VINCENZO BELLINI THE CAPULETS AND THE MONTAGUES VICTORIAN OPERA PRESENTS THE CAPULETS AND THE MONTAGUES Tragedia lirica in Two Acts - Opera in Concert Composer Vincenzo Bellini Librettist Felice Romani Based on the play by Luigi Scevola Conductor Richard Mills AM Tebaldo Carlos E. Bárcenas Capellio David Parkin Lorenzo Teddy Tahu Rhodes Romeo Caitlin Hulcup Giulietta Jessica Pratt* Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra 14 SEPTEMBER 2018 Arts Centre Melbourne, Hamer Hall Original premiere 11 March 1830, Teatro La Fenice, Venice Running Time is approximately 2 hours and 50 minutes, including interval Sung in Italian with English surtitles Arts Centre Melbourne, Hamer Hall *Jessica Pratt’s appearance is generously supported by Hans and Petra Henkel Photo: Charlie Kinross 3 PRODUCTION ORCHESTRA PRODUCTION TEAM OBOE Production Manager Eduard Inglés David Nuttall* Dinah Woods Cor Anglais Stage Manager Luke Hales CLARINET VIOLIN Andrew Seymour* Emma McGrath Concertmaster MUSIC STAFF Chris Waller Bass Clarinet Elinor Lea Associate Concertmaster Principal Repetiteur Tom Griffiths Lucy Carrig-Jones Principal 2nd BASSOON Chorus Preparation Phoebe Briggs Jennifer Owen Principal 1st Tahnee van Herk* Miranda Carson Alison Wormell Contrabassoon Repetiteur Phillipa Safey Yue-Hong Cha HORN Frances Davies Edwina George Geoff Lierse# Principal 1st CHORUS Michael Johnston Heath Parkinson* Principal 3rd Christine Lawson Roger Jackson Soprano Alison Lazaroff-Somssich Greg Stephens Kirilie Blythman, Alexandra Ioan, Michelle McCarthy, Cristina Russo, Christopher Nicholas TRUMPETS Diana Simpson, Nicole Wallace Rohana O’Malley Yoram Levy* Hayato Simpson Mezzo Soprano Mark Bain VIOLA Kerrie Bolton, Shakira Dugan, Ursula Paez, Belinda Paterson, TROMBONES David Wicks# Juel Riggall, Lynlee Williams David Robins# Douglas Coghill Amanda Tillet Tenor Anna Larsen Roach Jonathon Bam, Paul Batey, Paul Biencourt, Alastair Cooper-Golec, Rodney McDonald BASS TROMBONE Irving Dekterev, Michael Dimovski, Ernst Ens, Douglas Kelly, Will Newbery Mitchell Nissen* Alister Lamont, Timothy Reynolds CELLO TUBA Bass Sue-Ellen Paulsen* Tim Jones* Jonathan Békés Darcy Carroll, Stephen Coutts, Nick Cowall, Paul Hughes, Nathan Lay, TIMPANI Oliver Mann, Stephen Marsh, Alex Pokryshevsky, Ivan James Matthew Goddard* Kiran Rajasingam, Julian Wilson Sophie Radke DOUBLE BASS PERCUSSION Stuart Thomson* Gary Wain* ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Aurora Henrich Evan Pritchard BAAC Light and Jim Atkins, Sound Consultant James Menzies HARP FLUTE Melina van Leeuwen# Douglas Mackie* * Principal player Lloyd Hudson Piccolo # Guest principal 4 5 WELCOME This performance marks the fourth opera in a survey of the major Bellini operas in concert and is part of Victorian Opera’s newly established profile as Australia’s leading exponent of the bel canto repertoire. These performances have featured of Romeo. Caitlin has also developed major artists in the field, and tonight a significant international career, we welcome back our own Australian appearing at the Royal Opera House, superstar Jessica Pratt for one of her the Bolshoi, the Berlin Staatsoper and signature roles. Our relationship with Vienna State Opera. Jessica began in 2014 – we were the I am also very proud to welcome The first Australian company to welcome her Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra to home – and since then her international PHOTO Melbourne for this concert. Victorian stature has steadily grown with triumphs Opera are now Tasmania’s opera at both the Metropolitan Opera in company, and are regular visitors and New York and La Scala in Milan. Other collaborators with this fine orchestra, great singers like Celso Albelo and with many exciting projects planned Saoia Hernandez have also left a legacy for the years ahead. The orchestra’s to the artists of our company; their mastery of the classical style and their example of the perfect fusion of text reputation for artistic partnerships and melody, the essence of bel canto, make them an ideal partner for bringing an essence of which all great singers this music to life. of this literature are masters, is a continuing inspiration for all of us at But finally, this evening is about singing; Victorian Opera. rendering the unique and sublime utterances of Bellini, a composer I am very proud of the continuing whose ability to speak to the hearts achievements of Carlos E. Bárcenas of audiences makes him a priceless in this literature and I am delighted treasure of our heritage. Enjoy. to welcome back Teddy Tahu Rhodes. We also welcome David Parkin for his Victorian Opera debut. Caitlin Hulcup and I have been associated since my RICHARD