SAFFRON OPERA GROUP IN THEIR TENTH ANNIVERSARY SEASON PRESENT MOZART’S SPARKLING COMEDY LE NOZZE DI FIGARO with a solid of internationally famend stars and rising skills on Sunday 25 February 2024, at 2.30pm
After a blinding and extremely lauded efficiency of Richard Strauss’s Der Rosenkavalier earlier in 2023, Saffron Opera Group (SOG) now turns its consideration to the comedy which supplied a serious supply of inspiration for Strauss: Mozart’s Le nozze di Figaro. Having already had large success with Così fan tutte and Don Giovanni, SOG thus now completes the cycle of the of the three ‘Da Ponte Operas’ (so named after their librettist Lorenzo da Ponte) and is delighted to announce the return of many audience-favourite singers – and a few shining new skills – to their solid.
The efficiency can be a part of SOG’s joyous tenth anniversary celebrations, which can culminate later in 2024 with a return efficiency of their first ever venture, Wagner’s Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg.
Mozart’s 1786 opera (the title is often translated as ‘The Marriage of Figaro’) tells the story of two wily servants, Figaro and Susanna, who should overcome the egocentric machinations of their grasp Rely Almaviva earlier than they are often married. Serving to and hindering them on their journey to wedded bliss are an assortment of vibrant characters, together with a sexual-precocious younger pageboy, the Rely’s sad spouse, a frisky older lady who desires Figaro for herself, a Machiavellian singing instructor, and lots of others.
The roles of Figaro and Susanna are taken by bass-baritone Frederick Lengthy and soprano Lucy Corridor, each of whom have established themselves as agency favourites with SOG audiences. The previous was an excellent Masetto in Don Giovanni, and the latter garnered excellent reward as Sophie in Der Rosenkavalier. Lengthy’s profession has included performances with all the most important UK opera corporations: ‘pure comedian timing, paired with a beautiful open, unforced tone,’ stated The Arts Desk. For her efficiency as Sophie, Lucy Corridor was praised for her ‘pure, sweet-toned voice’ by Seen and Heard Worldwide, and when she sang the lead function in Mozart’s La finta giardiniera in Luxembourg, Tageblatt was dazzled by her ‘crystal clear, superbly produced and phrased soprano voice.’
One other alumna from SOG’s Der Rosenkavalier is soprano Ella de Jongh, who stood in at brief discover to sing the function of the Marschallin, and who was universally applauded: ‘her Act 1 monologue was an emotional and psychological spotlight … vocally radiant’ stated Seen and Heard. She takes on the pivotal function of Countess Almaviva and becoming a member of her as her stage-husband Rely Almaviva is the Latvian bass-baritone Pauls Putnins. He has already sung the function to nice acclaim at Scottish Opera, and carried out different main roles for Glyndebourne, ENO, Garsington and many homes in Europe and America.
Taking the function of the sex-obsessed pageboy Cherubino is younger mezzo-soprano Emily Hodkinson. A current graduate of the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, Emily has already labored with Glyndebourne, Opera Holland Park, and English Touring opera.
Saffron Opera Group is thrilled to announce some luxurious casting for a number of of the supporting roles. Recent from her triumph because the Fairy Queen in ENO’s Iolanthe, mezzo-soprano Yvonne Howard takes on the function of Marcellina, who has set her sights on Figaro. Internationally acclaimed bass-baritone Andrew Shore is Physician Bartolo. He has carried out the function many instances for ENO – he appeared because the character as not too long ago as December 2023 – and has additionally sung the conniving antagonist at Glyndebourne. Famend character tenor Harry Nicoll is the weaselly singing instructor, Don Basilio.
Additional supporting roles are taken by younger singers Emily Vine (Barbarina), William Stevens (Antonio), Phil Clieve (Don Curzio), Charlotte Forfar (First Bridesmaid) and Rachael Liddell (Second Bridesmaid.
The orchestra is carried out by SOG’s chief conductor Michael Thorne (‘at one with the spirit … and dramatic structure of the work’, Seen and Heard), who has efficiently led all SOG’s earlier performances with verve and keenness.
Saffron Opera Group was based by opera-loving Saffron Walden residents Paul Garland and Francis Lambert in 2013 and is now run by Lambert and Jeff Thomson. Its inaugural manufacturing was Wagner’s Die Meistersinger in 2014, and its bold live shows of The Ring Cycle, Parsifal, Tristan und Isolde and Tannhaüser have been among the many most profitable UK Wagnerian occasions of current years.
Saffron Opera Group performs Le nozze di Figaro at 2.30pm on Sunday 25 February 2024
Saffron Corridor, Audley Finish Street, Saffron Walden CB11 4UH
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