Sim Posted April 5, 2017 Posted April 5, 2017 I must say the opera looks much more interesting than the ballet for next season! Details of The Royal Opera's 2017/18 Season have been announced. The full production list is as follows: La bohème NEW PRODUCTION11 September–10 October 2017, 16 June–20 July 2018 (Live in cinemas 3 October 2017) Music: Giacomo Puccini Director: Richard Jones Conductors: Antonio Pappano / Paul Wynne Griffiths / Nicola Luisotti Richard Jones directs a new production of Puccini’s passionate opera of love and death in 19th-century Paris. Mimì – Nicole Car / Simona Mihai / Maria Agresta / Ekaterina Siurina Rodolfo – Michael Fabiano / Benjamin Bernheim / Matthew Polenzani / Atalla Ayan Marcello – Mariusz Kwiecień / Alessio Arduini / Andrei Bondarenko Musetta – Nadine Sierra / Danielle de Niese / Vlada Borovko Schaunard – Florian Sempey / Gyula Nagy / Duncan Rock / Rodion Pogossov Colline – Luca Tittoto / Fernando Javier Radó / In Sung Sim Benoît – Jeremy White Alcindoro – Wyn Pencarreg Die Zauberflöte12 September—14 October 2017 (Live in cinemas 20 September 2017) Music: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Director: David McVicar Conductors: Julia Jones / Richard Hetherington Julia Jones conducts The Royal Opera’s gorgeous production of Mozart’s The Magic Flute with two wonderful casts including Roderick Williams as Papageno and Janai Brugger as Pamina. Pamina – Siobhan Stagg / Janai Brugger Tamino – Mauro Peter / Tuomas Katajala Papageno – Roderick Williams / Florian Sempey Sarastro – Mika Kares / In Sung Sim Queen of the Night – Sabine Devieilhe / Christina Poulitsi First Lady – Rebecca Evans / Jennifer Davis Second Lady – Angela Simkin Third Lady – Susan Platts / Gaynor Keeble Monostatos – Peter Bronder / Peter Hoare Papagena – Christina Gansch / Haegee Lee Speaker of the Temple – Sebastian Holecek / Darren Jeffery Les Vêpres siciliennes12 October–4 November 2017 Music: Giuseppe Verdi Director: Stefan Herheim Conductor: Maurizio Benini Verdi’s spectacular grand opera is conducted by Maurizio Benini with a cast including Malin Byström and Rachele Stanisci, Bryan Hymel, Michael Volle and Erwin Schrott. Hélène – Malin Byström / Rachele Stanisci Henri – Bryan Hymel Jean Procida – Erwin Schrott Guy de Montfort – Michael Volle Ninetta – Michelle Daly Daniéli – Nico Darmanin Thibault – Neal Cooper Robert – Jihoon Kim Mainfroid – Samuel Sakker Le Sire de Béthune – Simon Shibambu Le Comte de Vaudemont – Jeremy White Lucia di Lammermoor30 October–27 November 2017 Music: Gaetano Donizetti Director: Katie Mitchell Conductor: Michele Mariotti Donizetti’s opera of a woman forced to breaking point is conducted by Michele Mariotti with a cast including Lisette Oropesa, Charles Castronovo and Christopher Maltman, in Katie Mitchell’s powerful production. Lucia – Lisette Oropesa Edgardo – Charles Castronovo / Ismael Jordi Enrico Ashton – Christopher Maltman Raimondo Bidebent – Michele Pertusi Normanno – Andrew Tortise Arturo Bucklaw – Konu Kim Alisa – Rachael Lloyd La Tragédie de Carmen NEW PRODUCTION3–14 November 2017 (Wilton’s Music Hall) Music: Georges Bizet Director: Gerard Jones Conductor: James Hendry The youthful stars of the Jette Parker Young Artists Programme perform Peter Brook’s radical reworking of Georges Bizet’s opera in the intimate setting of Wilton’s Music Hall. Carmen – Aigul Akhmetshina Don José – Thomas Atkins Escamillo – Gyula Nagy Micaela – Francesca Chiejina Semiramide NEW PRODUCTION19 November—16 December 2017 Music: Gioachino Rossini Director: David Alden Conductors: Antonio Pappano / Christopher Willis Antonio