HEADER Amanda Echalaz as Tatiana in Onegin.jpg

Eugene Onegin

Tchaikovsky - Spring 07

James Conway directs Tchaikovsky’s heartbreaking, youthful opera

Director 
James Conway
Conductor 
Michael Rosewell
Designer 
Joanna Parker

One of the strongest ETO successes in recent years, ETO’s production by General Director James Conway of Tchaikovsky’s heartbreaking, youthful opera Eugene Onegin is one the company is sure to revive. The orchestra and chorus were at their very best, and seemed much larger than their actual numbers, inspired by conductor Michael Rosewell. A strong cast was led by Amanda Echalaz, Roland Wood and Michael Bracegirdle. Joanna Parker’s huge, mirrored set was in fact simplicity itself – but lit by Guy Hoare a wonderful, poetic depiction of regret, lost youth, and unanswered love.

Showing At

  1. Hackney Empire
    15th Mar 2007 - 7:30 pm
  2. Hackney Empire
    17th Mar 2007 - 7:30 pm
  3. The Hawth, Crawley
    20th Mar 2007 - 7:30 pm
  4. Assembly Hall Theatre
    24th Mar 2007 - 7:30 pm
  5. The Everyman Theatre, Cheltenham
    29th Mar 2007 - 7:30 pm
  6. The Everyman Theatre, Cheltenham
    31st Mar 2007 - 7:30 pm
  7. Hall for Cornwall, Truro
    3rd Apr 2007 - 7:30 pm
  8. Snape Maltings Concert Hall
    12th Apr 2007 - 7:30 pm
  9. Snape Maltings Concert Hall
    14th Apr 2007 - 7:30 pm
  10. The Lighthouse, Poole
    18th Apr 2007 - 7:30 pm
  11. De La Warr Pavilion, Bexhill
    21st Apr 2007 - 7:30 pm
  12. Grand Theatre Wolverhampton
    24th Apr 2007 - 7:30 pm
  13. Buxton Opera House
    27th Apr 2007 - 7:30 pm
  14. Lyceum Theatre, Sheffield
    30th Apr 2007 - 7:30 pm
  15. Kendal Leisure Centre
    5th May 2007 - 7:30 pm
  16. Cambridge Arts Theatre
    9th May 2007 - 7:30 pm
  17. Cambridge Arts Theatre
    12th May 2007 - 7:30 pm
  18. Warwick Arts Centre
    16th May 2007 - 7:30 pm
  19. Warwick Arts Centre
    19th May 2007 - 7:30 pm
  20. Gala Theatre, Durham
    22nd May 2007 - 7:30 pm
  21. Perth Festival, Perth Theatre
    25th May 2007 - 7:30 pm
  1. Hackney Empire — 15th Mar 2007 - 7:30 pm