MILLS Artistic Director and Conductor years at Western Australian Opera, and I am delighted that she will mark her Victorian Opera debut in the role Caitlin Hulcup and Richard Mills Photo: Beata Bowes 6 SYNOPSIS Setting: Verona, Italy in the 13th century ACT ONE ACT TWO Verona is torn apart by conflict the offer, telling him that he has already Lorenzo brings Giulietta the news recognising his enemy pulls out his between two rival clans – the Guelfi promised Giulietta’s hand to Tebaldo, that Romeo is safe, but Giulietta will sword. As they are about to fight, a (supported by the Capuleti) and and war is declared. shortly be taken to Tebaldo’s castle for funeral procession passes by. Realising the Ghibellini (supported by the her wedding. Lorenzo suggests that it is carrying Giulietta’s lifeless body, In her chamber, Giulietta is in despair Montecchi). Giulietta take a potion that will put her they are both distraught. about her upcoming marriage, and into a deep sleep resembling death and Capellio, the head of the Capuleti yearns for Romeo. Lorenzo brings Romeo arrives at the crypt to mourn. that after she has been placed to rest family, has gathered his followers, Romeo through a secret door and He demands that Giulietta’s tomb be in the family crypt he will bring Romeo fearing another attack by the Romeo tries to convince her to run opened so he can say a proper goodbye to her. Giulietta has her doubts but she Montecchi, led by Romeo. Tebaldo tells away with him, but Giulietta refuses, and asks his men to leave him alone. drinks the potion. them that Romeo, who earlier killed bound by honour and duty to her father. Thinking that death is his only hope, Capellio’s son in battle, is sending an Capellio enters and orders her to be he drinks poison. Giulietta suddenly As the Capuleti prepare for the envoy to discuss peace. Tebaldo has ready at dawn. Giullietta tells him she awakens and calls out to Romeo. She festivities, Romeo tells Lorenzo that vowed to avenge the murder and in is close to death and asks him for an reveals her faked death and that she a thousand Ghibellini disguised as return marry Capellio’s daughter, embrace. Capellio rebuffs her and told Lorenzo to give Romeo a message. Guelfi are waiting to attack during Giulietta. Capellio agrees to have the sends his daughter away. Once she But it is too late. They curse their cruel the wedding. The Ghibellini storm marriage take place that night despite is gone, Capellio feels disturbed but fates and Romeo tells her to remember the palace. In the chaos, Giulietta and protests from Lorenzo, the family refuses to show pity. He tells his men their love as he dies. Giulietta is Romeo encounter each other and he doctor, that Giulietta is ill. to closely watch Lorenzo, of whom he is overcome by grief. Cappelio, Lorenzo again urges her to run away with him. increasingly suspicious. and the Montecchi enter to find the The Montecchi envoy, Romeo in Tebaldo and Capellio recognise him as two lovers dead in each other’s arms. disguise, arrives. He tells Capellio that the envoy and Romeo reveals his true Romeo wanders the palace grounds to guarantee peace, Giulietta should identity. Romeo is saved by his men and looking for Lorenzo but instead become Romeo’s bride. Capellio rejects the lovers are separated. encounters Tebaldo, who upon 8 9 MUSIC INDEX ACT ONE ACT TWO Aggiorna appena… ed eccoci (Chorus) Scene and Giulietta’s aria: Né alcun ritorna!... Oh! cruda / Morte io non temo, Recitative: O di Capellio generosi amici il sai… (Giulietta, Lorenzo, Capellio, (Tebaldo, Lorenzo, Capellio) Chorus) Tebaldo’s Cavatina: È serbata a questo Recitative: Qual turbamento io provo! acciaro (Tebaldo, Lorenzo, Capellio, (Capellio) Chorus) Scene and duet: Deserto è il loco. Di Carrying tradition Recitative: Vanne, Lorenzo; e tu che il Lorenzo in traccia (Romeo, Tebaldo) puoi, disponi (Tebaldo, Capellio) into the future. Duet: Stolto! A un sol mio grido (Romeo, Scene and Romeo’s Cavatina: Ma già ver Tebaldo, Chorus) noi s’avvia / Se Romeo t’ucccise un figlio (Romeo, Tebaldo, Capellio, Chorus) Finale Act Two: Siam giunti. Il ciel consenta (Giulietta, Romeo, Lorenzo, Scene and Giulietta’s Cavatina: Eccomi Capellio, Chorus) in lieta vesta / Oh! Quante volte, oh! quante (Giulietta) Recitative and duet: Propizio è l’ora / Sì fuggire: a noi non resta (Giulietta, Romeo) Finale Act One: Lieta Notte, avventurosa (Chorus) Recitative: Deh! Per pietà t’arresta (Romeo, Lorenzo) Qual tumulto! / Oh gioia estrema! Yamaha’s Brand New Range of Premium Piano (Giulietta, Romeo, Tebaldo, Lorenzo, At Yamaha, inspiration is born at the crossroads of tradition and innovation. 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