Preview: Opera North at Newcastle Theatre Royal

OPERA NORTH BRINGS SEASON OF CREATIVE COLLABORATIONS TO NEWCASTLE

Opera North

Newcastle Theatre Royal

Tuesday 12 – Saturday 16 March 2019

The Magic Flute 12 & 15 March;

Katya Kabanova 14 March;

The Rite of Spring/Gianni Schicci 16 March

Opera North returns to Newcastle Theatre Royal with a bewitching coming-of-age adventure, an intense tragedy and a double bill of spellbinding contemporary dance and wickedly funny opera, as well as opportunities for families and schoolchildren to enjoy their first taste of opera.

Opera North’s production of

Janáček’s Katya Kabanova

Opening the season is a magical new production of Mozart’s much-loved opera The Magic Flute directed by James Brining from Leeds Playhouse. Deftly weaving together comedy and darkness with Mozart’s beautiful music, Brining’s operatic debut features an international cast including South African soprano, Vuvu Mpofu, making her UK debut as Pamina, opposite Chinese-Australian tenor Kang Wang, finalist at the 2017 BBC Cardiff Singer of the World, as Tamino. Samantha Hay takes on the role of Queen of the Night, with Gavan Ring (Figaro, The Barber of Seville, 2015) as Papageno the bird-catcher. Early music specialist Robert Howarth conducts.

Opera North’s production of

Janáček’s Katya Kabanova

To engage local schoolchildren with opera, a shortened version of The Magic Flute will be performed at a special schools’ matinee at the theatre on Wednesday 13 March. For even younger children there are three performances of The Mini Magic Flute at Seven Stories in the Ouseburn Valley on Saturday 16 March. This interactive 30-minute retelling of the story features a trio of opera singers, accompanied by an accordionist, and is preceded by a special craft activity for all the family.

Opera North’s production of

Janáček’s Katya Kabanova

Janáček’s wildly beautiful tale of temptation, passion and guilt, Katya Kabanova comes to the stage on 14 March. With a weak husband and overbearing mother-in-law, Katya does her best to conform to the stifling expectations of her community, but when her husband goes away on business, temptation proves impossible to resist. As her world unravels, Katya’s intense emotional states are charted by Janáček’s exceptional score, from the lyricism of her dreams to her longing for her lover Boris and the anguish of her guilt.

Opera North’s production of

Janáček’s Katya Kabanova

One of the country’s most distinguished conductors, Sian Edwards makes her Opera North debut with a cast headed by Stephanie Corley as Katya. American tenor Harold Meers sings the role of Boris, Heather Shipp is the formidable mother-in-law Kabanicha, and Andrew Kennedy is the spineless Tichon.

Opera North’s production of

Janáček’s Katya Kabanova

Completing the season on the Saturday is a dance/opera double bill created in association with Phoenix Dance Theatre, marking the first ever collaboration between the two Leeds-based companies. Stravinsky’s groundbreaking The Rite of Spring is reimagined for Phoenix's ensemble by Haitian-born choreographer Jeanguy Saintus. For his UK debut, he has taken his inspiration from the Vodou rituals of his homeland to create a truly mesmerizing staging. The full Orchestra of Opera North performs Stravinsky’s famous score, which sounded so revolutionary at its premiere in 1913 that it sparked a riot.

Opera North’s production of

Janáček’s Katya Kabanova

Offering a unique chance to experience two art-forms in one evening, The Rite of Spring is paired with Puccini’s short – and only – operatic comedy Gianni Schicchi. Scheming relatives gather round the deathbed of a rich man, each laying claim to his fortune, before coming to the questionable decision to call in local conman Gianni Schicchi for help. Rich with vivid characterisation and colourful music, this mini-masterpiece includes one of the greatest soprano arias in opera, O mio babbino caro. Richard Burkhard (Tonio, Pagliacci, 2017; Figaro, The Marriage of Figaro, 2015) returns to Opera North in the title role with the supporting cast including Tereza Gevorgyan as Lauretta, Diego Silva as Rinuccio and Leah-Marian Jones as Zita. Scottish conductor Garry Walker conducts both pieces.

Photos: Jane Hobson

Tickets:

Opera North’s production of

Janáček’s Katya Kabanova

Opera North is at Newcastle Theatre Royal from Tuesday 12 – Saturday 16 March 2019

The Magic Flute 12 & 15 March;

Katya Kabanova 14 March;

The Rite of Spring/Gianni Schicci 16 March

Tickets from £18.50 can be purchased from the Theatre Royal Box Office on 08448 11 21 21 (Calls cost 7ppm plus your phone company’s access charge) or book online at www.theatreroyal.co.uk

Under 30s £10 (https://www.operanorth.co.uk/your-visit/under30s)

Under 18s 50% off excluding gallery (when accompanied by a full paying adult – up to 4 per adult)