Spring Opera Scenes

Tchaikovsky Eugene Onegin

Scene from Act 1

​

Tatyana

Mariana Fernandes

Olga

Julia Merino

Larina

Karima El Demerdasch

Lensky

Joshua Saunders

Onegin

Hector Bloggs

​

Repetiteur

Ben Kubiak

​

A young poet, Lensky, introduces his friend, Onegin, to the family who live next door. Lensky has been betrothed to the younger daughter, Olga, since they were children, and he thinks that Tatyana, the elder sister, might be a good match for his friend. Onegin is not so sure.

​

​

Debussy Pelléas et Mélisande

Act 2 Scene 1

​

Mélisande

Samantha Hargreaves

Pelléas

Tom McGowan

​

Repetiteur

Samuele Piccinini

​

On a stifling hot day, Mélisande has been shown a well, by Pelléas, the brother of her husband. It is said that it used to cure blindness, but no one goes there anymore. She wants to touch the cool water.

 

She plays with her wedding ring over the well, and when it falls in she is worried how they will explain it to her husband.

 

​

Mozart Idomeneo

End of Act 1

​

Idamante

Julia Merino

Idomeneo

Dominic Lee

​

Repetiteur

Ben Kubiak

​

To save all hands aboard his ship from a storm, Idomeneo has made a deal with the god of the sea that he will sacrifice the next living being he encounters. He sees a man approach, and curses the gods for what he will have to do.

 

It transpires that this young man is fact Idomeneo’s estranged son, Idamante. Idomeneo runs from his son, warning him not to follow. Idamante is left in turmoil.

​

 

Massenet Manon

Scene from Act 2

​

Manon

Biqing Zhang

Des Grieux

Joshua Saunders

De Brétigny

Tom McGowan

Lescaut

Hector Bloggs

​

Repetiteur

Samuele Piccinini

 

Manon and Des Grieux have escaped to an apartment in Paris. Des Grieux, has written to his father informing him that he intends to marry Manon.

 

Manon’s cousin, Lescaut, has tracked her down, and with the help of De Brétigny (another suitor, in disguise) intends to convince Manon to leave Des Grieux and go with them. De Brétigny explains to Manon that Des Grieux’s father will have his son adducted that evening.

 

Manon has to choose whether to go with the rich De Brétigny or stay with Des Grieux.

​

​

Poulenc Dialogues des Carmélites

Act 1 scenes 2&3

​

Blanche de la Force

Georgie Malcolm

Sister Constance

Samantha Hargreaves

The Prioress

Lydia Shariff

 

Repetiteur

Ben Kubiak

 

Blanche de la Force has arrived at a convent, looking for safety and a higher purpose. The Prioress informs her that it is in fact the nuns who serve the order, not the other way round, and that she must be stripped of her preconceptions.

 

Some time later, Sister Blanche is appalled at how flippantly her fellow novice, Sister Constance treats the illness of the prioress. Sister Constance’s insistence that she will die young, by Blanche’s side, spooks Blanche further.

​

 

Rossini Il barbiere di Siviglia

Recit and trio from Act 2

​

Rosina

Karima El Demerdasch

Count Almaviva

Sang Eup Son

Figaro

Tom McGowan

 

Repetiteur

Ben Kubiak

 

Figaro and the Count Almaviva break in to rescue Rosina. However, she has been falsely informed that Lindoro (actually the Count in disguise) was trying to win her for the Count. She plans to show him what he is missing.

 

Flummoxed by the frosty reception, Almaviva reveals that he (whom Rosina believed to be the student Lindoro) is actually the Count himself, and she is amazed.

 

Figaro tries to convince them to leave, but discovers that there are in fact people outside...and that their means of escape is disappearing.

​

​

INTERVAL

​

​

Mozart Don Giovanni

Scene from Act 1

​

Zerlina

Samantha Hargreaves

Donna Elvira

Georgie Malcolm

Donna Anna

Mariana Fernandes

Don Ottavio

Joshua Saunders

Don Giovanni

Hector Bloggs

 

Repetiteur

Samuele Piccinini

 

Zerlina has been convinced to run away from her husband by Don Giovanni. She isn’t sure about moving on so quickly, but Don Giovanni’s assets help to convince her.

 

Donna Elvira has been tracking Don Giovanni down. She finds Zerlina and Don Giovanni together and warns Zerlina to stay away from away from the man who betrayed her.

 

Donna Anna and Don Ottavio are searching for answers, and try to enlist Don Giovanni’s help. Donna Elvira tries to intervene again, but Don Giovanni manages to keep her away. However, something about him triggers a memory in Donna Anna.

​

 

Donizetti Roberto Devereux

Scene and duet from Act 1

​

Sara

Karima El Demerdasch

Roberto Devereux

Dominic Lee

 

Repetiteur

Samuele Piccinini

 

Roberto Devereux has returned in disgrace, to find that Sara has married his friend. Sara must convince him to flee, as if he remains in court he will be executed. Sara explains that her marriage was purely a means of survival, and that he must also make the decision that keeps him.

​

 

Strauss Arabella

Scene from Act 1

​

Arabella

Mariana Fernandes

Zdenka

Biqing Zhang

 

Repetiteur

Ben Kubiak

 

Zdenka, who has been living as a boy to save her parents' money, tries to convince her sister, Arabella, that she should choose Matteo as a suitor. Zdenka, who is herself in love with Matteo, pleads his case, as she is worried that if Arabella doesn’t return his affections he will do something drastic.

 

Arabella says he’s not the man for her and that she hasn’t met the right one yet. Zdenka remembers how a fortune teller predicted that Arabella would be bathed in light, and that she would be left in the darkness.

​

 

Massenet Werther

Scene from Act 1

​

Charlotte

Julia Merino

Werther

Sang Eup Son

 

Repetiteur

Ben Kubiak

 

Charlotte and Werther return from a ball. He declares her the most wonderful of beings. She explains that since her mother died she has been left to look after her young siblings. Her father announces that Albert, who Charlotte promised her dying mother she would marry, has returned. Werther, broken, says Charlotte should stay true to her vow.

 

Stravinsky The Rake's Progress

Scene from Act 2

​

Anne Trulove

Georgie Malcolm

Baba the Turk

Lydia Shariff

Tom Rakewell

Dominic Lee

 

Repetiteur

Samuele Piccinini

​

Anne Trulove has come to London to find Tom Rakewell and bring him home. When she finds him, it becomes clear that he has just got married, to the famous bearded lady, Baba the Turk.