    291 Mare Street, Hackney, E8 1EJ

  2. Hackney Empire — 17th Mar 2007 - 7:30 pm

    291 Mare Street, Hackney, E8 1EJ

  3. The Hawth, Crawley — 20th Mar 2007 - 7:30 pm

    Hawth Avenue, Crawley, RH10 6YZ

  4. Assembly Hall Theatre — 24th Mar 2007 - 7:30 pm

  5. The Everyman Theatre, Cheltenham — 29th Mar 2007 - 7:30 pm

    Regent Street, Cheltenham, GL50 1HQ

  6. The Everyman Theatre, Cheltenham — 31st Mar 2007 - 7:30 pm

    Regent Street, Cheltenham, GL50 1HQ

  7. Hall for Cornwall, Truro — 3rd Apr 2007 - 7:30 pm

    Back Quay, Truro, TR1 2LL

  8. Snape Maltings Concert Hall — 12th Apr 2007 - 7:30 pm

    Aldeburgh Music, Snape Maltings Concert Hall, Snape, Suffolk, IP17 1SP

  9. Snape Maltings Concert Hall — 14th Apr 2007 - 7:30 pm

    Aldeburgh Music, Snape Maltings Concert Hall, Snape, Suffolk, IP17 1SP

  10. The Lighthouse, Poole — 18th Apr 2007 - 7:30 pm

    Kingland Road, Poole, BH15 1UG

  11. De La Warr Pavilion, Bexhill — 21st Apr 2007 - 7:30 pm

    TN40 1DP

  12. Grand Theatre Wolverhampton — 24th Apr 2007 - 7:30 pm

    Lichfield Street, Wolverhampton, WV1 1DE

  13. Buxton Opera House — 27th Apr 2007 - 7:30 pm

    Water Street, SK17 6XN

  14. Lyceum Theatre, Sheffield — 30th Apr 2007 - 7:30 pm

    55 Norfolk Street, Sheffield, S1 1DA

  15. Kendal Leisure Centre — 5th May 2007 - 7:30 pm

  16. Cambridge Arts Theatre — 9th May 2007 - 7:30 pm

    6 St Edward's Passage, Cambridge, CB2 3PJ

  17. Cambridge Arts Theatre — 12th May 2007 - 7:30 pm

    6 St Edward's Passage, Cambridge, CB2 3PJ

  18. Warwick Arts Centre — 16th May 2007 - 7:30 pm

    University of Warwick, Coventry, CV4 7AL

  19. Warwick Arts Centre — 19th May 2007 - 7:30 pm

    University of Warwick, Coventry, CV4 7AL

  20. Gala Theatre, Durham — 22nd May 2007 - 7:30 pm

    1 Millennium Place, Town Centre, Durham, DH1 1WA

  21. Perth Festival, Perth Theatre — 25th May 2007 - 7:30 pm

    3-5 High Street, Perth, PH1 5JS

James Conway

James Conway

Director

James is General Director of ETO and has written original libretti for two operas and translations for three others, as well as several works of fiction.

Operatic work includes Katya Kabanova, Rusalka, Susannah, Eugene Onegin, Orfeo, Jenufa, Anna Bolena, Maria Stuarda, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, as well as Teseo and Alcina (ETO); Ariodante, Erismena, Flavio, The Cunning Little Vixen (ETO and OTC); The Marriage of Figaro (RCM and ETO); Tolomeo (London Handel Festival/ ETO); Tamerlano, Amadigi, Rodelinda, L’elisir d’amore, Katya Kabanova and The Rake’s Progress (OTC); Cinderella (De Vlaamse Opera/ Transparant); Don Giovanni (Canadian Opera Company); La Voix humaine (Teatro Nacional São João, Oporto); staging of Kurt Weill songs (Culturgest, Lisbon); La Spinalba (Casa da Musica, Porto), The Cunning Little Vixen (Moravian National Theatre, Brno).

Michael Rosewell

Michael Rosewell

Conductor

Michael performs a wide and varied operatic repertoire, working at the ROH, Covent Garden, ENO and ETO with regular appearances at festivals including Aldeburgh, Buxton and Montepulciano. As a member of the music staff of the Wiener Staatsoper, he assisted Claudio Abbado and worked closely with many of the world’s leading singers. He has conducted extensively throughout Germany notably Kassel, Wiesbaden and Mannheim, holding the position of resident staff conductor and as Associate Conductor for the London Handel Society, he has introduced many rarely performed Handel operas to the London stage. His recording with tenor Alfie Boe and the Orchestra of SO will be released this autumn.
Michael is Music Director for ETO and Director of Opera at RCM.

Joanna Parker

Joanna Parker

Designer

Designs for theatre, opera and dance. Joanna’s opera engagements include The Rape of Lucretia (RCM); Eugene Onegin, Falstaff, Alcina, Le nozze di Figaro, A Midsummer Night’s Dream and The Cunning Little Vixen (ETO). She has also worked with the ROH, SO, OTC Dublin. Joanna’s designs for theatre include The Young Vic, Hampstead Theatre, West Yorkshire Playhouse, Salisbury Playhouse and The Lyric Hammersmith. She designed The Noise of Time for Theatre de Complicité at the Lincoln Centre NY, Barbican Centre London and European Festivals. Dance designs include Cholmondeleys, Shobana Jeyasingh Dance Company and London Contemporary Dance Theatre. She is Senior Lecturer in Scenography at Central School of Speech and Drama.

