Madama Butterfly
Giacomo Puccini’s Madama Butterfly is one of the best-loved operas of all time. Julia Burbach’s revelatory new production, inspired by...
Giacomo Puccini’s Madama Butterfly is one of the best-loved operas of all time. Julia Burbach’s revelatory new production, inspired by...
Giacomo Puccini’s Madama Butterfly is one of the best-loved operas of all time. Julia Burbach’s revelatory new production, inspired by...
Amongst the most popular of Verdi’s operas, La traviata is the work of a master of the musical drama. Its...
Giacomo Puccini’s Madama Butterfly is one of the best-loved operas of all time. Julia Burbach’s revelatory new production, inspired by...
October 6, 2014
Ellen Kent is currently touring the classics ”La Traviata” and ”Madama Butterfly.” We caught up with her about the productions and the appeal of Opera.
October 6, 2014
Ellen Kent is currently touring the classics ”La Traviata” and ”Madama Butterfly.” We caught up with her about the productions and the appeal of Opera.
November 20, 2014
There is one very good reason to see this production of “Madama Butterfly” – and that Elena Dee in the title role.
November 20, 2014
There is one very good reason to see this production of “Madama Butterfly” – and that Elena Dee in the title role.
October 13, 2013
Ellen Kent’s Aida at Manchester Opera House is ideal for newcomers to the text, says Dave Cunningham.
October 13, 2013
Ellen Kent’s Aida at Manchester Opera House is ideal for newcomers to the text, says Dave Cunningham.
October 12, 2013
Julia Taylor enjoys one night with Ellen Kent’s Nabucco at Manchester Opera House and wishes the run was longer.
October 12, 2013
Julia Taylor enjoys one night with Ellen Kent’s Nabucco at Manchester Opera House and wishes the run was longer.
The heart of Verdi’s 1871-2 opera is in the two- and three-person private confrontations, for all that it’s most familiar to the public for pomp, pageantry and public circumstance. Ellen Kent’s production makes that clear, for Act Two doesn’t really create much of an impression. Touring companies offering grand opera in multi-purpose venues have to balance stage width with stage depth; they are seldom in the ideal proportion.
The heart of Verdi’s 1871-2 opera is in the two- and three-person private confrontations, for all that it’s most familiar to the public for pomp, pageantry and public circumstance. Ellen Kent’s production makes that clear, for Act Two doesn’t really create much of an impression. Touring companies offering grand opera in multi-purpose venues have to balance stage width with stage depth; they are seldom in the ideal proportion.
The theoretically laudable habit of involving local arts groups in an Ellen Kent production can throw up some oddities, such as the initial march-up presence of a brass band (more Viva Espana than Viva Toreador) and the unaccompanied traditional lament which brings down the final curtain. In between we see a lively production with the sung Guirand recitatives. Eugen Ponomariov’s surtitles are needed; the cast struggles to enunciate French.
The theoretically laudable habit of involving local arts groups in an Ellen Kent production can throw up some oddities, such as the initial march-up presence of a brass band (more Viva Espana than Viva Toreador) and the unaccompanied traditional lament which brings down the final curtain. In between we see a lively production with the sung Guirand recitatives. Eugen Ponomariov’s surtitles are needed; the cast struggles to enunciate French.