MEDIA RELEASE 5 JUNE 2019 Donizetti | Directed by Davide Livermore | Conducted by Renato Palumbo World’s finest soprano returns to Sydney for eagerly awaited digital Anna Bolena NEW PRODUCTION July 2–26, 2019 | Joan Sutherland Theatre, Sydney Opera House Starring Ermonela Jaho | Ho-Yoon Chung | Carmen Topciu | Teddy Tahu Rhodes
Glorious Albanian soprano Ermonela Jaho, who is known for her heart-rending performances and was lauded by The Economist as the world’s “most acclaimed soprano”, returns to Australia to play the ill-fated Anne Boleyn in a world premiere season of brand new digital productions, with Donizetti’s Anna Bolena.
Directed by internationally acclaimed Italian director Davide Livermore, also making his return to Sydney after achieving huge success with Aida in 2018, hailed by Time Out as “…not having had a more exhilarating night at the opera in a long time”. Audiences are waiting with bated breath to see what magic Livermore and his team will conjure with this first instalment of Donizetti’s tragic Three Queens Trilogy.
Livermore will once again collaborate with Milanese set design trio, Gio Forma, and Turin-based digital designers D-wok, to create a compelling digitally-integrated theatrical experience in the Joan Sutherland Theatre. Using fourteen 7 metre high suspended LED screens that will move seamlessly around stage to create an immersive visual landscape, coupled with lavish period- inspired costumes by esteemed Italian fashion designer Mariana Fracasso, this is a 21st century operatic feast for the senses.
Complementing the creative power behind this production is a stellar cast, with some of the finest singers in the world today set to tackle Donizetti’s acrobatic coloratura and unleash Livermore’s extraordinary vision onto the stage.
Teddy Tahu Rhodes makes his return to the Joan Sutherland Theatre with his role debut as the merciless King Henry VIII. Acclaimed Korean tenor Ho-Yoon Chung will play Boleyn’s secret lover, Lord Percy, alongside Romanian mezzo-soprano Carmen Topciu who will play Jane Seymour, Boleyn’s lady in waiting and Henry VIII’s future third wife.
Featuring Livermore’s signature high-tech sets, striking period costumes, and some of the most captivating performers in the business, this new interpretation of the infamous tale of King Henry VIIl and his hapless second bride will pull a renowned piece of history out of the history books and onto the stage with thrilling technology.
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Creatives Performance information Conductor Renato Palumbo Evenings at 7:30pm Director Davide Livermore July 2, 6, 9, 13, 17, 23, 26 Set Designer Giò Forma Saturday Matinee at 1:00pm July 20 Costume Designer Mariana Fracasso
Lighting Designer John Rayment Running time Digital Content D-Wok Approximately 3 hours and 10 minutes, Assistant Director Andy Morton including one interval.
Cast Performed in Italian with English surtitles. Anne Boleyn Ermonela Jaho Lord Percy Ho-Yoon Chung Bookings Jane Seymour Carmen Topciu Adult tickets from $47 (fees may apply) King Henry VII Teddy Tahu Rhodes Group and concession prices available for Mark Smeaton Anna Dowsley most performances. Lord Rochfort (George Boleyn) Richard Student Rush available for most Anderson performances: $50 (fees may apply) Sir Hervey John Longmuir Opera Australia Box Office (02) 9318 8200
www.opera.org.au Opera Australia Chorus Opera Australia Orchestra Joan Sutherland Theatre, Sydney Opera House
Media enquiries Kate Warnock | Publicist 02 9318 8332| 0419 316 135 [email protected]
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