Following Royal Northern College of Music’s critically-acclaimed production of Donizetti’s L’elisir d’amore last season, RNCM Opera turns to Gluck this Spring, and a double-bill featuring The Drunkard Cured (L’ivrogne corrige) and Orfeo ed Euridice.
Taking place in the intimate Studio Theatre and featuring students from the School of Vocal Studies and Opera alongside RNCM Opera Orchestra and Chorus, both productions are directed by Stefan Janski with set and costume designs by David Cockayne. Early music specialist Roger Hamilton conducts, assisted by Marco Bellasi, the College’s Junior Fellow in Conducting.
Sung in Italian with English surtitles, Orfeo ed Euridice is recognised as one of Gluck’s most popular and exhilarating works.
The theme of the Underworld, gods, demons and furies is also prominent in The Drunkard Cured, A Sobering Tale. Newly translated by Roger Hamilton, this comedy was written just two years before the advent of Orfeo and, despite its light-hearted tone, the work includes strong intimations of the masterpiece to follow.
Performances takes place on March 16, 18, 20, 22 and 27.