Welsh National Opera brings Suor Angelica, Gianni Schicchi and Rigoletto to Southampton’s Mayflower Theatre
THE Welsh National Opera will return to Southampton’s Mayflower Theatre this month with a double bill of Suor Angelica and Gianni Schicchi, followed by a two-night run of Rigoletto.
The tour begins with Suor Angelica and Gianni Schicchi – the two works, presented in a co-production with Scottish Opera, can also be performed together as a triptych with Puccini’s Il tabarro. Each is different in tone and subject matter so the director Sir David McVicar and the stage designer Charles Edwards, made the decision to also create totally separate and contrasting sets.
Suor Angelica tells the story of the nun Angelica who has been sent to a convent by her wealthy family for an undisclosed transgression. After a silence of seven years, Angelica’s aunt visits with devastating news.
Gianni Schicchi is a very different story. Puccini’s only comedy, it features the family of the rich Buoso Donati who are waiting for their relative to die so they can inherit his lands and money. On discovering he has left everything to a monastery, they hatch a plot with Gianni Schicchi to alter Donati’s will – but little do they realise Gianni has schemes of his own.
“Gianni Schicchi is the funniest opera ever written by anybody, and that has its own challenges,” said Charles. “I’ve done it three times and it has never failed to make me crack up. It’s Joe Orton meets the greatest stage composer of the early 20th century, Puccini.”
Charles added: “Touring opera in this country is an expensive operation. If you are taking an orchestra, chorus and staff around the country then it’s the best example of levelling up that a company can do – and it’s going to cost money. It is complex and the practicalities of what the set does is very much part of that.”
Then, Port Talbot-born opera and music theatre director Adele Thomas makes her WNO directorial debut in a new production of Verdi’s Rigoletto.
Conductor Pietro Rizzo returns to conduct Verdi’s decadent tale of debauchery and deceit set in the ruthless court of the Duke of Mantua. This heart-wrenching tale explores the web of love, betrayal and the consequences of power.
The cast includes Daniel Luis de Vicente who will sing the title role, with Leonardo Capalbo returning to WNO to sing The Duke. Also returning to WNO is Soraya Mafi who will sing Gilda.
The Welsh National Opera Shows will perform Suor Angelica and Gianni Schicchi on Wednesday 13th November and then Rigoletto from 14th to 16th November. Tickets from are from £17. To book visit www.mayflower.org.uk or call the box office on 02380 711811.