Crew

Valerie Komar

Valerie Komar

Teseo

Born
Connecticut, USA

Training
Carnegie Mellon University; Balliol College, Oxford University; Juilliard School of Music

Awards
2005 Gerda Lissner Award; 2004 and 2002 Lee Schaenen Vocal Competition Winner; 2003 Liederkranz Foundation Scholarship

Opera
Lazuli L’Etoile (Opera Boston); Ms. Jessel The Turn of the Screw (The Kennedy Centre); Rosina Il Barbiere di Siviglia (Lake George Opera); Mercedes Carmen (New York City Opera/Dallas Opera); Hansel Hansel & Gretel (Palm Beach Opera); Cherubino Le Nozze di Figaro (Glimmerglass Opera)

Concert
Mozart Le nozze di Figaro (National Philharmonic); Schoenberg Pierrot Lunaire (Alice Tully Hall); Milton Babbitt Philomel (New York MOMA)

Recordings
Agethe in Philip Glass’ Les Enfants Terribles (Euphoria Label)

Jeni Bern

Jeni Bern

Medea

Born
Glasgow

Training
RCM, RSAMD

Awards
President Emirita Award (2 Years Running), Samling Foundation

Opera
Paquette Candide (La Scala Milan and Theatre du Chatelet); Susanna Le Nozze di Figaro (ON); Gretel Hansel und Gretel (ON); Musetta La Boheme (Opera Zuid)

Concert
Britten Spring Symphony (Canterbury Cathedral); Gilbert and Sullivan Variety Programme (Bournmouth Symphony Orchestra); Vivaldi Dixit Dominus (Dresdener Kammerchor)

Helen Withers

Helen Withers

Clizia

Born
Wolverhampton

Training
GSMD

Awards
2006 London Handel Singing Competition (2nd Place); 2006 Thelma King Award (2nd Place); Royal Overseas League Competition ‘Most Promising Singers’ Award; Winner of the Concordia Foundation of English Singers & Speakers Competition

Opera
Zerlina Don Giovanni (Festival, Portugal); Nimmy and Mary Push! (Tête-à-tête); Gretel Hansel & Gretel (Opera! Festival, Holland); Idamante (cover) Idomeneo (Glyndebourne Touring Opera); Brigitte Iolanta & Dorabella Cosi fan tutte (GSMD)

Concert/Recital
Bach St Matthew Passion (London Handel Festival); Purcell Faery Queen (Aldeburgh Festival); Clark Silver Swan (Edinburgh Fringe Festival); Three Choirs Festival; Purcell Room; Ravinia Festival (Chicago); Barbican Hall

Gail Pearson

Gail Pearson

Agilea

Born
Neath, South Wales

Training
RNCM, University College, Cardiff

Opera
Musetta La Boheme (ENO and WNO); Asteria Tamerlano (SO); Gilda Rigoletto (Holland Park and WNO); Lisette La Rondine (ON); Pernille Maskarade (ROH); Pamina Magic Flute (SO); Papagena Magic Flute (ROH); Gretel Hansel & Gretel (WNO); Flowermaiden Parsifal (Bastille).

Concert
Handel Messiah (RNSO, Glasgow Concert Hall and CLS/Barbican); Orff Carmina Burana (RAH); Mozart Exultate Jubilate (BBCNOW); Medee (Cherubini) Vienna Phil Salzburg Festival;

Recordings
Iris Semele (Chandos)

Broadcasts
Mozart Exultate Jubilate (BBC Radio 3)

William Oldroyd

William Oldroyd

Asst. to the director

William studied at Durham University and went on to RADA where he took his MA in Directing and Dramaturgy. He has directed Ghosts (The Young Vic); Kean (Hori Pro and Thelma Holt, Tokyo); Scenes from An Execution (Hackney Empire); Two Noble Kinsmen (RSC). In 2010 William will direct Don Pasquale for ETO.

