In SCO's 2011 production, Pamina is played as a modern adolescent with a crush on Pop star Prince Tamino.
Director Gavin Magenty's captivating and original intrepretation of this opera begins with a young girl's dream - that of Pamina, beautifully sung by Andrea Tweedale. In her dreams, she and Tamino fall in love. But before they can be together, she and Tamino, a true-hearted lad played by true tenor Richard Hansen, have to face many trials. These are thoughtfully provided by SCO's chorus. Engaging in physical theatre, they transform themselves into a writhing green serpent, as well as leaping flames and plumes of water.
In her dreams, Pamina sees her estranged mother as the Queen of the Night and her father as Sarastro, the High Priest (who incidentally bears an uncanny resemblance to Harry Potter's Dumbledore). Titanic battles ensue between Sarastro -beautifully sung by Stephen Godward -and The Queen of the Night. Lorraine Webb, mesmeric in this role, reached the famous stratospheric high 'F' with deceptive ease. Matthew Palmer, meanwhile, was an engaging and well-sung Papageno, while the fearsomely costumed Monostatos with two dancers 'attached' made a compelling monster. The silvery tones of the three ladies played by Alison Robertson, Emma Magenty and Gina Walters, were literally enchanting. Meanwhile the cheery blended tones of the three Boys, played as Boy Scouts by Rosie Williamson, Catherine Noble and Debra Finch, were a delight to hear. The remaining characters and the chorus added to the musical excellence of this performance.
Meanwhile the SCO orchestra, notable for its musicianship and led by Musical Director Gavin Usher, performed right in the middle of the stage, underscoring the action.
Elixir of Love (Oct 2010)
In 2010, Donizetti's 'Elixir of Love' was given a brand new spin by Director Ed Bancroft. SCO's zestful production was set in the 1950's - a world of red lipstick, circular skirts and True Romance Comics.
This feel-good opera, described by music critic Bernard Lee as one of the best things that Sheffield City Opera has ever done, was a great success with audiences.
A sort of operatic 'Love's Labour's Lost', Elixir is about the efforts of a true-hearted lad, Nemorino, to win the heart of the wealthy Adina. Too shy to declare his love, he despairs when she is swept away by the attentions of a dashing soldier. A quack salesman, Doctor Dulcamara, sells Nemorino a love potion, convincing him that this will cause Adina to switch her affections.
The cast of ‘Elixir of Love’ included SCO favourites Andrea Tweedale, Matthew Palmer and Gavin Magenty. Karl Reiff, a successful principal tenor with West Riding Opera, made his SCO debut as Nemorino. Emma Magenty, also a talented newcomer to SCO, joined us for the role of Giannetta. Full SCO chorus and orchestra were conducted by Gavin Usher.
When SCO presented Puccini's La Boheme in 2009, it turned out to be a very special experience for audiences and company alike. Young soloists of shining talent brought a freshness and poignancy to this well-known story. SCO's chorus meanwhile, put the sparkle into Christmas in the seasonal Paris street scene.
La Boheme, a heart-rending tale of doomed love, is a source of some of the most supremely beautiful music in opera. Two young people fall in love at first sight in a duet famous the world over - Rodolfo sings 'Your tiny hand is frozen' and she replies 'They call me Mimi'. They could not be happier - until fate deals its hand.
Nick Sales (Don Jose in SCO's 2008 production of 'Carrnen'), was a consummate Rodolfo; Andrea Tweedale (Adina in SCO's 2010 production of 'Elixir of Love') sang exquisitely as Mimi; John Savournin, meanwhile brought an impressive baritone to the role of Marcello. An exuberant cast also included Gavin Magenty, Elizabeth Menezes and Matthew Palmer together with the SCO chorus. La Boheme was conducted under the masterly baton of Terry Hobson, whilst Director Ed Bancroft blew his own special warmth into what turned out to be a very special production.
Sheffield City Opera's production brought 'Carmen' out a vast arena and into an intimate setting where its tragic story touched the heart in a new way. Audiences experienced the fated passion of Carmen (Debbie Michaels), the anguish of Don Jose (Nick Sales), the sweet loyalty of Michaela (Rebecca Lambert), and the arrogance of the toreador, Escamillo (Richard Parry). Accompanying Carmen were her gypsy friends (Andrea Tweedale, Honor Morton, Ed Harris and Craig Lawton).
Excellent support was provided by the Sheffield City Opera chorus and fifteen-piece orchestra conducted by Musical Director, Terry Hobson.
The Puccini Party at Café Nova in Sheffield city centre was a great success. The party was attended by 84 members, patrons and friends of Sheffield City Opera who enjoyed a three course meal of pasta and salads, whilst listening to a programme of mainly Italian opera by Puccini sung by the whole company and soloists. Some items of lighter music were also included. (Full programme below.)
The elegant modern décor of the restaurant, devoid of any soft furnishings, provided excellent acoustics which allowed the singers’ voices and piano accompaniment by Jonathan Gooing and Andrew Griffiths to ring out.
SCO’s chorus was on good form as it opened the concert with two Italian operatic choruses, with Mel Osborne providing the stirring tenor solo lines in the Wedding Chorus. The company then returned to their seats to enjoy the soloists’ items, until the end of the concert when they took the floor again to sing three finale items.
The excellent soloists were Joanna Shacklock, Sharon Nicholson-Skeggs, Ernesto Correa and Andrew Lockwood. Jonathan Gooing was Musical Director.
