Smetana's Bartered Bride to be performed by Rockdale Opera from November 12-20 2016!

The Bartered Bride
BY BEDRICH SMETANA

Set within a Czech community in rural Australia during May Day celebrations, where traditional cultural values are challenged and juxtaposed, Czech composer Bedřich Smetana's joyous opera is infused with the rich atmosphere of colourful village life and folk traditions, beautifully depicted by his lavish and evocative musical score. 

The story unfolds against this background involving the secret love between Mařenka and Jenik; the machinations and financial bargaining powers of the wily and determined marriage broker Kecal to arrange and "unarrange" marriages, particularly those involving Mařenka and Vašek and his crafty negotiations with their respective parents; the closely held secret of Jenik's background; the inevitable happy ending but not perhaps as expected because of an amazing plot twist!  

Production Team

Director -  Luise Napier
Musical Director - Julia de Plater
Choreographer - Rachael Fullston

​ROCKDALE TOWN HALL
Saturday 12th November 7:30 pm
Sunday 13th November 2:00 pm
Saturday 19th November 7:30 pm
Sunday 20th November 2:00 pm

Starring

Georgia Kokkoris - Mařenka
Joshua Oxley - Jenik
Christopher Curcuruto - Kecal
Blake Parham - Vašek
Kate Wilmot - Ludmila
Rory Struthers - Krušina
Frances Carlile - Hata
Jonathan Carlile - Micha
Rachael Fullston - Esmeralda 
Ray Dubber -  Directeur de Cirque
and the ladies and gentlemen of
​Rockdale Opera Company's ensemble

Facebook event page

https://www.facebook.com/events/174667479646791/

Tickets and bookings

http://www.tickets4me.com.au/?s=The+Bartered+Bride&post_type=event

http://www.rockdaleopera.com.au/

Bare Bones opera debuts with bold theatricality and audience interaction. Russian opera a highlight.

Very glad to have had the chance to see this"triple" bill- 2 big bolde shows and a charming intermedi ( and previously unperformed 18th century mini cantata post interval). The first show was a fun workshop flavoured take on the famed Mozart-Salieri comedies around the art and artifice of opera "Der Schauspieldirektor and "Prima la musica" . great idea- would love to see it further developed and incorporate even more theatricality and develop the actor/director's roles. The highlight for me though was the second piece - an intense and moving reading of Rimsky-Korsakov's "Mozart and Salieri" that explores envy, genius, the tyranny of mediocrity and has some bloody fabulous singing in it.And in Russian!!! Spasibo to Bare Bones just for the that- and the wonderful portrayal of a man eaten up by self doubt and narcissicism acted out against the man he most admires and envies. Brilliant work Eugene Raggio and all at Bare Bones- and Joshua Oxley provided an excellent foil as Mozart. More please! One more show today at 3pm- get along- and DO the subtitle smartphone thing- its an inspired idea and sitting onstage getting strangely caught up in the action via your mobile phone is sheds a contemporary and chilling light on the subject matter .( pun intended)

Photos courtesy of John Kilkeary and Vctoria Watson)

This trio of divas were delightful in Musicof Salieri and Mozart- Laura King, Zoe Drummond and Imogen Faith Malfitano. Excellent musical support from pianist Jonathan Wilson and baritones Josh Rogers and Vincent Farrell

 Some of the cast and creatives from the first show- a pasticcio based on works by both Mozart and Salieri. Fun and theatrical.Producer Laura King was delightfully diva-lish.

 The venue- a real find for chamber opera experiences- the performing space at Australian Performing Arts Grammar Glebe.

Joshua Oxley and Eugene Raggio as Mozart and Salieri ( Rimsky-Korsakov and Pushkin)

 Eugene Raggio as Salieri- a man ravaged with self loathing, envy , grief and a deep fear of his own mediocrity.

Intense drama between Oxley and Raggio - grear moody blue lighting and atmosphere added by interactive audience work- subtitles on smartphones backlit to add to mood through colour.- This has got to take off- patent it immediately!!

Fab central location in Glebe.

After the show- audience included Dr David Larkin ( critic for bachtrack - lecturer at Sydney Conservatorium) and baritone Rory Sruthers. Eugene Raggio was a standout performer as Salieri.

Opera Australia stage Prokofiev's Love for three Oranges- opening night !

