Next ProductionOpera South East presents...
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The elixir of love - Box Office and Tickets1. TicketMaster Box Office
2. OSE direct:
Pre-show TalkThere will be a pre-show talk from the Director at 6pm on Saturday April 27th 2024. This is free and open to all ticket holders from both evenings and lasts about 20 minutes.
The Magic Flute - Synopsis of the plot, act by actAct 1
A mythical land between the sun and the moon. Three ladies in the service of the Queen of the Night save Prince Tamino from a serpent. When they leave to tell the queen, the bird-catcher, Papageno appears. He boasts to Tamino that it was he who killed the creature. The ladies return to give Tamino a portrait of the queen’s daughter, Pamina, who they say has been enslaved by the evil Sarastro. Tamino immediately falls in love with the girl’s picture. The queen, appearing in a burst of thunder, tells Tamino about the loss of her daughter and commands him to rescue her. The ladies give a magic flute to Tamino and silver bells to Papageno to ensure their safety on the journey and appoint three spirits to guide them. Sarastro’s minion, Monostatos, pursues Pamina but is frightened away by Papageno. The bird-catcher tells Pamina that Tamino loves her and is on his way to save her. Led by the three spirits to the temple of Sarastro, Tamino learns from a high priest that it is the Queen, not Sarastro, who is evil. Hearing that Pamina is safe, Tamino charms the wild animals with his flute, then rushes off to follow the sound of Papageno’s pipes. Monostatos and his men chase Papageno and Pamina but are left helpless when Papageno plays his magic bells. Sarastro enters in great ceremony. He punishes Monostatos and promises Pamina that he will eventually set her free. Pamina catches a glimpse of Tamino, who is led into the temple with Papageno.
Act 2
Sarastro tells his associates that Tamino will undergo initiation rites. Left alone in darkness, Tamino and Papageno are accosted by the three ladies who want to know why they have not rescued Pamina. The ladies are chased away by thunder and lightning. Meanwhile, Monostatos tries to kiss the sleeping Pamina but is surprised by the appearance of the Queen of the Night. The Queen gives her daughter a dagger and orders her to murder Sarastro. Sarastro finds the desperate Pamina and consoles her, explaining that he is not interested in vengeance. Tamino and Papageno are told by a priest that they must remain silent and are not allowed to eat, a vow that Papageno immediately breaks when he takes a glass of water from a flirtatious old lady. When he asks her name, the old lady vanishes. The three spirits appear to guide Tamino through the rest of his journey and to tell Papageno to be quiet. Tamino remains silent even when Pamina appears. Misunderstanding his vow for coldness, she is heartbroken. The associates inform Tamino that he has only two more trials to complete his initiation. Papageno, who has given up on entering the brotherhood, longs for a wife instead. He eventually settles for the old lady. When he promises to be faithful she turns into a beautiful young Papagena but immediately disappears. Pamina and Tamino are reunited and face the ordeals of water and fire together, protected by the magic flute. Papageno tries to hang himself but is saved by the three spirits, who remind him that if he uses his magic bells he will find true happiness. When he plays the bells, Papagena appears and the two start making family plans. The Queen of the Night, her three ladies, and Monostatos attack the temple but are defeated and banished. Sarastro blesses Pamina and Tamino as all join in hailing the triumph of courage, virtue, and wisdom. Noted arias
Act 1
Act 2
Marcio da Silva, Director Marcio da Silva, Conductor & Musical Director
Born in Brazil, Marcio da Silva studied voice, and choral and orchestral conducting at the Conservatoire de Toulouse, France and the Musikhochschule Freiberg, Germany, followed by a Master’s in conducting at the Royal College of Music. Marcio was Music Director of Woodhouse Opera from 2012 until its final season in 2018. In 2020, he acted as Stage and Music Director for Hampstead Garden Opera. He is also the founder and director of the opera company Ensemble OrQuesta. He has stage and music directed over 30 varied productions. Marcio was music director of the Grange Choral Society from 2012-2022. He is the founder, Artistic Director, and conductor of the Hastings Philharmonic Orchestra, the HPO Singers, and HPO Songbirds, and the music director of the Billingshurst Choral Society and the Hastings Philharmonic Choir. He has wide-ranging experience as an orchestral conductor, having conducted orchestras in Germany, Brazil, Turkey, the Czech Republic, Kosovo, Poland, and Italy. Marcio also performs regularly as an opera singer and recitalist and is an experienced vocal coach.
