Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

La clemenza di Tito

Scenes from Act 2

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Annio

Cecily Shaw

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Sesto

Marianne Ruel

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Vitellia

Zoë Jackson

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Publio

Oliver Williams

 

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Repetiteur

Alicia Hernández Huebra

 

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Outside near the Capitol

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The emperor Tito is believed dead, assassinated during an attempted coup. But, in the ensuing chaos, the young advisor Annio is certain he has seen him alive and unharmed. His efforts to convince Sesto of this meet with utter disbelief as Sesto, generally considered to be a man of integrity and loyal to Tito, reveals he was the author of the assassination attempt. Annio begs him to go to Tito and plead for clemency.

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Sesto remains, unsure what to do, when Vitellia appears demanding he should flee Rome. It was she who manipulated Sesto into attempting to overthrow Tito, and she is fearful her involvement will be uncovered if he remains. But she is too late. Publio comes to arrest Sesto, revealing that the person Sesto attempted to murder was a decoy. The decoy survived the attack and so Sesto’s guilt has been exposed. Vitellia is mortified he will betray her, while Sesto rails at her, demanding that she never forget how much he loved her.

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Gaetano Donizetti

Roberto Devereux

Act 3 Duet

 

Sara

Cecily Shaw

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Servant

James Emerson

 

Duke of Nottingham

Twm Brunton

 

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Repetiteur

Alicia Hernández Huebra

 

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The Duke of Nottingham’s London apartments

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Sara is awaiting the return of her husband, the Duke of Nottingham, when a letter is delivered. It is from Roberto Devereux, Sara’s would-be lover and erstwhile favourite of the queen. He has fallen foul of the authorities and has been condemned to death. With the letter comes a ring which he says, if presented to the Queen, will save his life. As Sara turns to go, her husband appears. He demands to read the letter, and asks about the ring, wondering when she received it. He is convinced of his wife’s infidelity, and that Roberto gave it to her during a romantic assignation.

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They hear Roberto’s funeral procession outside. Sara begs Nottingham to let her go to save Roberto, but he is implacable, telling her that his house will be her prison.

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Gaetano Donizetti

La favorita

Duet from Act 1

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Fernando

Sebastian Hill

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Ines

Zoë Jackson

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Leonora

Marianne Ruel

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Repetiteur

Alex Dakin

 

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A private room

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Leonora is the King’s mistress. But she has been having a clandestine affair with a young man, Fernando, who has given up everything to pursue his passion for her. He knows nothing, however, of her relationship with the King. Nor even her name…

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Fernando is shown into a room where he will find the anonymous woman with whom he has been having a very secret passionate affair. He asks Ines to reveal her name, but she refuses, hinting that the whole situation is perilous.

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Leonora emerges, and Fernando, rejecting her advances, demands to know who she is. In an attempt to assuage the fear he reads in her eyes, he asks her to marry him. She says she loves him, but she must refuse.  Clearly agitated, she gives him a letter saying that it will guarantee him a future, but that he must finish the affair and leave her. His remonstrations are interrupted when Ines bursts in and says the King has arrived. She begs Fernando to leave.

 

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Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

Don Giovanni

Scenes from Act 1

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Donna Elvira

Laura LeVoir

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Donna Anna

Zoë Jackson

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Don Ottavio

Sebastian Hill

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Don Diovanni

Twm Brunton

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Zerlina

Marianne Ruel

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Repetiteur

Alex Dakin

 

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The night before… Don Giovanni, in disguise, assaulted Donna Anna. During his escape her father was killed.

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Some time later the next day in a public place…

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Donna Elvira has travelled to the city to track down her former lover, Don Giovanni. Seeing him chatting up yet another girl, she intervenes, and tries desperately to persuade the girl that he is utterly untrustworthy.

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As Don Giovanni goes to leave, he runs into Don Ottavio and his fiancée, Donna Anna. Not recognising him as her attacker, Donna Anna asks for Don Giovanni’s help. As he comforts her, Donna Elvira returns and feels compelled to convince them of his treachery. Don Ottavio and Donna Anna are increasingly convinced by her story, despite Don Giovanni appearing to be an upright and respected member of society.

 

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Interval (15 minutes)

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Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

Così fan tutte

Act 2 Scenes 2–5

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Fiordiligi

Laura LeVoir

 

Dorabella

Cecily Shaw

 

Don Alfonso

Oliver Williams

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Despina

Marianne Ruel

 

Ferrando

Sebastian Hill

 

Guglielmo

James Emerson

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Repetiteur

Alicia Hernández Huebra

 

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Ferrando and Guglielmo have entered into a bet with Don Alfonso to prove the fidelity of their girlfriends. They’ve faked their own departure, and are now in disguise to attempt to seduce their respective partners. Meanwhile, Alfonso has enlisted the help of Despina to persuade the women that, in the absence of their boyfriends, a little romantic ‘diversion’ would not really be so bad.

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The women contemplate Despina’s advice, and reveal which of the two strangers they prefer. Their excited anticipation is interrupted by Alfonso, calling them to come and see an extraordinary entertainment the two strangers have laid on.

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Charmed by the silliness of the men’s offering, and with some encouragement from Alfonso and Despina, the couples pair off according to the women’s wishes.

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Guglielmo is left with Dorabella, and offers her a heart. She accepts, and he asks for hers in return…

 

 

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Georges Bizet

Les pêcheurs de perles

Act 3 Opening

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Zurga

Twm Brunton

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Leila

Laura LeVoir

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Repetiteur

Alex Dakin

 

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A remote sect

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Head of the community Zurga has condemned his old friend, Nadir, to death. The reason given publicly is because Nadir has broken the rules by visiting the Priestess Leila. Privately, however, Zurga was driven by jealousy as he, as well as Nadir, has fallen for her.

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As a storm abates, Zurga questions his own motives and is ashamed of his decision.

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Leila comes to see Zurga. She has come to ask for mercy for Nadir, and to offer herself in his place. Her confession of her love for Nadir inflames Zurga, and he rages at her. He confesses he is driven by jealousy and that her loves her. Leila is appalled, and storms out.

 

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Gian Carlo Menotti

The Consul

Act 1 Duet

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Magda

Zoë Jackson

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John    

James Emerson

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Mother

Cecily Shaw

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Repetiteur

Alicia Hernández Huebra

 

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An apartment in the capital city of an oppressed state

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The police have been searching for insurgents. John Morel has evaded them so far, and bursts into the apartment, wounded. His wife Magda tries to attend to him, but he is hurrying to leave, planning to escape across the border. He says he will send for her, but that she must get travel documents for her and their son.

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As he prepares to leave his wife, his mother and his baby son, all three grasp at hope in the face of an increasingly bleak outlook.

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Synopses by Martin Lloyd-Evans.