Il Trovatore - A Deadly Obsession

June, 2008
Media Release
Il Trovatore - A Deadly Obsession

Tickets go on sale this month for the Christchurch season of Southern Opera’s latest production – Verdi’s Il trovatore. This dark and dramatic opera opens on 30th September for a 5-performance season in Christchurch. The entire cast, chorus and orchestra are then whisked away by a Boeing 737 to Dunedin for one featured performance in the Otago Festival of the Arts on 11th October.

In spite of its complex and improbable plot, Verdi’s Il trovatore cannot be faulted for its exceptionally beautiful music. Incredible tales of gypsies, love triangles, unrelenting revenge and burning babies are transcended by the soaring score and haunting melodies.

“Il trovatore is the second of Verdi’s ‘Big Three’ – La traviata, Il trovatore and Rigoletto” says Christopher Doig, Executive Chair of Southern Opera. “It displays a composer realising his amazing potential in a dark work of hallucination and death. This is the perfect opera to contrast with the Spanish glare of Carmen and is a favourite among opera audiences.”

Speaking of Il trovatore, legendary tenor Enrico Caruso once said "All you need is the four best singers in the world." Southern Opera has secured an internationally acclaimed cast fulfilling this requirement accompanied by the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra and all under the baton of conductor Tom Woods.

Russian mezzo-soprano Elena Bocharova features as the disturbed and delusional gypsy, Azucena. She is joined by world-renowned American tenor Carlo Scibelli as Manrico, New Zealander Patricia Wright as Leonora, and Korean baritone Seung-Wook Seong in the role of Il Conte di Luna.

Working with Christchurch director Elric Hooper is a design team comprised wholly of New Zealanders. John Parker is the Set Designer, Elizabeth Whiting, Costume Designer, and lighting design is by Joe Hayes.

The production features a cast of more than 50 performers and a locally sourced production crew headed by Production Manager Rob Peters.

Il trovatore will be performed in Italian with English surtitles.

Tickets are available from Ticketek.
Isaac Theatre Royal, Christchurch, September 30, October 2, 4, 7, 9
Regent Theatre, Dunedin, Otago Festival of the Arts October 11

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