Lina Markeby

Lina Markeby

Arcane

Lina Markeby studied at GSMD. She has performed Idamante/ Idomeneo (Chelsea Opera Group); Idamante/ Idomeneo and Sesto/ La clemenza di Tito (Mozart galas with John Eliot Gardiner/ English Baroque Soloists); Third Sprite/ Rusalka and Carmen/ La Tragédie de Carmen (Wexford Festival); Messagiera/ Ninfa/ L’Orfeo (Drottningholms Slottsteater). Lina’s work with William Christie includes the roles of Doris/ Zaide/ L’Europe galante (Ambronay Baroque Academy), a solo in his recent tour of Idomeneo and Second Woman/ Dido and Aeneas (Wiener Festwochen 2006, Opera Comique 2008, Wiener Festwochen 2009, De Nederlandse Opera 2009). Future plans include Dorabella/ Cosi fan tutte and Cherubino/ Le nozze di Figaro (L’Atelier Lyrique de Tourcoing/ Jean-Claude Malgoire in Tourcoing and Paris 2010).

Jonathan Peter Kenny

Jonathan Peter Kenny

Associate Conductor

Jonathan is from Liverpool and studied at Exeter University and GSMD. Roles include Tolomeo/ Tolomeo (ETO), Bertarido/ Rodelinda (GFO); Amadigi/ Amadigi (Ireland, Paris, NYork); Nireno/ Giulio Cesare (ROH); Les Oiseax de passage (Teatro communale, Bologna); Trinculo/ The Tempest (Strasbourg); Orfeo/ L’Orfeo (Osaka). In concert Jonathan has performed with AAM, OAE, RLPO, RSNO, EBS, Gabrieli Consort, Ulster Orchestra under such conductors as Gardiner, Hickox, Parry, Fischer, Glover, Parrott, Mortensen, Bolton, Bicket. Recordings include Mattheus-Passion (Miller/ Goodwin); Agrippina, (Gardiner); Buxtehude Cantatas (Immerseel); La conversione di Clodoveo (Gester); Israel in Babylon (Fontaine).
Jonathan is baroque specialist at BBIOS. Conducting appearances include Pergolesi’s Stabat Mater for artist Dorothy Cross/ OTC Dublin; Teseo (ETO). Plans include Orfeo (Akademie fur Alte Musik im Saarland) and Flavio (Lucca).

Derek Lee Ragin

Derek Lee Ragin

Egeo

Derek trained at the Sweelinck Conservatorium, University of Maryland and Oberlin Conservatory. He received 1st Prize in the International Munich Competition and in the Purcell-Britten Prize of Concert Singers. Operatic engagements include Egeo/ Teseo (ETO); Prometheus/ Prometheus (Dawe Production); Mr. Lies/ Nurse/ Angels in America (Opera de Châtelet); Oberon/ A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Metropolitan Opera). Concert engagements include Handel/ Porpora Mi palpita il cor (Florilegium). Derek has also made a number of recordings including Gluck L’Orfeo with John E. Gardener (Philips/ Decca) and Negro Spirituals with Moses Hogan (EMI and Channel Classics).

Bernadette Iglich

Bernadette Iglich

Assistant Director/Choreographer - Onegin

Opera and theatre work: Choreographer: The Cunning Little Vixen (ETO, OTC); Sweeney Todd (RAM); Who Killed Mr Drum (Treatment Theatre), Jenufa, Eugene Onegin, Susannah and Don Giovanni ( ETO); Casanova (Told by an Idiot); Tartuffe and The Hypochondric (Liverpool Playhouse) Director: Hänsel und Gretel (Stowe Opera); Jephtha (ETO). Le nozze di Figaro and Eugene Onegin (Iford Arts)
Bernadette’s career as a dancer and performer includes working for Tanztheater Wuppertal, ARC Dance Company, Siobhan Davies, Aletta Collins, London Contemporary Dance Theatre, Fabulous Beast Dance Theatre, Corp Feasa and many leading choreographers and directors in dance, opera and theatre.

