Opera trio at Playhouse
Ellen Kent brings trio of operas to Playhouse
Renowned opera producer Ellen Kent returns to the Playhouse this week with her Opera & Ballet International productions of three of the most popular operas in the repertoire.
Tonight, Thursday 10 March 2016, she opens with the light comedy of Die Fledermaus. On Friday she gets all dark with Tosca and on Saturday it is to Carmen that she turns, bringing her trademark performing stallion with her.
Ellen Kent’s Dei Fledermaus Act 1
In Die Fledermaus, Johann Strauss tells a tale of fun and frivolity; of love triangles and revenge. It all revolves round Baron Von Eisenstein and his pal Dr. Faulk. The revenge is Faulk’s, for a trick the Baron played on him at a costumed ball the previous year, when the Dr had been compelled by to walk home through the streets of Vienna still in costume – as a bat.
Kent says: “Strauss’s light-hearted opera set in late 19th century Vienna combines a cast of colourful characters with some of opera’s most popular musical moments in a story of love, laughter and sweet revenge.
“This unique version includes two bats and an introduction of some scenes from the Russian Die Fledermaus which are unique to this production.”
Friday night is Tosca night, with Vladimir Dragos returning to sing the villain Scarpia after his turn as Rigoletton in Ellen Kent’s last tour to Edinburgh, in 2015.
Ellen Kent’s production of Tosca
Set against the dramatic landscape of Rome and the Napoleonic Wars and the corrupt Italian regime of that time, the production is directed as a Gothic, Victorian horror story.
“Puccini’s Tosca is an epic tale of true love and treachery,” says Kent. “Featuring torture, murder and suicide alongside some of opera’s best-known music.
“This popular opera, with its tender and moving arias Recondita Armonia, Vissi d’Arte and E Lucevan le Stelle, is a heady mixture of true love, torture and treachery, with two of the best roles for tenor and soprano, plus a pure evil villain as the baritone.”
Kent says that the company brings a stunning new set for its Carmen on Saturday. One which “reflects the magnificent architecture of Seville with its Roman and Moorish influences” as it tells the story of the bewitching gypsy girl whose tantalising beauty lures a soldier to desertion and leads to her own murder.
Ellen Kent’s Carmen with new set and horse
As fans of the recent production of Carmen from Edinburgh Studio Opera will know, Bizet’s work includes some of the most evocative and best-loved melodies in opera –The Habanera, The Seguidilla, The Flower Song, The Chanson Bohème and perhaps the best-known baritone aria of all The Toreador’s Song.
The production also includes a dance sequence by Caspian the stallion, ridden by Joe Butcher from AB Films. Caspian has appeared in many films including War Horse and Robin Hood, according to Kent.
Listings
Die Fledermaus
Edinburgh Playhouse, 18 – 22 Greenside Place, EH1 3AA
Thursday 10 March 2016: 7.30pm
Sung in English with English surtitles.
Tickets and details: http://www.atgtickets.com/shows/die-fledermaus/edinburgh-playhouse/
Tosca
Edinburgh Playhouse, 18 – 22 Greenside Place, EH1 3AA
Friday 11 March 2016: 7.30pm.
Sung in Italian with English surtitles.
Tickets and details: http://www.atgtickets.com/shows/ellen-kents-tosca/edinburgh-playhouse
Carmen
Edinburgh Playhouse, 18 – 22 Greenside Place, EH1 3AA
Saturday 12 March 2016: 7.30pm.
Sung in French with English surtitles.
Tickets and details: http://www.atgtickets.com/shows/carmen/edinburgh-playhouse/
ENDS
