Some of opera’s greatest tear jerking music will fill the auditorium at Milton Keynes Theatre from Tuesday, with two classic Puccini operas, La Bohème and Madam Butterfly on the menu, and a hidden opera gem, Le Vin Herbé, to boot.
A new production of Swiss composer Frank Martin’s Le Vin Herbé is up first.
It has been directed by former WNO Genesis Assistant Director Polly Graham in her first main scale production for WNO. Inspiring the season theme, Le Vin Herbé (‘the spiked drink’) is based on the myth of Tristan and Isolde.
Martin’s composition investigates the very meaning and function of myths, as a group of people come together to narrate this tragic love story. Written between 1938 and 1941, his version of the lovers’ tale is more in riposte than homage to Wagner, and influenced by the imminent World War as well as his own personal crisis of losing his first wife.
Originally conceived for 12 singers, this delivery will be performed with the entire WNO Chorus taking the role of narrator as in a Greek Chorus, commenting on the dramatic action as the story unfurls.
An orchestra of seven string players and a pianist will be on stage throughout the opera, along with conductor James Southall.
Annabel Arden’s 1913 inspired pre-war production of Puccini’s much-loved La Bohème returns, as the tragic love story of Mimi and Rodolfo transports audiences to the streets of bohemian Paris...
Completing the trio of spring operas is another Puccini classic: Madam Butterfly. Joachim Herz’s beautiful sepia-toned production will be directed in this revival by Sarah Crisp and conducted in Milton Keynes by Andrew Greenwood.
Punctuated with irresistible music including the Humming Chorus and the moving Un bel dì aria, Madam Butterfly tells the heartbreaking tale of Cio-Cio-San’s love and loss at the hands of her American naval officer, Pinkerton.
This production features a double cast for the roles of Cio-Cio-San and Pinkerton. South Korean-born soprano Karah Son will share the role of Cio-Cio-San with Linda Richardson who returns to WNO following recent performances in I Puritani and Moses in Egypt. American tenor Jonathan Burton makes his WNO debut, sharing the role of Pinkerton with Paul Charles Clarke.
Talking about the season, WNO Artistic Director David Pountney says: “To bring Madam Butterfly and La Bohème together in one season is a luxurious offering for our audiences, but there is a delightful and no less passionate or moving sting in the tail: a small, intimate but deceptively powerful work by the Swiss composer Frank Martin, a very underrated musician.
"You may know by now that I take a particular delight in bringing such neglected gems to your notice!”
Performances show as follows:
Le Vin Herbe (Tues, March 21) 7.15pm
La Boheme (Wed, March 22 & Thurs 23) 7.15pm
Madam Butterfly (Fri, March 24 & Sat 25), 7.15pm
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