojas Director Tim Albery
Sharpless Peter Savidge Set Designer Hildegard Bechtler
Suzuki Ann Taylor Costume Designer Ana Jebens
Kate Pinkerton Erica Eloff Original Lighting Designer Peter Mumford
Maribeth Diggle Choreographer Maxine Braham
Goro Daniel Norman
Bonze Andrew Greenan
Prince Yamadori Paul Gibson
Performances at The Lowry, Salford Quays
Tue 28 Feb Madama Butterfly 7.30pm
Wed 29 Feb Norma 7.00pm
Thu 1 Mar Giulio Cesare 7.00pm
Fri 2 Mar Madama Butterfly 7.30pm
Sat 3 Mar Norma 7.00pm
ENDS/
For further information and images, please contact:
Lindsey Porter, Press & PR Manager
lindsey.porter@operanorth.co.uk 0113 223 3526
Julia Gregg, Press Officer
julia.gregg@operanorth.co.uk 0113 223 3522
Posted on Tuesday, 31 January 2012 under News Press Theatre Press