Michael Bracegirdle

Michael Bracegirdle

Lensky

A graduate of RNCM, Michael’s operatic roles during college included Tom Rakewell/The Rake’s Progress, Sandy and First Officer/The Lighthouse and Ruggero/La Rondine. He was the 2006 winner of the Emmy Destinn Award for Young Singers and a prizewinner at the Mezzo Television International Opera Competition and Festival 2008. Operatic roles include Tamino/The Magic Flute (ENO); Boris/Katya Kabanova (SO); First Armed Man/The Magic Flute (ENO and OHP); Lensky/Eugene Onegin, Steva/Jenufa and Cavaradossi/Tosca (ETO); Judge Danforth/The Crucible (Dicapo Opera, New York); Don José/Carmen, Rodolfo/La bohème and Jenik/The Bartered Bride (Mid Wales Opera). In concert and broadcast Michael has performed with RLPO, RPO, English Chamber Orchestra and BBC Concert Orchestra at venues including Barbican Hall and Queen Elizabeth Hall.

Tom Littler

Tom Littler

assistant to the director

Ilona Karas Prokopcova

Ilona Karas Prokopcova

Associate Designer

Harriet Williams

Harriet Williams

Larina

Mezzo-Soprano
Born London
Training Arts Educational Schools, GSMD
Awards Sybil Tutton Trust, Ian Fleming Award, Sir James Caird Travelling Scholarship, Countess of Munster
Opera Smeton Anna Bolena (HM Tower of London Festival), Marcellina The Marriage of Figaro (Cork Opera), Old Sister 1 Babette’s Feast (Linbury, ROH), Nenila The Enchantress (Grange Park Opera), Cherubino The Marriage of Figaro (WNO)
Concert Bach St Matthew Passion (Salisbury Cathedral), Saint-Saens Christmas Oratorio (Academy of St Martin’s in the Field), Handel Jeptha (Darmstadt Hofkapelle)
Recordings Fortuna Coronation of Poppea (BBC, WNO)

Linda Hibberd

Linda Hibberd

Born London
Training RAM
Opera Frugola Il Tabarro (WNO), Auntie Peter Grimes, Katisha The Mikado (both ENO), Innkeeper’s Wife The Cunning Little Vixen (City of Birmingham Touring Opera), Filipyevna Eugene Onegin (ON)
Concert Elgar Sea Pictures (City of Southampton Symphony Orchestra), Verdi Requiem (Singapore Symphony Orchestra), Beethoven Symphony no. 9 (Hallé Orchestra)
Recordings Robert Saxton Caritas (Collins Classics), various musicals including The Sound of Music, Carousel, Fiddler on the Roof, South Pacific and a Gershwin album (Carlton Label)

Geoffry Moses

Geoffry Moses

Gremin

Clare Shearer

Clare Shearer

Larina

Marie Elliott

Marie Elliott

Olga

Roland Wood

Roland Wood

Born
Reading

Training
RNCM; NOS

Awards
Prizewinner 2003 Cardiff Singer of the World; 2nd Prize 2000 Kathleen Ferrier Awards

Opera
Eugene Onegin Eugene Onegin (ETO); Henry Kissinger Nixon in China (ENO); Papageno Magic Flute, Schaunard La Boheme and Falke Die Fledermaus (SO as Company Principal Artist); Nick Shadow Rake’s Progress (GFO); Escamillo Carmen (Castleward and Cork Opera House)

