Autumn Opera Scenes

Please note that these opera scenes contain adult content, including scenes of a sexual nature, depictions of abuse, violence and alcohol addiction. Haze and lighting effects will be used. ​

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The performance will last approximately 2 hours and 20 minutes, including one 15-minute interval. Please note, due to the technical nature of this performance, the interval is closed to the public. Please make your way out of the auditorium.

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Dove The Adventures of Pinocchio

Act 2 excerpt

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Pinocchio

Julia Solomon

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The Snail

Gabriella Noble

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Blue Fairy

Hannah McKay

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Repetiteur

Caitlin Carey

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Pinocchio has just escaped from the clutches of the robbers, Cat and Fox, and beats on the door of the Blue Fairy’s house demanding to be let in. The Snail speeds to answer the door. Once inside, the Blue Fairy says that, despite some shortcomings, Pinocchio has done well and that his trials are almost over. He might be able to become a real boy, and celebrate with a party. Pinocchio is very excited…

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Mozart La clemenza di Tito

Act 1 Scenes 1–3

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Vitellia

Avery Lafrentz

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Sesto

Gabriella Noble

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Annio

Julia Solomon

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Repetiteur

Jack Stone

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Vitellia is the daughter of the deposed emperor of Rome. Her ambitions to retake power have led her to attempt to seduce the current ruler, Tito, but her efforts have so far failed, and she has resorted to plotting Tito’s downfall. She is manipulating Sesto, friend of Tito but fatally attracted to Vitellia, to undertake the assassination, and demands to know why he hasn’t acted yet. His protestations are interrupted when Annio brings news that Tito has exiled the prime candidate to be his empress.

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Seeing a new pathway to power, Vitellia tells Sesto to pause their plan. In a febrile atmosphere of divided loyalties, Annio seeks to take advantage of the scene he has just witnessed.​

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Donizetti L'elisir d'amore

Act 1 Duet and Trio

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Nemorino

Tobias Campos Santiñaque

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Adina

Manon Ogwen Parry

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Belcore

Sonny Fielding

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Repetiteur

Caitlin Carey

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Nemorino’s romantic hopes have been repeatedly crushed by Adina. He has resorted to buying a love potion that he believes will make her change her mind, even though the instructions suggest it will only take effect after 24 hours. His newfound confidence irritates Adina to the point where she offers to marry the posturing Belcore. Initially worried, Nemorino’s confidence returns when she sets a date a week away – plenty of time for the potion to take effect...

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Britten Albert Herring

Act 1 excerpt

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Florence Pike

Julia Solomon

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Miss Wordsworth

Seohyun Go

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The Vicar

Redmond Sanders

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The Mayor

Harry Jacques

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Superintendent Budd

Oliver Williams

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Lady Billows

Avery Lafrentz

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Repetiteur

Jack Stone

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In the small town of Loxford, Lady Billows chairs a panel of local dignitaries to choose a suitably ‘pure’ candidate to be May Queen. The town, however, seems to be suffering from terrible moral decay…

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Mozart Così fan tutte

Act 1 Scenes 10–11

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Don Alfonso

Oliver Williams

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Despina

Manon Ogwen Parry

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Ferrando

Tobias Campos Santiñaque

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Guglielmo

Sonny Fielding

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Fiordiligi

Hannah McKay

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Dorabella

Gabriella Noble

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Repetiteur

Caitlin Carey

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Don Alfonso has made a bet with two young men to prove the disloyalty of women. His plan involves getting them, in disguise, to woo their lovers. But he is concerned that Despina, who works for the women, may catch on and he looks to bribe her.

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The men duly enter and test the effectiveness of their disguises on a highly amused Despina. Passing this first hurdle, they then make approaches to the women, who are having none of it and demand that Despina explain herself for letting these two strangers in. Though the young men are delighted at the women’s responses, believing it a sign of their fidelity. Don Alfonso and Despina are not sure, and wonder whether “the ladies doth protest too much”.

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Interval (15 minutes)

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Humperdinck Hansel and Gretel

Act 1 Scenes 2–3

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Mutter

Lowri Probert

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Gretel

Manon Ogwen Parry

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Hansel

Julia Solomon

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Vater

Redmond Sanders

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Repetiteur

Jack Stone

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Hansel and Gretel are caught playing around by their mother. In her fury, she destroys the only food they have and, blaming them, sends them out into the night to forage. She is beside herself with hunger and hopelessness.

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Hearing the father arrive singing a drunken song, she hides in work. He taunts her about the lack of food before revealing he has had something of a windfall. He explains how he came about such good fortune, and as they celebrate he asks where the children are. Reluctantly she tells him that she threw them out. He is furious, telling his wife that the kids aren’t safe, that there is a witch who abducts children and cooks them in her oven.

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Terrified, the two run out into the night to find them.

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Gounod Romeo and Juliette

Act 4 Duet

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Juliette

Seohyun Go

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Romeo

Harry Jacques

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Repetiteur

Caitlin Carey

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Juliette and Romeo come from two different warring factions. They have fallen for each other, and in defiance of their situation have secretly married and stolen their first night together. The next day will bring the brutal consequences of Romeo’s involvement in Tybalt’s murder. As they wake up, they try to convince each other that the bird they hear is not the morning lark, but the nightingale, herald of the night. Slowly, reality bites...​

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Donizetti Maria Stuarda

Act 1 Scene 6

 

Elisabetta

Lowri Probert

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Leicester

Harry Jacques

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Cecil

Sonny Fielding

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Talbot

Oliver Williams

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Maria

Hannah McKay

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Anna

Julia Solomon

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Repetiteur

Jack Stone

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Queen Elizabeth and Mary, Queen of Scots have been testy rivals for many years, culminating in the incarceration of Mary at Fotheringay Castle, with her Lady-in-Waiting, Anna, under the watch of Talbot. Their rivalry has not only been over the throne of England, but also for the affections of Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester. He has persuaded both women to meet in the grounds of Fotheringay, promising Mary that if she shows contrition then Elisabeth will grant her freedom.

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The encounter is fraught with tension, though Mary manages an initial show of humility as she asks forgiveness. The Queen, maddened by seeing her rival face-to-face, unleashes a stream of insults – not least accusing of her of complicity in the murder of her first husband. Mary can contain herself no longer, and she rails against the ‘bastard queen’. Though she relishes the immediate pleasure of venting her spleen, Mary has pushed Elizabeth too far, and the Queen impulsively retaliates by ordering her rival’s execution. Mary’s supporters Leicester, Talbot and Anna look on horrified while the Queen’s chief adviser, Cecil, smiles as the wheel of state turns in his favour.

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Dove The Adventures of Pinocchio

Act 2 excerpt

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Pinocchio

Julia Solomon

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Lampwick

Tobias Campos Santiñaque

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Repetiteur

Caitlin Carey

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Pinocchio comes across his old friend Lampwick, who is waiting for the Funland Express. Intrigued, Pinocchio asks what might be found there. Lampwick is full of the seductive fantasies of Funland, little realising that his blind belief in the Funland myth is slowly turning him into a donkey. Pinocchio faces a dilemma. Go with his fantasy-fuelled friend, or follow the harder path offered by the Blue Fairy with its promise of becoming a real boy…​

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Synopses by Martin Lloyd-Evans