Pappano conducts Rossini’s epic tragedy with a cast including Joyce DiDonato, Ildebrando D’Arcangelo, Daniela Barcellona and Lawrence Brownlee in a new production by David Alden. Semiramide – Joyce DiDonato Assur – Ildebrando D'Arcangelo Arsace – Daniela Barcellona Idreno – Lawrence Brownlee Azema – Jacquelyn Stucker Oroe – Bálint Szabó Mitrane – Konu Kim Nino's Ghost – Simon Shibambu Cavalleria rusticana / Pagliacci29 November 2017—13 January 2018 Music: Pietro Mascagni / Ruggero Leoncavallo Director: Damiano Michieletto Conductor: Daniel Oren Catch this classic double bill of Italian opera in The Royal Opera’s Olivier Award-winning production, with Daniel Oren conducting two excellent casts. Santuzza – Elīna Garanča / Anna Pirozzi Turiddu – Bryan Hymel Mamma Lucia – Elena Zilio Alfio – Dimitri Platanias Lola – Martina Belli Canio – Fabio Sartori Tonio – Simon Keenlyside / Roberto Frontali Nedda – Carmen Giannattasio / Simona Mihai Silvio – Andrzej Filończyk / Samuel Dale Johnson Beppe – Luis Gomes Rigoletto14 December 2017—16 January 2018 (Live in cinemas 16 January 2018) Music: Giuseppe Verdi Director: David McVicar Conductor: Alexander Joel Alexander Joel conducts two excellent casts led by Dmitri Hvorostovsky and Dimitri Platanias in David McVicar’s acclaimed production of Verdi’s potent and tragic opera. Duke of Mantua – Michael Fabiano / Ivan Magrì Rigoletto – Dmitri Hvorostovsky / Dimitri Platanias Gilda – Sofia Fomina / Lucy Crowe Sparafucile – Andrea Mastroni Maddalena – Nadia Krasteva Giovanna – Sarah Pring / Kathleen Wilkinson Count Monterone – James Rutherford / Darren Jeffery Marullo – Dominic Sedgwick Matteo Borsa – Thomas Atkins Count Ceprano – Simon Shibambu Countess Ceprano – Francesca Chiejina / Jacquelyn Stucker Salome8–30 January 2018 Music: Richard Strauss Director: David McVicar Conductor: Henrik Nánási Malin Byström takes on the title role in Richard Strauss’s searing opera, as featured in the V&A exhibition Opera: Passion, Power and Politics. Salome – Malin Byström Jokanaan – Michael Volle Herod – John Daszak Herodias – Michaela Schuster Narraboth – David Butt Philip Page of Herodias – Christina Bock First Jew – Dietmar Kerschbaum Second Jew – Thomas Atkins Third Jew – Hubert Francis Fourth Jew – Konu Kim Fifth Jew – Jeremy White First Soldier – Levente Páll Second Soldier – Alan Ewing First Nazarene – Kihwan Sim Second Nazarene – Dominic Sedgwick Cappadocian – John Cunningham The Return of Ulysses NEW PRODUCTION10–21 January 2018 (Roundhouse) Music: Claudio Monteverdi Director: John Fulljames Conductor: Christian Curnyn The Royal Opera returns to the Roundhouse with Monteverdi’s great late work, in a new production directed by John Fulljames starring Christine Rice and Roderick Williams, sung in English. Ulysses – Roderick Williams Penelope – Christine Rice Telemachus – Samuel Boden Minerva – Catherine Carby Eurycleia – Susan Bickley Melantho – Francesca Chiejina Eurymachus – Andrew Tortise Eumaeus – Mark Milhofer Irus – Stuart Jackson Amphinomus – Nick Pritchard Peisander – Tai Oney Antinous – David Shipley Tosca15 January—3 March 2018 (Live in cinemas 7 February 2018) Music: Giacomo Puccini Director: Jonathan Kent Conductors: Dan Ettinger / Plácido Domingo Three casts, led by Adrianne Pieczonka, Angela Gheorghiu and Martina Serafin and conducted by Dan Ettinger and Plácido Domingo, star in The Royal Opera’s production of Puccini’s thriller. Floria Tosca – Adrianne Pieczonka / Angela Gheorghiu / Martina Serafin Mario Cavaradossi – Joseph Calleja / Riccardo Massi / Massimo Giordano Baron Scarpia – Gerald Finley / Marco Vratogna