Simon Boccanegra at Sydney Opera House- superb singing in a brilliant Verdi Cast!

https://opera.org.au/whatson/events/simon-boccanegra-sydney

http://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/stage/simon-boccanegra-sydney-review-20160727-gqemsg.html

New Sydney Opera Company- Bare Bones presents Mozart, Salieri and Rimsky-Koraskov triple bill August 4, 6 and 7

Triple opera bill in Glebe ( on Broadway!) 

August 4th then 3pm August 7th and 8th at Australian Performing Arts Grammar.

Works by Rimsky-Korsakov ( in Russian!) Salieri and Mozart! brilliant idea. Surtitles will be available on smartphones!

Booki now-

www.trybooking.com/Booking/BookingEventSummary.aspx?eid=211117

THREE PERFORMANCES ONLY
You know the story of the infamous (albeit highly fictionalised) rivalry between Mozart and Salieri. No doubt you have seen the late Peter Shaffer's film adaptation of his own play, "Amadeus", greatly inspired by Alexander Pushkin's "little tragedy", the dramatic poem "Mozart and Salieri".

Let us take you a little closer to the source material.

We are excited to present a triple-bill including Rimsky-Korsakov's almost verbatim operatic adaptation of Pushkin's tale, alongside two of Mozart and Salieri's own farcical works; Der Schauspieldirektor (Mozart) and Prima la Musica, Poi le Parole (Salieri). These pieces were interestingly composed for the same competition and debuted at the same time, in the same room!

As a special treat, it is also our utmost privilege to present, likely for the first time EVER here in Sydney, "Per la ricuperata salute di Ofelia"; a piece of music composed by Mozart AND Salieri, with libretto by Lorenzo Da Ponte of Marriage of Figaro, Don Giovanni, and Cosi fan Tutte fame (to name just a few). Discovered only this year in the depths of the Czech National Museum, this piece was thought to be lost to the ages. We are delighted to be able to give it's modern-day, Sydney debut.

Thursday, 4 August 2016 (PIANO PREVIEW) - 7:00PM
Tickets $20

ORCHESTRAL PERFORMANCES:
Saturday, 6 August 2016 - 3:00PM
Sunday, 7 August 2016 - 3:00PM
Tickets $35 - includes complimentary afternoon tea

EVENT ORGANISERS:
Christopher Curcuruto - Bass-Baritone (PRODUCER)
Laura King Soprano (PRODUCTION MANAGER) + Photo Credit

MUSICAL DIRECTOR
Jonathan Wilson

DIRECTORS:
Henry Shaw
Alex Robson
Rebecca Anne Coe

CAST:
Eugene Raggio
Joshua Oxley
Laura King
Zoe Drummond- Soprano
Imogen Faith Malfitano
Elizabeth Smalley
Jared David Lillehagen
Josh Rogers

ORCHESTRA:
Geist String Quartet
Sonia Wilson - Violin
Meg Cohen - Violin
Hayasa Tanaka - Viola
James Larsen - Vello
Jonathan Wilson - Piano and Spinet

This event is presented as a profit-share joint venture; by artists, for artists.

https://www.facebook.com/barebonesopera/?fref=ts

https://www.facebook.com/events/279081242446698/

Belcantosong Launches website!

Willkommen, bienvenu, welcome!

Belcantosong is launched and we want YOUR ideas to help us grow into the best website for lovers of fine singing to meet, exchange ideas, hear about news, share enthusiasms and let each other know about what is happening in their world of singing and theatre.

What is the site about?

1. Singers! Who's doing what now , then , when and where!

2. Going to the opera and concerts - the music lovers  meeting the artists- seeing great theatre and hearing great music.

3. Providing information on competitions, master classes, scholarships and useful links for singers, their teachers  and students.

                                         Multi award winning NZ  soprano Isabella Moore

                                     
                                             Richard Tucker award event  New York 2015

                       Australian Singing Competition finalists and winner ( Anna Dowsley centre )

                                   Tenor Gerard Schneider in master class with Joyce DiDonato

                             Soprano Marlena Devoe winner Bel Canto Award 2014 Australia

Soprani Nadine Sierra and Nicole Car co-winners NeueStimmen 2015

                                      Royal Opera House Covent Garden Young artists 2015


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  Donizetti . Bellini and Verdi

5.... So Much More !! Please leave any thoughts on what you would like to see here at the website.in the comments section below -we are loving the ideas coming in already through our sister facebook page Bel Canto :)