SPOTLIGHT

GUIDE TO NEW PRODUCTIONS & OPERA HIGHLIGHTS APR-JUN 2017

UK

DON’T MISS

Der Rosenkavalierat Welsh National Opera This is WNO’s first new production of Strauss’s bitter-sweet romantic comedy in 15 years, with Rebecca Evans making her role debut as the dignified Marschallin alongside Brindely Sherratt as the toecurlingly gauche Baron Ochs. The staging is in the experienced hands of Oliva Fuchs

The Exterminating Angel at the Royal Opera House Tom Adès’ latest full-length opera, based on a Luis Buñuel film, proved to be a hit at its world premiere in Salzburg last summer. A macabre tragedy of social manners, the opera tells the story of a group of characters trapped together at a hellish house-party. The eclectic score is endlessly fascinating, and Tom Cairns’ libretto keeps the action tight, like a wellwrought thriller.

English Touring Opera’s Spring Tour, featuring two classics from very different genres. Gilbert and Sullivan’s Patience is among the duo’s finest and funniest satires, poking fun at the aesthetic movement of the 1890s, as exemplified by Oscar Wilde and his ilk. Puccini’s Tosca needs little introduction: this revival of Tim Carroll’s production has Laura Mitchell and Paul Styles alternating in the title role (see review, page 64).

Turandotat Opera North Opera North’s acclaimed series of concert stagings continues with Puccini’s colourful orientalist fantasy, conducted by the company’s new music director Aleksandar Markovic and starring Irish soprano Orla Boylan as the opera’s ice-cool princess.

BELFAST NI OPERA

+44 28 9024 1919, www.niopera.com

La bohème Puccini Concert performances Rafael Payare (cond)

Apr 28 & 29

CARDIFF WELSH NATIONAL OPERA

+44 08700 40 2000, www.wno.org.uk

Die Fledermaus J Strauss

Tomáš Hanus (cond)

John Copley (dir)

May 20 to Jun 16

Der Rosenkavalier Strauss

Tomáš Hanus (cond)

Olivia Fuchs (dir)

3 to 17 Jun

GLASGOW SCOTTISH OPERA

+44 141 331 1234, www.scottishopera.org.uk

La bohème Puccini Stuart Stratford / Derek Clark (cond) Renaud Doucet (dir)

May 9 to 20

LEEDS OPERA NORTH

+44 113 222 6222, www.operanorth.co.uk

Turandot Puccini Aleksandar Markovic (cond) Annabel Arden (dir) Apr 28 to May 12

LONDON ENGLISH NATIONAL OPERA

+44 20 7632 8300, www.eno.org

Trial by Jury Sullivan Martin Fitzpatrick (cond) Matthew Monaghan (dir)

Jun 3 to 6

Charlie Parker’s Yardbird Schnyder Ron Daniel (dir) Jun 9 to 17

The Day After Dove James Henshaw (cond) Jamie Manton (dir) Jun 26 to 31

LONDON ROYAL OPERA HOUSE

+44 20 7304 4000, www.roh.org.uk

Madama Butterfly Puccini Antonio Pappano / Renato Balsadonna (cond) Moshe Leiser, Patrice Caurier (dirs) Continues to Apr 25

The Exterminating Angel Adès Thomas Adès (cond) Tom Cairns (dir) Apr 24 to May 8

Don Carlo Verdi Bertrand de Billy (cond) Nicholas Hytner (dir) May 12 to 29

L’elisir d’amore Donizetti Bertrand de Billy (cond) Laurent Pelly (dir) May 27 to Jun 22

La traviata Verdi Maurizio Benini (cond) Richard Eyre (dir) Jun 14 to Jul 4

Otello Verdi Antonio Pappano (cond) Keith Warner (dir) Jun 21 to Jul 15

Mitridate re di Ponto Mozart Christophe Rousset (cond) Graham Vick (dir) Jun 26 to Jul 7

Rebecca Evans makes her role debut as Strauss’s Marschallin in Cardiff

SIAN TRENBERTH

OPERA ON TOUR ENGLISH TOURING OPERA

Tosca Puccini Michael Rosewell (cond) Blanche McIntyre (dir)

Patience Sullivan Timothy Burke (cond) Liam Steel (dir) Continues to Jun 10

Snape Maltings Concert Hall, Suffolk 30 March-1 April

York Theatre Royal 7-8 April