Spoletta – Aled Hall / Hubert Francis Cesare Angelotti – Simon Shibambu Sacristan – Jeremy White Sciarrone – Jihoon Kim Carmen NEW PRODUCTION6 February—16 March 2018 (Live in cinemas 6 March 2018) Music: Georges Bizet Director: Barrie Kosky Conductors: Jakub Hrůša / Christopher Willis Barrie Kosky directs Bizet’s much-loved opera, with Jakub Hrůša and Christopher Willis conducting two casts led by Anna Goryachova and Gaëlle Arquez in the title role. Carmen – Anna Goryachova / Gaëlle Arquez Don José – Francesco Meli / Andrea Carè Escamillo – Kostas Smoriginas / Alexey Markov Micaëla – Anett Fritsch / Susanna Hurrell Zuniga – David Soar / David Shipley Frasquita – Jacquelyn Stucker / Haegee Lee Mercédès – Angela Simkin / Aigul Akhmetshina Le Dancaïre – Pierre Doyen Moralès – Gyula Nagy / Dominic Sedgwick Le Remendado – Jean-Paul Fouchécourt From the House of the Dead NEW PRODUCTION7–24 March 2018 Music: Leoš Janáček Director: Krzysztof Warlikowski Conductor: Teodor Currentzis Janáček’s final work receives its Royal Opera premiere in a new production directed by Krzysztof Warlikowski, with Teodor Currentzis conducting an excellent cast including Johan Reuter and Willard W. White. Alexandr Petrovic Gorjancikov – Willard W. White Aljeja – Pascal Charbonneau Luka Kuzmic – Štefan Margita Skuratov – Ladislav Elgr Šiškov/Priest – Johan Reuter Prison Governor – Alexander Vassiliev Big Prisoner/Nikita – Nicky Spence Small Prisoner/Cook/Cekunov – Grant Doyle Elderly Prisoner – Graham Clark Voice – Konu Kim Drunk Prisoner – Jeffrey Lloyd-Roberts Šapkin – Peter Hoare Prisoner/Kedril – John Graham-Hall Prisoner/Don Juan/Brahmin – Aleš Jenis Young Prisoner – Florian Hoffmann Prostitute – Rinat Shaham Cerevin – Alexander Kravets Macbeth25 March—10 April 2018 (Live in cinemas 4 April 2018) Music: Giuseppe Verdi Director: Phyllida Lloyd Conductor: Antonio Pappano Antonio Pappano conducts Verdi’s opera on Shakespeare’s tragedy, with a magnificent cast including Anna Netrebko and Anna Pirozzi, Željko Lučić and Ildebrando D’Arcangelo. Macbeth – Željko Lučić Lady Macbeth – Anna Netrebko / Anna Pirozzi Banquo – Ildebrando D'Arcangelo Macduff – Yusif Eyvazov / David Junghoon Kim Lady-in-waiting – Francesca Chiejina Malcolm – Konu Kim Doctor – Simon Shibambu Coraline WORLD PREMIERE27 March—7 April 2018 (Barbican Theatre) Music: Mark-Anthony Turnage Director: Aletta Collins The world premiere of Mark-Anthony Turnage’s opera based on Neil Gaiman’s much-loved story, in a production at the Barbican directed by Aletta Collins. 4.48 PsychosisDates TBC Music: Philip Venables Director: Ted Huffman Philip Venables’s award-winning opera is inspired by Sarah Kane’s extraordinary final play. Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk12–27 April 2018 Music: Dmitry Shostakovich Director: Richard Jones Conductor: Antonio Pappano Richard Jones’s critically acclaimed production returns after more than a decade, with Antonio Pappano conducting a cast led by Eva-Maria Westbroek in Shostakovich’s masterpiece. Katerina Ismailova – Eva-Maria Westbroek Sergey – Brandon Jovanovich Boris Ismailov – John Tomlinson Zinovy Ismailov – John Daszak Sonyetka – Aigul Akhmetshina Aksinya – Rosie Aldridge Shabby Peasant – Peter Bronder Priest – Wojtek Gierlach Police Inspector – Mikhail Svetlov Teacher – Thomas Atkins Old Convict – Paata Burchuladze Female Convict – Miranda Keys Sentry – Simon Shibambu Coachman/Second Workman – Hubert Francis Lessons in Love and Violence WORLD PREMIERE10–26 May 2018 Music: George Benjamin Director: Katie Mitchell Conductor: George Benjamin George Benjamin conducts