AWARD-WINNING opera producer Ellen Kent returns after critically acclaimed tours of Madama Butterfly, Traviata and Rigoletto, bringing two new productions, boasting magnificent new sets. Carmen with the heat and passion of Spain and Die Fledermaus, the brand new production, spectacular, traditional and lavish.
The stunning new Carmen set reflects the magnificent architecture of Seville with its Roman and Moorish influences, which includes the main square, the bull ring and the tobacco factory, which was reputedly one of the most important in Europe. The set was built for Ellen Kent in England by Setup Scenery, who also build sets for the Royal Opera Covent Garden.
Carmen is the story of the bewitching gypsy girl whose tantalising beauty lures a soldier to desertion and leads to her own murder. The opera includes some of the most evocative and best-loved melodies in opera –The Habanera, The Seguidilla, The Flower Song, The Chanson Bohème and perhaps the best-known baritone aria of all The Toreador’s Song.
Ellen has performed many exciting productions of Carmen in her 24 years of being an opera producer, from an outdoor performance in the beautiful grounds of Leeds Castle in Kent, two sell-out performances played to thousands of people and which caused major traffic jams on M20, to the visit to the Middle East in 2004 where she entertained the Emir of Qatar and 3,500 Royal guests for the first ever performance of Carmen to be performed in the Gulf, screened live on Al Jazeera Television.
While Ellen Kent’s enormously successful Die Fledermaus returns after its world premiere in 2006.
This spectacular and lavish production is set in late 19th century Vienna and is based on the Herbert von Karajan’s famous version, with snatches of spoken dialogue. Watch out for some surprising moments in the famous ballroom scene!
Strauss’s light-hearted operetta combines a cast of colourful characters with some of opera’s most popular musical moments in a story of love, laughter and sweet revenge.
Set to Strauss’ mesmerising and fanciful score, reminiscent of his ever popular and lively Viennese Waltz style of music, Die Fledermaus tells a tale of fun and frivolity; of love triangles and revenge revolving around Baron Von Eisenstein and his friend Dr. Faulk who takes an opportunity to exact his revenge on the Baron for a trick played on him at a costumed ball the previous year. Dr. Faulk had been compelled by Baron Von Eisenstein to walk home through the streets of Vienna still costumed as a bat. A stormy operetta full of jest and intrigue commences and the tale concludes where the operetta started – in the Vienna prison.
With lavish and opulent costumes and sets based on 19th Century Vienna, this joyful operetta gives an intriguing insight into the society life of Vienna in the 19th Century and includes the famous arias Come with me to the Supper, Happy is he who forgets and oh bat, oh bat at last let thy victim escape.
LISTING INFORMATION
DIE FLEDERMAUS
FRIDAY 18 March 2016
Manchester Opera House
Tickets £17.90 – £46.40 / Concessions available
Book online by visiting www.atgtickets.com/opera-house-manchester
Box office number 0844 871 3018 / Group bookings 0844 871 3038
CARMEN
SATURDAY 19 March 2016
Manchester Opera House
Tickets £17.90 – £46.40 / Concessions available
Book online by visiting www.atgtickets.com/opera-house-manchester
Box office number 0844 871 3018 / Group bookings 0844 871 3038
