The Ultimate #MeToo Revenge Opera – Saffron Opera Group presents Don Giovanni with very good youthful solid of rising stars at 2.30pm on Sunday 19 February 2023
After the astounding important and well-liked successes of its current Wagnerian performances, together with a full Ring cycle, Tristan und Isolde, Parsifal and Tannhäuser, Saffron Opera Group now turns its consideration to an earlier work. A youthful – however already extremely acclaimed – solid of British singers assembles to carry out Mozart’s tragic-comic masterpiece Don Giovanni in live performance on 19 February 2023, at 2.30pm.
Mozart’s opera, first carried out in 1787, tells the story of a betrayer who’s himself betrayed and delivered to justice. Don Giovanni is a tireless seducer of girls (the notches on his bed-post quantity 1003 based on the libretto), however he finally meets his match when he makes an attempt to ravish the unwilling aristocrat Donna Anna. With the assistance of her fiancé Ottavio, the cruelly spurned Donna Elvira, and the ghost of her personal murdered father, she helps to convey down the fury of hell upon the violent libertine. The remaining scene, by which an unrepentant Giovanni is dragged into the flames of the underworld, is among the best highlights of your complete operatic repertoire.
Taking the lead position of the charismatic however cold-hearted charmer is baritone Charles Rice. He has already scored an incredible success within the position at Opéra d’Avignon, and likewise labored with lots of crucial British homes in different main roles. ‘As Marcello [in La bohème at English National Opera] Charles Rice excelled in character and vocal punch alike,’ stated inews.co.uk, whereas Opera Spy praised the ‘revelatory and outstanding quality of his deep baritone sound.’
Bass-baritone Nicholas Crawley takes the position of Giovanni’s faint-hearted sidekick Leporello. Another favorite of British and European homes, he has not too long ago been seen at ENO and Opera Holland Park. Bachtrack ‘particularly liked Crawley’s seductive darkish sound and agile presence.’ Taking the position of the abused Donna Anna – considered one of Mozart’s most demanding feminine roles, fearsome in its vocal and emotional challenges – is the rising-star soprano Charlie Drummond, who was not too long ago a Scottish Opera Emerging Artist and can be an alumna of the National Opera Studio. Both the Edinburgh Music Review and The Herald Scotland have tipped her as one to observe. Tenor William Morgan, contemporary from a five-star triumph within the title position of Candide for Scottish Opera, is Donna Anna’s fiancé Don Ottavio. ‘Sings with wide-eyed simplicity and warm conviction,’ stated The Times. ‘At the opera’s coronary heart is a charismatic efficiency from tenor William Morgan,’ wrote The Herald.
Spanish-born British Soprano Alexandra Lowe is the semi-comical character Donna Elvira, a spurned lover who unexpectedly turns as much as thwart Giovanni’s present plans. A current Jette Parker Young Artist, she sang Schoenberg’s Pierrot Lunaire on the Royal Opera in May 2022. ‘A sensational, career-making performance’ stated The Guardian, and The Times was equally impressed, thrilling to her ‘stunningly assured and superbly expressive performance.’ Of her current efficiency with Kilden Opera, Kristiansand, Norway Posts opined, ‘The performance’s most excellent vocal efficiency is delivered by the younger Spanish-British soprano Alexandra Lowe within the position of Donna Elvira. Lowe has a beautiful voice and effortlessly and convincingly alternates between rage, ardour and despair.’
Pure-voiced soprano Natalie Montakhab is the flirtatious younger peasant-girl Zerlina (‘exactly what a Handelian voice should be’ enthused the Early Music Review) and baritone Frederick Long is her jealous lover Masetto. ‘A lovely fresh and relaxed tone, and dashing presence,’ stated Opera Today; ‘A performance of blazing conviction’ stated The Guardian of his position as The Sorceress in Dido and Aeneas.
Completing the solid because the murdered Commendatore who drags Giovanni to hell, is the internationally acclaimed bass Julian Close, well-known for main Wagnerian roles in probably the most prestigious homes in Europe and America. When he sang the Commendatore at Opera Northern Ireland, the Irish Times referred to as him ‘stupendous’.
The efficiency is performed by SOG’s much-loved common maestro Michael Thorne, who has garnered broad reward for his operatic skills. ‘Totally at one with the dramatic spirit and architecture’ Seen and Heard International, ‘Sure footed conducting and meticulous preparation,’ The Guardian.
Saffron Opera Group was based in 2013 by native opera-loving Saffron Waldenites. It hit the bottom operating with a efficiency of Wagner’s Die Meistersinger involving skilled soloists, and a refrain and orchestra of semi-professional and high-level novice musicians. Its formidable concert events of The Ring cycle and Parsifal have been among the many most profitable UK Wagnerian occasions of current years. The present administrators are Francis Lambert (co-founder) and Jeff Thomson.
Saffron Opera Group Orchestra and Chorus performs DON GIOVANNI
Sunday 19 February 2023, 2.30pm
Saffron Hall
Audley End Road
Saffron Walden
CB11 4UH