the world premiere of his new collaboration with Martin Crimp – a hotly anticipated work from the creators of Written on Skin, with an excellent, hand-picked cast. Samuel Boden Stéphane Degout Jennifer France Barbara Hannigan Peter Hoare Gyula Orendt Andri Björn Róbertsson Krisztina Szabó Tansy Davies and Nick Drake WORLD PREMIEREJune 2018 (Printworks) Music: Tansy Davies Director: Lucy Bailey The latest opera from composer Tansy Davies and librettist Nick Drake, the award-winning team behind Between Worlds. Mamzer Bastard WORLD PREMIEREJune 2018 Music: Na'ama Zisser The Royal Opera presents the world premiere of a new work by exciting young composer Na’ama Zisser, in a soundworld that thrillingly unites contemporary idioms with the music of Orthodox Hasidic Judaism. Lohengrin NEW PRODUCTION7 June—1 July 2018 Music: Richard Wagner Director: David Alden Conductor: Andris Nelsons Wagner’s great romantic opera is conducted by Andris Nelsons with a cast including Klaus Florian Vogt, Kristine Opolais and Christine Goerke in a new production directed by David Alden. Lohengrin – Klaus Florian Vogt Elsa von Brabant – Kristine Opolais Ortrud – Christine Goerke Friedrich von Telramund – Thomas J. Mayer Heinrich I – Georg Zeppenfeld Herald – Kostas Smoriginas First Noble of Brabant – Konu Kim Second Noble of Brabant – Thomas Atkins Third Noble of Brabant – Gyula Nagy Fourth Noble of Brabant – Simon Shibambu Don Giovanni29 June—17 July 2018 Music: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Director: Kasper Holten Conductor: Marc Minkowski In Mozart’s dazzling tragicomic opera, Marc Minkowski conducts a world-class cast led by Mariusz Kwiecień with Ildebrando D’Arcangelo, Rachel Willis-Sørensen, Pavol Breslik and Hrachuhi Bassenz. Don Giovanni – Mariusz Kwiecień Leporello – Ildebrando D'Arcangelo Donna Anna – Rachel Willis-Sørensen Don Ottavio – Pavol Breslik Donna Elvira – Hrachuhi Bassenz Zerlina – Chen Reiss Masetto – Anatoli Sivko The Commendatore – Willard W. White Falstaff7–21 July 2018 Music: Giuseppe Verdi Director: Robert Carsen Conductor: Nicola Luisotti Robert Carsen’s production of Verdi’s masterful comic opera is filled with wit, humour and sheer joie de vivre. Sir John Falstaff – Bryn Terfel Alice Ford – Ana María Martínez Ford – Simon Keenlyside Nannetta – Anna Prohaska Fenton – Frédéric Antoun Mistress Quickly – Marie-Nicole Lemieux Meg Page – Pamela Helen Stephen Dr Caius – Carlo Bosi Bardolfo – Michael Colvin Pistol – Craig Colclough Jette Parker Young Artists Summer Performance 201815 July 2018 The Jette Parker Young Artists return to the main stage in their annual summer performance. L'Ange de Nisida in concert18–21 July 2018 Music: Gaetano Donizetti Conductor: Mark Elder Opera Rara gives the world premiere of Donizetti’s opera – some of which is familiar from La Favorite – in a concert performance starring Joyce El-Khoury and conducted by Mark Elder. Sylvia – Joyce El-Khoury Leone de Casaldi – David Junghoon Kim King Fernand of Naples – Ludovic Tézier Don Gaspar – Laurent Naouri Monk – Evgeny Stavinsky
Lizbie1 Posted April 5, 2017 Posted April 5, 2017 I thought it looked underwhelming myself (though not as disappointing as the ballet). Apart from the Janacek (long overdue), Macbeth and Lohengrin, I'm not excited by anything. There are a few shows I'd be more interested in if they were better cast. Very disappointing that the rumoured Skelton/Bell Peter Grimes isn't happening - it crowns a serious shortage of Britten throughout Kasper Holten's tenure. I don't know how these things work, but it's almost as if KH's heart wasn't really in it.
