Preview: Verdi’s Opera Rigoletto On Tour

Russian State Ballet and Opera House

Verdi’s Opera Rigoletto

 (sung in Italian with English surtitles)

With music performed by a large live Orchestra

On Tour including:

Monday  16th February      Newcastle,Tyne Theatre and Opera House 

Tuesday  17th February      Darlington, Civic Theatre

Friday      27th February      Carlisle, Sands Centre

With an impressive cast and accompanied by a live Orchestra with over 30 musicians, Verdi’s masterpiece and best-loved opera, Rigoletto  is brought vividly to life by The Russian State Ballet and Opera House, who have already delighted audiences last year with two successful performances of Carmen and La Traviata.

Rigoletto - a tragic tale of misunderstanding, revenge and sacrifice.

Rigoletto is an opera by Giuseppe Verdi, set to an Italian libretto by Francesco Maria Piave, and based on the play “Le Roi s’amuse” by Victor Hugo.

Giuseppe Verdi, the well-loved and popular Italian composer, was commissioned to write a new opera by La Fenice Opera House in Venice in 1850. By this time he was already a well-known composer and had a degree of freedom in choosing the works he would prefer to set to music. Verdi enthused over Victor Hugo’s play. Often described as Verdi’s first work of complete genius, Rigoletto is particularly noted for its subtle and highly original characterisation, especially in the case of the tragic court jester, Rigoletto himself.

The tragic story revolves around the hunchbacked court jester, Rigoletto, his beautiful much-loved daughter Gilda (whom he had kept secret from the Court) and the Duke of Mantua he serves.

However, Rigoletto’s sarcastic comments and participation in the Duke’s escapades have won him many enemies among the Duke’s followers.

Count Monterone, furious that his family has been shamed by the Duke’s seduction of his daughter, ruins the jolly party and is arrested, cursing the Duke and Rigoletto.

Count Ceprano, not amused by Rigoletto’s constant humiliating remarks, and thinking that Gilda is Rigoletto’s mistress, plots an immediate revenge and persuades his followers to kidnap Gilda and take her to the Duke. 

Rigoletto goes to his daughter’s rescue. The nobles mock Rigoletto for his troubles. After comforting his daughter, Rigoletto vows to be avenged on the Duke and hires a hit man.

The curse comes to fruition when Gilda falls in love with the Duke and eventually sacrifices her life to save him from the assassin hired by her father.

A succession of stunning tunes, including the famous ‘La donna è mobile’, combined with an ever-present underlying tension and menace in a plot involving abduction, seduction and revenge. Rigoletto is one of the most difficult roles in the baritone repertoire: in public, the Duke’s clown and sidekick – in private, a tender, obsessively protective father.

Rigoletto is Verdi’s supreme masterpiece – the perfect tragic opera and an unforgettable experience for all.

Opera lovers, the world over, have taken Rigoletto to their hearts.

Alexej Ignatow, producer of The Russian State Ballet & Opera House says: “Opera has been able to take advantage of the high-tech revolution in home entertainment, television and cinema and more and more people are discovering it. However, nothing can replace the pleasure to attend a live performance, which is why we are dedicated to presenting full and positive new productions in regional theatres.

We want to give the opportunity to local audiences to experience these classics at a fraction of the cost they would pay in big cities, give them great pleasure and inspire them to want more.

Dedicated to innovation as well as quality, the Russian State Ballet and Opera House has been presenting ballets and operas to huge audiences for over 13 years.”

Alexej continued “After touring successful Ballets performances all over UK last Autumn, we have managed to secure The Russian State Opera and Ballet Theatre of Komi to come back in Spring 2015 with their new production of Rigoletto. The Russian State Ballet and Opera of Komi came into repertory in 1958, with the premiere of Tchaikovsky’s opera “Eugene Onegin”. The Theatre is located in the Russian town of Syktyvkar, the capital of the Republic of Komi, just to the north of Moscow.

The Theatre boasts a mix of exciting productions and staging and participates in cultural exchanges.  Discovering the aesthetic and cultural preferences of foreign audiences, they have established partnerships with major European companies.   The Russian State Ballet and Opera of Komi is renowned across Europe for its faithful, intimate and powerful performances, and this new opera production will be no exception. “

But what about newcomers to Opera? Alexej Ignatow noted: “We often get asked how you would encourage people who have never seen an opera before, to come along for the first time? My instant reply is that you don’t need to be an expert in opera or music as we ensure that the set and costumes, and surtitles, make the production easy to follow. The music is beautiful and sometimes even if you’re lost in the plot, just close your eyes and enjoy the music.”

 On Tour

          DAY  DATE                    VENUE

                            

          Sun   08-Feb       Scarborough, The Spa

          Mon 09-Feb       Lincoln, Theatre Royal

          Tue   10-Feb       Yeovil, Octagon Theatre

          Wed 11-Feb       Basildon, Towngate Theatre

          Thu   12-Feb       Wakefield, Theatre Royal

          Fri      13-Feb       Cheltenham, Everyman Theatre

          Sun   15-Feb       York, Barbican

          Mon  16-Feb      Newcastle,Tyne Theatre and Opera House 

          Tues  17-Feb      Darlington, Civic Theatre

          Wed 18-Feb       Dorking Halls

          Thur  19-Feb       Hastings, White Rock Theatre

          Fri      20-Feb       London, Cadogan Hall

          Sat    21-Feb       Peterborough, The Cresset Theatre

          Sun   22-Feb       Stevenage, Gordon Craig Theatre

          Tues  24-Feb       Harrogate, Royal Hall

          Wed 25-Feb       Chesterfield, Pomegranate Theatre

          Thur  26-Feb       Stafford, Gatehouse Theatre

          Fri      27-Feb      Carlisle, Sands Centre

          Sat    28-Feb       Halifax, Victoria Theatre

          Sun   01-Mar      Clacton, Princes Theatre

          Tues  03-Mar      Swindon, Wyvern Theatre

          Wed 04-Mar      Stockport, The Plaza

          Thur  05-Mar      Blackburn, King George’s Hall

          Fri      06-Mar      Shrewsbury, Theatre Severn

          Sat    07-Mar      Tunbridge Wells, Assembly Hall

Do not delay in purchasing your ticket for the greatest opera, Rigoletto

For information and tickets, please visit www.opera-tickets.co.uk

Ticket details for Newcastle Opera House

Tickets are priced from £31.50 - £22.50 (plus booking fees when booking online and over the phone)

 

The Tyne Theatre & Opera House Box Office is open 10am-3:30pm Monday to Friday and event days

Booking and Information Line: 0844 2491 000 (10am – 6pm Monday to Friday)

More information at our Website: www.tynetheatreandoperahouse.uk

Facebook: Facebook.com/tynetheatreandoperahouse  

Twitter: twitter.com/tyneoperahouse

Theatre Address: 109 – 119 Westgate Road, Newcastle, NE1 4AG