Concerts
Rosenblatt Recital (St John’s, Smith Square); Walton Belshazzar’s Feast (Hallé); Britten War Requiem (Bydgoscz/Filarmonika Pomorska); Bernstein Candide (Edinburgh Festival); Bellini La Straniera (LPO)

Recordings
Fauré Requiem; A Masked Ball, Madam Butterfly and The Carmelites (Chandos); Il Diluvio Universale, La Straniera (Opera Rara)

Future Plans
Papageno (OHP); Alfio Cavalleria Rusticana and Shelkalov Boris Godunov (ENO); Renato Ballo in maschera (Reisopera); Belcore L’elisir d’amore (WNO);

Amanda Echalaz

Amanda Echalaz

Born South Africa
Training Neil Howlett
Awards Represented South Africa in Cardiff Singer of the World 2005, Kathleen Ferrier Competition finalist, winner of Bayreuth Bursary and Great Elm Singing Competition.
Opera Alcina Alcina, Fiordiligi Così fan tutte (both ETO), Barena Jen_fa (GFO), Tosca Tosca (London City Opera, Central Festival Opera, Northampton), First Bridesmaid Le Nozze di Figaro, Flowermaiden Parsifal (both WNO)
Concert Mendelssohn St Paul (Tring Choral Society), Vaughan Williams Sea Symphony (Tring Choral Society), Victorian Parlour Songs with Robert Tear
Future Manon Lescaut Manon Lescaut (OHP)

“Strongly acted … thrillingly sung, Onegin illustrates how impactful simplicity can be”

Independent on Sunday

“Director James Conway makes sure that the drama proceeds at a cracking pace and builds the climaxes with lively energy”

Warwick Thompson, Bloomberg

“Remarkable new production”

**** Guardian

“Intelligent, restrained staging” rn.

Observer

“Has both power and beauty”

Evening Standard

“Sheds more light on Tchaikovsky’s masterpiece than any other recent UK production”

**** Guardian

“English Touring Opera has undoubtedly scored another success with their new production of Tchaikovsky’s Eugene Onegin”

Gloucestershire Echo

“Conway has put an enormous amount of thought into this production … and it has paid enormous dividends”

Independent on Sunday

Showing At

  1. Hackney Empire
    15th Mar 2007 - 7:30 pm
  2. Hackney Empire
    17th Mar 2007 - 7:30 pm
  3. The Hawth, Crawley
    20th Mar 2007 - 7:30 pm
  4. Assembly Hall Theatre
    24th Mar 2007 - 7:30 pm
  5. The Everyman Theatre, Cheltenham
    29th Mar 2007 - 7:30 pm
  6. The Everyman Theatre, Cheltenham
    31st Mar 2007 - 7:30 pm
  7. Hall for Cornwall, Truro
    3rd Apr 2007 - 7:30 pm
  8. Snape Maltings Concert Hall
    12th Apr 2007 - 7:30 pm
  9. Snape Maltings Concert Hall
    14th Apr 2007 - 7:30 pm
  10. The Lighthouse, Poole
    18th Apr 2007 - 7:30 pm
  11. De La Warr Pavilion, Bexhill
    21st Apr 2007 - 7:30 pm
  12. Grand Theatre Wolverhampton
    24th Apr 2007 - 7:30 pm
  13. Buxton Opera House
    27th Apr 2007 - 7:30 pm
  14. Lyceum Theatre, Sheffield
    30th Apr 2007 - 7:30 pm
  15. Kendal Leisure Centre
    5th May 2007 - 7:30 pm
  16. Cambridge Arts Theatre
    9th May 2007 - 7:30 pm
  17. Cambridge Arts Theatre
    12th May 2007 - 7:30 pm
  18. Warwick Arts Centre
    16th May 2007 - 7:30 pm
  19. Warwick Arts Centre
    19th May 2007 - 7:30 pm
  20. Gala Theatre, Durham
    22nd May 2007 - 7:30 pm
  21. Perth Festival, Perth Theatre
    25th May 2007 - 7:30 pm

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