Mischievous mayhem and tragic love: WNO’s Autumn 2021 Season at Birmingham Hippodrome

News

Sep 30

This Autumn, Welsh National Opera return to Birmingham Hippodrome from 19-22 October, with a new production of Puccini’s Madam Butterfly and their much-loved production of Rossini’s The Barber of Seville.

Directed by Lindy Hume and conducted by Laureate Carlo Rizzi, the new production of Madam Butterfly explores socially relevant themes of Puccini’s classic tale with its beautiful music providing the backdrop to this much-loved opera.

Set in a dystopian future where love is a commodity, this new production of the opera is not only true to Puccini’s moving score but provides perspective on the relevance this story still has in society today. The set and costumes are designed by award-winning designer Isabella Bywater, with lighting by Elanor Higgins.

Soprano Joyce El-Khoury returns to WNO and makes her role debut as Cio-Cio San; sharing the role with Alexia Voulgaridou who makes her WNO debut. Also making their Company debuts are Leonardo Caimi in the role of Pinkerton and Neil Balfour as Prince Yamadori. The role of Pinkerton is shared with Peter Auty and Suzuki will be played by Anna Harvey. Completing the cast are Tom Randle and Mark Stone.

Lindy Hume said: “This is not a business-as-usual moment. The last 18 months especially have brought home our hunger for human connection through live performance, especially live music. It is thrilling to anticipate that moment of reconnection with the magnificent artists and audiences of Welsh National Opera with the creation of a new production of Puccini’s Madam Butterfly, a work of great beauty and brutality. In these times of complexity, uncertainty, and change, I relish this creative journey with the cast and team at WNO as we revisit and reimagine this much-loved opera.”

Giles Havergal’s original 1986 production of Rossini’s The Barber of Seville also returns, with Frederick Brown conducting. This production celebrates 35 years and was last performed by WNO in 2011 with Andrew Shore who returns as Dr Bartolo this Autumn. Nicholas Lester returns to the Company as one of opera’s most colourful characters, Figaro, with Nico Darmanin reviving the flirty and flamboyant Count Almaviva. Heather Lowe returns to WNO as Rosina and Keel Watson makes his WNO debut as Basilio and The Bonze in Madam Butterfly.

For more information and to book tickets, please click here.