Future Productions

 

 

 

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2009 Opera Production

 

La Traviata

by Verdi

 23rd, 25th, 26th September, 2009

at the Albert Halls, Bolton

 

For further details please go to the home page

 

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Past Productions

2008 Review

Nabucco

 

	Biblical tale is simply stunning   The biblical tale of King Nabucco and his persecution of the Hebrews makes for a stunning show by Opera 74. Nabucco, in his arrogance, declares himself a God. He is struck down by an angry Almighty but this only paves the way for his scheming daughter, Abigaille, to steal the crown. Meanwhile, Nabucco's other daughter, Fenena, falls in love with the Hebrew Prince Ismaele and converts to Judaism. However, with Abigaille determined to stamp out the Hebrew race, their love seems doomed. Jane Evans is excellent as the evil Abigaille, prowling the stage with menace and demonstrating an impressive vocal ability, particularly in Act Two where she finds that her lineage is not quite as royal as she thought. George Hulbert is by turns ferocious and pathetic as Nabucco himself, whose redemption makes a stark contrast to Abigaille's wickedness. In supporting roles, Jane Hyde is strong as Fenena and Chris Dodd plays Ismaele as stoic and determined. The orchestra and chorus combine to produce an impressive effect particularly during the famous Fly, Thought, on Golden Wings.
	Kat Dibbits (The Bolton News, Thursday, September 25, 2008)

                   

 

2007 Review

 

	GALA EVENING Opera 74
	The sumptuous surroundings of the Albert Halls, Bolton with its magnificent pipe organ beautifully illuminated, provided a suitable backdrop for the equally sumptuous sounds generated by the Opera 74 principals and chorus.   Ann Haslam and Joe Conner provided excellent narration to guide the audience through the programme along with snippets of information from areas outside the musical genre which covered, along with the music, a period from 1828 to 1926.   The programme was wide, varied and included The Pearl Fishers, La Belle Hélène, Madam Butterfly, The Arcadians, Turandot, The Yeomen of the Guard and I Pagliacci amongst many more.   Alongside a very proficient chorus, the principals included Pamela Heywood-Conner, Ann Haslam, George Hulbert, Jane Hyde, Katherine Pollitt, Alan Roscoe, Margaret Steele and Jill Taylor who all occupy the upper branches of the musical tree.   Craig Smith was the conductor for the evening whilst Robert Aston, who very occasionally played strict tempo instead of accompanying the vocalist, was otherwise excellent at the piano.   Personally, I should have liked to have heard more from the immaculately dressed chorus. However, with such talent on display, the evening was a delight for those who appreciate the very best in music and was, undoubtedly a resounding success.   (NODA – North West News, Vol VI No. 10, September 2007)

 

 

1996	Carmen	Bizet
1997	La Traviata	Verdi
1998	L'Elisir d'amore	Donizetti
1999	Faust	Gounod
2000	The Bartered Bride	Smetana
2001 2001	Eugene Onegin Carmen (Concert Version)	Tchaikovsky Bizet
2002	Orpheus and Eurydice	Gluck
2003	Magic Flute	Mozart
2004	Die Fledermaus	Strauss
2005	Macbeth	Verdi
2006	Tales of Hoffmann	Offenbach
2007	Gala Evening	various
2008	Nabucco	Verdi