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Welsh National Opera at Bristol Hippodrome

 

Welsh National OperaAcclaimed director Peter Stein brings to life Elizabethan England's most famous glutton in Welsh National Opera's landmark production of Verdi's Falstaff. This will be the keynote production for Spring 2008 at Bristol Hippodrome.

It's over ten years since Peter Stein directed Verdi's final masterwork for WNO, an historic production, which sees a very special revival in 2008 when Stein returns to direct.

The title role will be sung by the award-winning Robert Poulton who takes over from baritone Bryn Terfel on 10th April. Robert, who appeared as Don Magnifico in WNO's production of La Cenerentola last Autumn, will perform the role in Bristol, Plymouth and Swansea. This follows the withdrawal of Roberto De Candia from the production due to illness.

A strong ensemble cast includes Janice Watson, Christopher Purves, who created the role of the General in WNO's world premiere of James MacMillan's The Sacrifice, Imelda Drumm, Claire Ormshaw and Rhys Meirion.

The past is also evoked in vivid detail in James Macdonald's enthralling production of Tchaikovsky's Eugene Onegin. Performing the title role is British baritone Garry Magee, who has just sung Sharpless in Scottish Opera's Madama Butterfly. Nuccia Focile returns to WNO to sing the role Tatyana, the young woman who learns a bitter lesson in love when she falls for the aloof Onegin. Nuccia sang the role of Elisabeth de Valois in WNO's 2005 production of Don Carlos, along with Paul Charles Clarke who sang the title role and returns as Lensky. Alexander Polianichko returns to WNO to conduct. Alexander conducted the Company's award winning production of Tchaikosky's Mazepa in 2006, which also formed part of the Russian Series.

The season is completed with a revival of Mozart's The Magic Flute, a visually inspired production with a cast headed by Welsh soprano Rebecca Evans. Dominic Cooke's production features fabulous designs by Julian Crouch of the multi-award winning Shock Headed Peter and Wolves in the Walls fame.

"All three productions demonstrate what WNO does best," says John Fisher, WNO's General Director. "Extraordinary singing, powerful ensemble performances, theatricality and strong visual impact. Peter Stein's Falstaff is a landmark production, which I'm delighted to see brought back into the repertoire with such a fine cast. Eugene Onegin launched our award-winning Russian Series back in 2004, whilst The Magic Flute is an enchanting spectacle featuring a cast of established singers such as Rebecca Evans as well as performances from Camilla Roberts and David Soar, two young singers WNO has firmly in its sightlines for the future."

For tickets and information contact the Bristol Hippodrome Box Office on 0870 607 7500 or visit www.bristolhippodrome.org.uk