English Touring Opera presents two one-night performances of opera at York Theatre Royal.
The first is an energetic new production of Mozart’s classic comedy The Marriage of Figaro. During the course of one eventful day, Figaro and Susanna must overcome every obstacle put in their way by Count Almaviva before they can finally get hitched. This one’s sung in English with subtitles, so if (like me) you’re unfamiliar with opera this might be the best start.
Next up is Puccini’s one-act operas Il tabarro and Gianni Schicchi. They could hardly be more different: one is a moody romance ending in a grotesque murder on a barge in Paris, and the other is a sparkling comedy about a family inheritance in Florence.
The show is sung in Italian with English subtitles.
So opera isn’t really my thing, but if I was going to start somewhere it would be at York Theatre Royal. The performances there are always sublime and classy – perfect for the opera.
The shows are happening on 1st and 2nd June. Will you be going along?
Photograph credited to Jane Hobson.
