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‘Heavenly twins’ open ENO season
PREVIEW: CAVELLERIA RUSTICANA AND PAGLIACCI
Coliseum (ENO)
ENGLISH National Opera (ENO) opens its new season next month, continuing its revival of Italian repertory with the company’s first new production of Cavalleria Rusticana and Pagliacci since 1986.
Following on from Verdi’s Aida last season, ENO music director Edward Gardner leads the company in another full ensemble piece, featuring Cavalleria Rusticana’s stirring Easter Hymn from .
These two operas have been paired together almost since the time of their composition. They share similar plots and running times which at little over an hour each makes for a comfortable double bill that won’t prove too daunting even for those with just a passing interest in in opera.
Mascagni’s Rusticana explores that classic operatic theme of love, loss and betrayal. Set in a Sicillian village on Easter morning, it is based on is based on a short story by Giovanni Verga. The action stems from Turiddu, who has just returned from military service, learning that his fiancée, Lola, has taken up with Alfio, a local wine carter. When Turiddu has an affair with Santuzza, who is now carrying his baby, Lola becomes jealous and instigates an affair with Turridu. But the truth will out, as they say, and with infidelities and excommunication in the air, a happy ending is ruled out from the off.
Leoncavallo’s Pagliacci is set in a travelling comedy troupe led by Canio. His wife Nedda is having an affair with Silvio. Canio, an extremely jealous man, swears revenge. As Canio and Nedda enact the tale of Colombina and her jealous husband Pagliaccio before the villagers, things take a tragic course.
To give fresh life to these two dramas, often referred to as the “heavenly twins”, ENO has commissioned two writers to collaborate with director Richard Jones.
TS Eliot Prize-winner Sean O’Brien provides a new translation for Cavalleria Rusticana and Oscar-nominated Lee Hall (Billy Elliot), writes a new version of Pagliacci.
Richard Jones, who has created some of the company’s most outstanding work in recent years, returns to ENO to direct the double bill.
He is joined by designer Ultz, whose collaborations with the director include The Bitter Tears of Petra von Kant (ENO 2005).
Peter Auty, who made his ENO debut as the Duke in Rigoletto in 2006 sings Turiddu in Cavalleria Rusticana and Jane Dutton, who made an impressive ENO debut in autumn 2007 as Amneris in Aida (to which she returns in the 2008/09 revival), sings Santuzza.
Kathleen Wilkinson, who sang the Neighbour in Jenufa (2006), returns to ENO as Mamma Lucia. The rising young baritone Roland Wood is also making his way back to St Martin’s Lane to sing Alfio, with Marcello in La Bohème following later in the season.
Leading the cast of Pagliacci is Mary Plazas as Nedda. Her numerous roles with the company include the title role in Madam Butterfly, which she created in Anthony Minghella’s production.
She is joined by Welsh tenor Geraint Dodd making his ENO debut as Canio, which he has previously sung for Opera North.
Lighting design is by regular ENO guest Mimi Jordan Sherin, who recently designed the lighting for Lost Highway, and completing the production team is movement director Linda Dobell.
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