Aruna S Posted April 5, 2017 Posted April 5, 2017 I don't quite know why the Ring Cycle isn't included, I'd read that it was expected to be staged in 2018 and was surprised to not find it in the season announcement. And then I found it on the website. After greatly enjoying Pappano's Meistersinger I'm looking forward to his Ring. Tickets go on sale in November, nearly a year in advance which is very useful for hotel planning but I wonder whether this is usual?
bangorballetboy Posted April 5, 2017 Posted April 5, 2017 20 minutes ago, Aruna S said: I don't quite know why the Ring Cycle isn't included, I'd read that it was expected to be staged in 2018 and was surprised to not find it in the season announcement. And then I found it on the website. After greatly enjoying Pappano's Meistersinger I'm looking forward to his Ring. Tickets go on sale in November, nearly a year in advance which is very useful for hotel planning but I wonder whether this is usual? It's because it's at the beginning of the 2018/19 season. Cast includes: Siegfried: Stefan Vinke Fricka: Sarah Connolly Mime: Gerhard Siegel Hagen: Stephen Milling Gutrune: Emily Magee Wotan/Wanderer: John Lundgren Bruennhilde: Nina Stemme Siegmund: Stuart Skelton Alberich: Johannes Martin Kraenzsle Loge: Alan Oke Hunding: Ain Anger Freia, Third Norn: Lise Davidsen
MAB Posted April 5, 2017 Posted April 5, 2017 Sad that the much loved production of Boheme is being replaced and why do we have to trudge to the Roundhouse for Ulysses, is there a policy of not showing early opera in the main house? I totally agree with Lizbie1 concerning Britten, the exclusion of his operas is troubling. Wild horses wouldn't drag me to see the RO's Lucia again and without a stellar cast I'll give the ugly production of Don Giovanni a miss too. Semiramide and Lohengrin interest me most.
bangorballetboy Posted April 5, 2017 Posted April 5, 2017 41 minutes ago, MAB said: why do we have to trudge to the Roundhouse for Ulysses, is there a policy of not showing early opera in the main house? Personally, I'd much rather see Monteverdi performed in the Roundhouse. The venue is significantly more suitable for early music of this type, whose orchestration is drowned in a theatre the size of the ROH. 3
Lindsay Posted April 5, 2017 Posted April 5, 2017 The Sam Wannemaker playhouse at the Globe is really lovely for early opera too, if you haven't already been.
alison Posted April 5, 2017 Posted April 5, 2017 1 hour ago, Aruna S said: I don't quite know why the Ring Cycle isn't included, I'd read that it was expected to be staged in 2018 and was surprised to not find it in the season announcement. And then I found it on the website. After greatly enjoying Pappano's Meistersinger I'm looking forward to his Ring. Tickets go on sale in November, nearly a year in advance which is very useful for hotel planning but I wonder whether this is usual? It was last time around. Ooh, Lohengrin - and with the missus as well But did they really need a new production?
RuthE Posted April 5, 2017 Posted April 5, 2017 4 minutes ago, alison said: Ooh, Lohengrin - and with the missus as well But did they really need a new production? Well, the "production" they had before wasn't really a "production" at all. It was effectively a concert with costumes, with almost no stage direction or movement, which was brought in as a temporary filler of a gap. Instead they've been reviving it ever since... Very interesting season IMO, though very short on my favourite singers. Better boost my travel budget somehow, or I'll have potentially drastic withdrawal symptoms...
Aruna S Posted April 5, 2017 Posted April 5, 2017 In my excitement over the Ring, I forgot to say I'm very pleased about Lohengrin too :-) 1
John Mallinson Posted April 5, 2017 Posted April 5, 2017 I'm only an occasional opera goer but I was surprised to see the extent of the opera company's schedule: I count 28 programmes, 7 of which are new productions, plus 4 completely new works. No wonder opera tickets are so expensive! 1
Scheherezade Posted April 6, 2017 Posted April 6, 2017 Yup, agree with all the positive responses to Lohengrin and particularly pleased that Klaus Florian Vogt will be back on the UK stage. Also happy about the Opera Rara concert performance of L'Ange de Nisida. Surprised at the Hvorostovsky casting since it wasn't all that long ago that we were told that his balance problems had put an end to full-on opera, although he is also slated for a couple of performances at the Liceu so hopefully all is well, and is the Netrebko Lady Macbeth the promised trade-off for her withdrawal from Norma? The Di Donato/Barcellona double act again in Semiramide (La Donna del Lago anyone?) but can Joyce match Shagimuratova at last year's Proms? Too many of the usual suspects, as per usual, with most of them featuring in the cinema broadcasts, it would seem, and why yet another outing for the muddled KH Don Giovanni? I agree with Sim that overall the opera programme looks more promising than the ballet but, let's face it, that isn't saying much. Oh well, we shall see what we shall see!
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