[h2]Grand Opera Live on a Staffordshire Screen Near You[/h2]
As part of Apollo Cinema in Stafford’s innovative programme of live theatre events broadcast as they happen on the big screen, allowing you to experience the world’s best opera – performed absolutely live, as it happens, from Covent Garden’s Royal Opera House. Next to hopping on a train and forking out £100 or more on a ticket – this is the next best thing – and all for a bargain price as all it will cost you is £12.50 for a night at the opera!
[h2]Rossini’s La Donna Del Lago -27 May 2013 at Stafford Apollo Cinema[/h2]
Opera in two acts Sung in Italian. The ultimate bel canto cast is assembled for this important yet rarely performed masterpiece.
Based on Sir Walter Scott’s poem The Lady of the Lake, La donna del lago is the most fully Romantic of Rossini’s Italian operas.
In Renaissance Scotland, King James V travels to the tribal Highlands, where he falls in love with Elena – the lady of the lake. Her father is fighting with the clans against the King’s rule and has promised Elena’s hand in marriage to a clan leader, Rodrigo.
Meanwhile Elena herself is in love with the young romantic hero Malcolm. The plot inspired some truly galvanizing scenes, most memorably the stunning confrontation between the tenors Uberto (James V in disguise) and Rodrigo.
John Fulljames’s staging evokes the mystery of Rossini’s Romantic landscape, and provides an insight into this rich but under-explored opera.
In the hands of three of the leading bel canto voices of our time, Juan Diego Flórez (Count Almaviva in The Royal Opera’s Il barbiere di Siviglia, Tonio in The Royal Opera’s La Fille du régiment), Joyce DiDonato (who sang the title role in Cendrillon with The Royal Opera last Season), and Colin Lee (Tonio in the 2012 revival of La Fille du régiment), La donna del lago promises to be a musical revelation.
[h3]How to book [/h3]
You can book tickets to see the live performance at Stafford Apollo Cinema, which starts at 7:15pm on Monday 27 May 2013 by calling the venue on 0871 220 6000 or book online here
[divider_to_top]
[h2]Verdi Opera ‘Nabucco’ starring Plácido Domingo – 29 April 2013[/h2]
As part of Appollo Cinema in Stafford’s innovative programme of live theatre events broadcast as they happen on the big screen, coming soon is the epic Verdi piece ‘Nabucco’ starring Plácido Domingo
In a gripping drama of war, passion and faith, Daniele Abbado explores themes of identity, exile and religion in a powerful staging of Verdi’s epic opera. Verdi’s Nabucco was a raging success when it was first performed in 1842. Telling the epic tale of the plight of the Israelites and their exile by the eponymous king, the opera is considered to have established Verdi’s reputation as a leading composer.
Plácido Domingo, one of the most celebrated talents of our time, is making a major role debut. This is a rare chance to see a genre-defining masterwork, containing some of the greatest choral music ever written, along with some wonderful arias and ensembles.
This new production of Nabucco is unmissable, and unless you happen to be lucky enough to have secured one of the £200 tickets to see the production at the Royal Opera House, this is the next best thing. Performed and broadcast live as it happens onto the big screen in Stafford – and it will cost you only £12.50 for a night at the opera!
[h3]More about Nabucco[/h3]
Domingo takes another thrilling step into the baritone repertory following his triumphs as Simon Boccanegra, as he sings the title role of Nabucco for the first time. He is joined by an exciting young cast including Ukranian soprano Liudmyla Monastyrska (Lady Macbeth in Macbeth for The Royal Opera, 2011) as the power-hungry priestess Abigaille. Acclaimed theatre and opera director Daniele Abbado makes his Royal Opera debut directing this co-production with La Scala, Milan.
The plot is based on the biblical story of King Nebuchadnezzar (Nabucco), and focuses on his imprisonment of the Hebrews, his struggle again st his unscrupulous daughter, Abigaille, his divine punishment and final salvatio n. Verdi’s rich score offers melody, power and raw drama on a scale that does full justice to the opera’s epic themes of nationhood,faith, love and redemption and calls upon the full might of the Orchestra of the Royal Opera House and Royal Opera Chorus
[h3]How to book [/h3]
You can book tickets to see the live performance at Stafford Apollo Cinema, which starts at 7:15pm on Monday 29 April 2013 by calling the venue on 0871 220 6000 or book online here
