English Touring Opera (ETO) brings new productions of Puccini’s Manon Lescaut and Stravinsky’s The Rake’s Progress to Oxford Playhouse as part of its Spring 2024 tour. The season explores the temptations and pitfalls of the big city, both in the larger-scale productions and their new opera for children, The Great Stink.
On Tuesday April 9th, ETO presents a radical, dreamlike interpretation of Puccini’s Manon Lescaut, a devastating depiction of a woman wrestling with her desire for love on her own terms, and the double standards imposed on her by society. Packed with memorable music and heartbreaking drama, this new production presents a unique modern take on one of Puccini’s most loved operas.
The production is directed by Jude Christian, with Gerry Cornelius, ETO’s Music Director, conducting. Soprano Jenny Stafford, whose previous roles for English Touring Opera include Despina in Così fan tutte, Melissa in Amadigi, Mimì in La bohème and soloist in their staging of St John Passion, sings the title role for the first time, with Gareth Morris as Des Grieux, Aidan Edwards as Lescaut and Edward Hawkins as Geronte.
On Wednesday April 10th, is ETO’s new production of Stravinsky’s The Rake’s Progress, charting young Tom Rakewell’s journey from unexpected inheritance to ruin – an initially cynical tale which develops into one of redemption and humanity.
Polly Graham, Artistic Director of Longborough Festival Opera, directs with Jack Sheen conducting. Tenor Frederick Jones sings the role of Tom Rakewell, a role he has performed before, alongside Nazan Fikret as Anne Trulove, Jerome Knox as Nick Shadow and Lauren Young as Baba.
More information and tickets view: https://www.oxfordplayhouse.com/whats-on/category/opera
What is Puccini’s Manon Lescaut?
“Manon Lescaut” is an opera in four acts by Italian composer Giacomo Puccini. The opera is based on the 1731 novel “L’Histoire du chevalier des Grieux et de Manon Lescaut” by Abbé Prévost. The story follows the tragic love affair between the young and beautiful Manon and the student Des Grieux. The opera premiered in 1893 and is known for its lush orchestration and emotional depth.
What is Stravinsky’s The Rake’s Progress?
“The Rake’s Progress” is an opera in three acts composed by Igor Stravinsky. The libretto was written by W. H. Auden and Chester Kallman, inspired by a series of paintings by William Hogarth. The opera tells the story of Tom Rakewell, a young man who inherits a fortune and squanders it on a life of debauchery before ultimately losing everything. It premiered in 1951 and is considered one of Stravinsky’s most important works in the neoclassical style.