The CastPrincipalsAdina - a wealthy landowner Sharp tongued, willful, pretty, and vain, Adina is not your usual sentimental ingénue. She is the richest girl in town, and unusually independent for a woman of her time. She is hiding a fondness/attraction to Nemorino, and is secretly charmed by his lunatic behaviour. Lively, bold, funny, goofy, furious, haughty, sweet, sincere, sexy and passionate Nemorino - a simple peasant, in love with Adina Active, silly and ardent without sentimentality. Orphan? No parents, family or clear occupation. His character undergoes a radical change throughout the course of the opera: gains courage, pride and even joy. The wine he consumes makes his love more urgent and gives him the courage to stand up to Belcore. Love makes him a fool, but it also makes him invincible. He becomes stronger, manlier and more attractive to Adina. We see him grow up. The unpretentious innocence and rustic character of this role promote physical relaxation. Dr Dulcamara - an itinerant medicine man Fun and zany, Dr. Dulcamara is a peculiar and eccentric con artist. He is an energetic salesman, but not too slick; he is full of mistakes and false steps. He tells us that he is only in business for the money, but at times almost seems like an aging fairy godfather unwittingly promoting love. Avuncular and good natured, he is a warmhearted guy, easily distracted by a pretty girl or a bowl of spaghetti. Belcore - a sergeant Sergeant Belcore swaggers into Adina and Nemorino’s small town brimming with confidence. No sooner does he arrive and spot Adina than he proposes marriage – confident that he has already swept her off her feet. However, at the wedding-feast she keeps postponing the signing of the contract, as she is really in love with Nemorino. Gianetta - Adina's friend Larger than life, generous and ready to party at a moment’s notice. Full of energy and earthy charm. She seems to pop up everywhere and is always the first to know all the gossip. One surmises that she has a number of boyfriends... |
Notes for EditorsOn our second fully-staged production under the artistic direction of Eleanor Strutt, this year marks OSE's thirty sixth birthday and, under our earlier name of Hastings Opera, our forty fourth birthday and this will be our 67th fully-staged operatic production.
With eternal thanks to Kenneth Roberts for the first 66 opera productions. Now Marcio da Silva will take the baton with the Sussex Concert Orchestra in the pit for this wonderful feast of music and drama. Opera South East is also delighted to welcome Helen May to the cast for this production, who plays the role of Adina, with John Twitchen as the hapless Nemorino, with Richard Woodall as Dr Dulcamara, Oshri Segev as Belcore and Eleanor Westbrook as Adina's friend, Gianetta. Accompanying the cast in this production will be members of the Sussex Concert Orchestra, who continue their long association with Opera South East. ChorusChorus of Townsfolk, Local Dignitaries of Hastings, and children
Townspeople: All part of a network of family and friends. Everyone knows everybody else’s business, and marriageability and self-esteem are based on their social position. They interact with the principals, and observe and enlarge the action. Sopranos: Sue Beaney, Julia Bristow-Diamond, Kate Collyer, Susan Cowling, Danielle Gagnon, Pat Horwill, Anna Orlova, Christine Roberton, Sarah Taylor Altos: Judith Bevan, Bea Dixon, Tina Goddard, Mary Hughes, Maureen James, Ruth Menzinger, Liz Webb Tenors: Gerald Hewson, Brian Knight, Bruno Vincent Basses: Hugh Bryant, James Caspian, John Rycroft, David Thompson The Young Ones: Alfie, Bethany, Fern, Harry, Melody, Molly The Hastings Philharmonic OrchestraConducted by : -
OSE - The CompanyDirector - Marcio da Silva
Stage Manager Assistant Stage Manager - Set Construction/Design - Lighting Design - Lighting Technician - Properties - supervised by Wardrobe - under the direction of Assisted by - Ann Lyon and Pat Horwill Make up and hair - Under supervision of Celina Zomer Programme - John Rycroft Artwork - Website - Greg Solomon Programme design and printed by - Simon Page |
The Sussex Concert Orchestra
Mikado rehearsals at the White Rock Theatre, 6 April 2022. Filled to the brim with girlish glee - Three little maids from school. Photos courtesy of Mark Duncan.
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Audience Comments from past operasAudience reaction of OSE's production of Verdi's Macbeth (April 2016) :-
The Mikado: True love triumphs for Yum Yum and Nanki Poo
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