Sharon was sporting a deep tan, having only returned from a holiday in India a matter of hours before the concert. She commenced the evening’s solo arias with a superb rendition of 'Un Bel Di' from Madama Butterfly, closely followed by Andrew Lockwood’s sensitively sung aria from 'Martha', and Joanna’s beautiful 'O Mio Babbino Caro'. Ernesto Correa joined the party later, having had a busy working day, and delighted guests with 'E Lucevan E Stella' from Tosca. All were thrillingly accompanied by Jonathan Gooing.
Aria followed aria, each warmly applauded by the appreciative audience, and by the end of the evening SCO had hopefully won many new patrons to support future concerts and productions.
The evening was devised and produced by Christine Ayres. Christine hopes to hold a similar evening later this year.
SCO's production was a brand new version of this popular comic operetta, featuring the uproarious and sexy CanCan dance. The story of mother's boy Orpheus and his gorgeous but unfaithful wife Eurydice, is played for maximum laughs in this production by Director Sylvia Jackson and Musical Director Terry Hobson.
When Eurydice falls for the dashing god Pluto, she is promptly whisked away to Hades, hotly persued by all the gods and goddesses from Mount Olympus. The operetta is packed full of Offenbach's delightful music to make you hum along to and lift your spirits - as mayhem breaks out on stage!
The cast includes young high soprano Helen Appleton singing the role of Eurydice, whilst her wimpish husband is artfully played by tenor Tristan Walker who is a wel-l known performer in the North Notts area. SCO perennials Christine Ayres and Melvyn Osborne played Calliope, Orpheus’ bossy mother, and Pluto the King of the Underworld - Mr Smoothy himself! Making her debut with SCO, Debbie Michaels sang the role of Diana the seductive goddess of hunting, whilst Helen Anker was a languid Venus. John Goepel was the weirdly pathetic Styx. Talented teenage tenors Robin as winged god Mercury and Luke Simnet as the pilot Icarus represented the youngest members of the company.
Die Fledermaus is the younger Strauss’s most celebrated and popular operetta. Director Ian Gledhill and Musical Director Morris Fisher assembled a very strong cast of experienced singers and actors, who together with the full SCO chorus and SCO orchestra recreated the joy and gaiety of Viennese highlife in the naughty nineties.
The cast included Joanna Shacklock as Rosalinde, Melvyn Osborne as Eisenstein, Andrea Ryder as Adele, Ernesto Correa as Alfred, Mitzi Matlock as Orlovsky, Richard Swift as Franke and Jonathan James as Frosch the jailer.
'Putting on the Ritz' proved to be another popular concert of opera pops and showstoppers. SCO put on real glamour and glitz in this production. This was a concert of beautiful music and beautiful voices. A host of soloists took part along with with the SCO chorus and musicians.
In October 2004 we presented a double bill of productions: Mascagni’s one act opera Cavalleria Rusticana and Gilbert and Sullivan’s operetta Trial by Jury at the Montgomery Theatre, Sheffield.
Cavalleria Rusticana features some beatiful music, including the famous ‘Easter Hymn’. SCO’s production starred Ernesto Coreas, Joanna Shacklock, Christine Stubbs, Christine Ayres and Stephen Godward.
Although Trial by Jury was one of Gilbert and Sullivan’s first collaberations and is written in only one Act, it remains a favourite. Steve Andrews and Tom Carlisle shared the roles of Judge and Foreman; Mitzi Matlock played the Plaintiff, Andrew McFee the Defendent and they were well supported by Mike Tipler and Melvyn Osborne as Usher and Counsel for the Plaintiff.
Both productions were directed by Freda Chapple and conducted by Musical Director David Barnard.
Sheffield City Opera’s sell-out concert, A Gala Night of Song at the Rotherham Civic Theatre included some of the most thrillingly beautiful arias, songs and choruses ever written, with excerpts from Cavalleria Rusticana, Madam Butterfly, La Boheme, Aida, Kismet, Trial by Jury, South Pacific, Land of Smiles, and Samson and Delilah.
Among the highlights were 'One Fine Day', 'Pearl Fishers Duet', Lakme's 'Flower Duet', 'Nessun Dorma', 'The Hebrew Slaves' Chorus', 'Softly Awakes My Heart' and 'Baubles Bangles and Beads'.
The concert featured some of the finest singers in the region, including star soprano Sharon Nicholson-Skeggs, international baritone Mike De Costa, Val Parker, Andrew Lockwood, Mike Tipler, Steve Andrews and Janice Hancock. The musical director was Suzanne Winter and the accompanist was Irene McCreath with the SCO chorus.
Comments from the Rotherham Advertiser included:
'Things couldn’t get much better for Sheffield City Opera in terms of public response - there was another sell-out with a waiting list for tickets at the Civic Theatre for the Gala Night of Song.'
There were plenty of outstanding plusses. These included SCO soloists, “Andrew [Lockwood] is an excellent singer...fine interpretation of Nessun Dorma,' 'Janice has superb clarity and range', 'Sharon Nicholson-Skeggs... a powerful presence and a wonderful operatic voice', and 'Val Parker, a performer with true star quality'.
'The triumphant Easter Hymn provided a glorious finale to a popular and meaningful programme'.
Elizabeth Watts with S.C.O. Friday 27th April 2012 - St John's Church, Ranmoor, Sheffield. Call 0114 269 4958 to book or book online.
To book Rotherham concert tickets, please call 0114 2694958.
To book Bradfield Festival tickets, please call 0114 2851473.
