Léo Delibes: Flower Duet Context Léo Delibes’ three act opera Lakmé is perhaps this French composer’s most well-known work. Composed between 1881-1882, Lakmé is based on Le Mariage de Loti by Pierre Loti, and Les babouches du Brahamane by Théodore Pavie. Flower Duet features in Act 1 of the opera, Read more…
Gioachino Rossini: William Tell Overture Context Born in February 1792 into a family of musicians in Pesaro, Italy, Gioachino Rossini began to learn the piano from age eight. Rossini became a multi-instrumentalist at a young age, being competent at piano, cello and horn by his late teens. Rossini is most Read more…
Georges Bizet: Carmen Suite No. 2 Context Premiered in Paris 1875, Georges Bizet’s now popular opera Carmen received quite a neutral response from French critics. The opera ran for an impressive 45 performances, however these were poorly attended and received by French audiences. It was only when the production started Read more…
Georges Bizet: Carmen Suite No. 1 Context Premiered in Paris 1875, Georges Bizet’s now popular opera Carmen received quite a neutral response from French critics. The opera ran for an impressive 45 performances, however these were poorly attended and received by French audiences. It was only when the production started Read more…
George Frideric Handel: Ombra mai fù Commonly known as Handel’s ‘Largo of Love’, Ombra mai fù is the opening aria in the 1738 opera Serse. Sung by the character Xerxes I of Persia, the vocal part is composed for a countertenor. Perhaps the most striking element of this aria is the vocal range used, as it the Read more…
Opera on Location: Don Giovanni Review Eagle Works August 2018 Very rarely do I find myself near enough speechless at the end of a concert or production, but Opera on Location‘s production of Mozart’s Don Giovanni did just that. From beginning to end I was hooked on this unique production, and the way some Read more…
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: Don Giovanni Overture In anticipation of Opera on Location‘s exciting four day run of Mozart’s Don Giovanni in Sheffield later this month, this blog is dedicated to the fantastically dramatic overture of the opera. Composed in 1787, Don Giovanni is an opera in two acts. Its popularity when it premiered shot it Read more…
Opera on Location: The Marriage of Figaro Review Victoria Hall, 27/04/18 Opera on Location aims to produce accessible and immersive opera for their audiences, and what better opera to achieve these goals than with Mozart’s The Marriage of Figaro. Teamed up with Sheffield Chamber Orchestra, and under the direction or co-founder of the opera company, Gareth LLoyd, Read more…
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: The Marriage of Figaro Overture Good afternoon readers! In anticipation of Opera on Location’s exciting one-off performance of Mozart’s The Marriage of Figaro at the end of April, I thought I would re-share this blog on the Overture. The overture is very lively and its persistent driven tempo throughout makes this an Read more…