Latest News
Janáček's theatre threatened with closure
26 November 2011, Brno, Czech Republic
Brno's National Theatre(Photo: Anibal Trejo)
The National Theatre in Brno, Czech Republic, may be forced to shut down because of a 20 per cent cut in funding from the city’s governing council.
Under the new budget, the opera ensemble, chorus and orchestra have been abolished, with the proviso that some musicians will be offered new jobs in a few months’ time.
Janáček lived in Brno from the age of 11 until his death in 1928, and the world premiere of Jenůfa took place at the National Theatre (then the Czech Provisional Theatre) in January 1904.
Employees have launched an online petition to save the theatre: http://zachrante-operu.cz/english
Les Talens Lyriques present rare Dauvergne opera in Versailles
25 November 2011, Versailles, France
'Hercule Mourant' in concert at the Opéra Royal de Versailles
Review by Alexandra Coghlan
The latest addition to Christophe Rousset’s cabinet of baroque curiosities, Antoine Dauvergne’s Hercule Mourant demonstrates the considerable influence (if not quite the genius) of Dauvergne’s teacher, Rameau.
A concert performance at the Opéra Royal in Versailles – the first since the work’s 18th century debut – was led by Veronique Gens, delivering a characteristically assured performance as Hercules’ neglected wife Dejanire. Andrew Foster-Williams rose to the challenge of singing his own death, though his dramatic conviction never quite caught up to his technical skill, and he had a considerable rival in Edwin Crossley-Mercer’s assertive Philoctete.
Unusual orchestral colourings and textural effects – an extended passage of string tremolos for Hercules’ ascension, muted bassoons paired with horns and strings for the sombre cloud that settles of the drama of Act V – give the work an interest it lacks elsewhere. One for the record collection perhaps, but not the opera stage.
London's Royal Opera House launches first digital game
23 November 2011, London, UK
Screenshot: 'The Show Must Go On'
The Royal Opera House has launched a new digital game that allows opera fans to try their hand at being a stage manager.
Created for iPad, iPhone and iPod Touch users, The Show Must Go On is a collaboration with game developer, Hide&Seek. Available as an app, the game includes five different scenarios that challenge the player to retrieve sheet music, assemble props, build the set, light the show and dress the cast – all in a short time before the curtain goes up.
EMI has supplied recordings for the game’s soundtrack, which features artists such as Simon Rattle and Elisabeth Schwarzkopf as well as sound effects recorded at the Royal Opera House.
ROH chief executive, Tony Hall, described the move as ‘a very logical step for us as we increasingly develop our content available across multiple digital platforms.’
ROH to premiere BBC 'Question Time' opera on 22 November
19 November 2011, London, UK
British politician Nick Griffin
By James Waygood
As part of the Royal Opera House’s Opera ‘Exposure’ series, Errollyn Wallen’s new opera Yes receives its world premiere in London next week.
The work is a ‘docu-opera’ focusing on reactions and responses sparked by the infamous occasion in October 2009 when the BBC invited controversial British Nationalist Party leader, Nick Griffin, to appear as a panelist on its televised political forum, Question Time.
The libretto, written by the playwright and critic Bonnie Greer, consists of her personal opinions together with public reaction, exploring the storm of strong views leading up to and following the broadcast. Greer, who was a co-panelist on the programme, described appearing next to Griffin as ‘probably the weirdest and most creepy experience of my life’. She will take part in the opera as herself alongside a cast of nine singers and an instrumental ensemble of seven.
At Tête-á-Tête Opera Festival held at the Riverside Studios in Hammersmith last summer, composer Errollyn Wallen held a seminar discussing her writing process, which included excerpts from Yes. Combining her more lyrical style with contemporary writing, the music is a fusion that is original but accessible and catchy. From what I heard at the preview, Yes is set to be a bold and intriguing approach to issues of multiculturalism, racism and freedom of speech in today’s society.
Performances in the Linbury Studio Theatre from 22 to 26 October
US soprano sings live after being shot
10 November 2011, Memphis, US
Stafford Hartman
A 24-year-old artist in residence with Memphis Opera surprised audiences last month by going ahead with two performances of Tosca – after being mugged and shot in the knee.
Stafford Hartman was attacked two days before the opera’s opening night, but said that she was determined ‘not to be a victim’, so went ahead with her offstage role of the Shepherdess from a wheelchair. She is expected to make a full recovery.
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