Wales’ touring company, Mid Wales Opera, is taking a small stage tour of Puccini’s Il tabarro on the road in October.
The one-act opera will bring soprano Elin Pritchard (main image) to the role of Giorgetta, fresh from her success with Grange Opera singing Manon Lescaut, with Philip Smith singing her husband Michele who suspects his wife’s infidelity.
The production of Puccini’s late masterpiece will include six singers and four musicians with a new English translation by Richard Studer and a new chamber arrangement by Jonathan Lyness.
The strongly Welsh cast will also include Robyn Lyn Evans as Luigi, Stephanie Windsor-Lewis as La Frugola, Huw Ynyr as Tinca and Emyr Wyn Jones as Talpa. The musicians will be violin, Laurence Kempton; bassoon, Alexandra Callanan: harp, Elfair Grug Dyer and piano, Jonathan Lyness
The opera will be followed by a second half continuing the Parisian theme with a mix of entertaining musical items featuring all of the singers and musicians.
MWO’s will then stage La boheme in Spring 2022, a fully staged production in partnership with Ensemble Cymru.
MWO’s Artistic Director, Richard Studer, said, “After 18 months of absence from theatres the chance to perform live, to happily endure the ramshackle life on the road, even the reality of living out of a suitcase again is a prospect that thrills me!
“MWO’s new production is the first time I have directed and designed this opera and now we are finally in production I am revelling in its beauty and complexity. Il tabarro, as with La boheme is an opera full of emotional depth and musical colour, each capturing both the soul and stone of the city.”
Il tabarro – Puccini
Friday, October 1, Theatr Brycheiniog, Canal Wharf, Brecon
Saturday, October 2, Sparc Theatre, Bishops Castle
Wednesday, October 6, Theatr Colwyn, Colwyn Bay
Friday, October 8, Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, Cardiff
Saturday, October 9, Neuadd Dyfi, Aberdovey
Tuesday, October 12, Congress Theatre, Cwmbran
Thursday, October 14, Pontio Arts Centre, Bangor University
Wednesday, October 20, The Courtyard, Hereford
Friday, October 22, Ludlow Assembly Rooms
Saturday, October, 23, venue near Newtown tbc
Wednesday, October 27, Aberystwyth Arts Centre
Friday, October 29, St. Andrews Church, Presteigne
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