Download File - Royal Northern College of Music

PRESS RELEASE
16/01/2012
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
The RNCM presents Handel’s Xerxes
March 22, 27, 29 & 31 at 7pm and March 25 at 3pm
RNCM Theatre
Tickets: £19-£34
Box office: 0161 907 5555
Xerxes, a tale of misunderstandings, double bluff and cross-dressing is the chosen opera at
the Royal Northern College of Music (RNCM) this spring.
Sung in Italian with English surtitles, Xerxes (or Serse in the original Italian) finds Handel
playing with the conventions of Baroque opera in ways that manage to be heartfelt and
parodic at once. There are dramatic absurdities – the opening aria, the famous Ombra mai
fu, is Xerxes’ love song to a tree – and missed signals, as well as a comic servant straight
out of the loosey-goosey tradition of 17th-century Venetian opera. At the same time,
Handel’s music is never less than emotionally transparent. The amorous roundelay involving
the Persian king, his brother Arsamene and several love-struck women may strike the
audience as faintly ridiculous, but the expressive score proceeds from the premise that it’s
entirely real for those involved.
RNCM operas are renowned for the impressive credentials of the creative team and this
year is no exception. Stefan Janski (RNCM Head of Opera) once again directs, joined by
lighting designer Emma Chapman. And as part of a new RNCM collaboration with the
Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, the College is delighted to announce that this
production’s stage set and costumes will be designed by RADA postgraduate student Velin
Edrov. The RNCM Opera Orchestra will be conducted by Roger Hamilton, who will be
assisted by Carlos del Cueto, a current Junior Fellow in Conducting at the RNCM.
Two large-scale operas are performed to great acclaim at the RNCM each year, enhancing
its position as one of the North West’s most prolific performance venues. Last year, students
presented Samuel Barber’s Vanessa and Benjamin Britten’s Albert Herring, both of which
received 4* reviews in The Times. Xerxes aims to maintain the RNCM’s reputation for
presenting excellent operas of the highest quality.
For more information or to request images and interviews contact Liz Rowley, PR and
Media Relations Officer on 0161 907 5369 or email [email protected]
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Notes to Editors:
Listings information:
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Xerxes will be conducted from the harpsichord, on a tiered stage, by Roger Hamilton.
Xerxes will be staged at the Royal Northern College of Music, Manchester, on
Thursday 22, Sunday 25 (3pm performance only), Tuesday 27, Thursday 29 and
Saturday 31 March 2012 at 7pm.
Tickets, priced between £19 and £32 are now on sale. Call the box office on 0161
907 5555 or visit www.rncm.ac.uk
Xerxes Cast:
Role
Xerxes
Arsamene
Elviro
Romilda
Atalanta
Amastre
Ariodate
Performances
Thursday 22 March: 7pm
Tuesday 27 March: 7pm
Saturday 31 March: 7pm
Performances
Sunday 25 March: 3pm
Thursday 29 March: 7pm
Heather Ireson
Helen Gregory
Timothy Allan
Gabriella Cassidy
Elizabeth Karani
Alexandra Wynn
Laurence Kirkby
Hanna-Liisa Kirchin
Sophie Goldrick
Jonathan Alley
Aimee Toshney
Eleanor Garside
Lucilla Graham
Stefan Berkieta
About the RNCM:
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In addition to being one of the UK’s top conservatoires, the RNCM is recognised as
one of the North West’s leading performing venues offering a large Concert Hall and
Theatre, a smaller Studio Theatre and the newly-refurbished Carole Nash Recital
Room.
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Throughout the year the College is host to over 400 concerts and events ranging
from classical music to world music and jazz. It is both a platform for RNCM students
to develop their incredible talent, and a stage for world-class performers.
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The RNCM has a specifically designed competitive professionally equipped Opera
Theatre and enjoys a national/international reputation for its Opera productions. The
College has, against stiff competition from professional opera companies such as
Opera North and Glyndebourne, been awarded numerous nominations and won five
prestigious Manchester Evening News Awards for Opera.
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Alumni of current artists working in International Opera houses include: soprano
Amanda Roocroft; mezzo-soprano Christine Rice; tenor Barry Banks; baritone Simon
Keenlyside; and bass Sir John Tomlinson.
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To date, some of the biggest names in popular music have also appeared at the
RNCM, including Adele and Jarvis Cocker.