PINCHGUT OPERA 2017 SEASON
WELCOME TO THE 2017 SEASON Pinchgut Opera rediscovers operatic masterpieces from the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. Since its inception in 2002, Pinchgut has presented seventeen rarely performed gems. Our creative team is driven by both musical excellence and academic rigour. We have a special relationship with our audience that is at the cornerstone of our approach. Other companies present the more familiar operas excellently; Pinchgut is about discovering a new operatic experience. We are justly proud of our outstanding and sustained critical success. It gives me enormous pleasure to inaugurate the 2017 Pinchgut season. Our fifteenth year marks an important one I m delighted to be taking Pinchgut into a new era as sole artistic director. 2017 features two of the greatest opera composers of all time: Monteverdi, the prime innovator of the genre itself, and Rameau, who came to opera late in his life but left an indelible influence. The practice of giving several disparate works was central to the programming of the Académie Royale de Musique (simply called the Opéra ) in Paris in the mid eighteenth century. Accordingly, our winter season features two exquisite acte de ballets by Rameau together with a contrasting Italian intermezzo by Vinci. This was a common occurrence, to have a contrasting Italian work performed between acte de ballets. Anacréon and Pigmalion have been long recognised as some of Rameau s best work. They certainly contain some of his most memorable and tuneful ariettes! It was a famous performance of an Italian intermezzo in 1752 at the Opéra that sparked an intense debate about the relative merits of Italian and French music. We revive the intermezzo tradition in the best traditions of the genre of the acte de ballets themselves: which were sparkling, diverting, lyrical genres centred on a short story that revolve around the theme of love and pleasure. The same theme of love is pursued in our summer season with one of the greatest operas of all time: Monteverdi s the Coronation of Poppea. A towering masterpiece of superbly crafted characterization, biting satire, and heartbreaking beauty, Poppea will be performed by Pinchgut in the original format first used at the original performance, in which various characters doubled roles. I am looking forward to re-visiting the colours, poetry, and melodies of the seventeenth century a sound world we haven t revisited since the enormous critical success of Giasone in 2013. Subscribe now and get ready for rediscover opera as you ve never heard it before! Erin Helyard Artistic Director
ANACRÉON & PIGMALION Thurs 15 Jun 7pm Sat 17 Jun 2pm Sun 18 Jun 5pm Tues 20 Jun 7pm City Recital Hall A riotous evening of fabulous French opera Celebrate the delights of love and booze this winter with an impeccably crafted triple bill curated by our artistic director Erin Helyard. Showcasing some of Rameau s most deliciously perfect and joyous music, contrasted with an Italian comic intermezzo in the style of the period, Taryn Fiebig leads an outstanding cast of party-goers dedicated to entertaining you this winter. Program Rameau Anacréon* Vinci Erighetta e Don Chilone* Rameau Pigmalion * Australian premiere Taryn Fiebig The Priestess of Bacchus (Anacréon), The Statue (Pigmalion) and Erighetta (Erighetta e Don Chilone) Richard Anderson Anacréon (Anacréon) and Don Chilone (Erighetta e Don Chilone) Lauren Zolezzi L Amour (Anacréon) and L Amour (Pigmalion) Samuel Boden Pigmalion (Pigmalion), Agathocle (Anacréon) Morgan Balfour Céphise (Pigmalion) Orchestra of the Antipodes Erin Helyard Conductor and Harpsichord Crystal Manich Director Alicia Clements Set Designer Matthew Marshall Lighting Designer Running Time Approximately 2 hours and 20 minutes including a 20 minute interval Sung in French and Italian, with English surtitles Adult $90-$159 Under 27 $40-$50 Save by purchasing a subscription to Pinchgut Opera s 2017 season Bookings: cityrecitalhall.com 02 8256 2222
No human nor divine heart shall defy Cupid Thurs 30 Nov 7pm Sat 2 Dec 2pm Sun 3 Dec 5pm Tues 5 Dec 7pm Wed 6 Dec 7pm City Recital Hall Celebrating 450 years since the birth of Monteverdi, Pinchgut Opera proudly presents one of the greatest operas of all time, the Coronation of Poppea. Set in the decadent court of Ancient Rome, the Coronation of Poppea traces the fallout from the scandalous liaison between courtesan Poppea Sabina, and Nero; Emperor, madman, murderer. Distinguished for its superbly crafted characterisation, the Coronation of Poppea is the first opera to have been based on historical figures, and is set to sensuous, exquisitely beautiful music, culminating in the famous duet Pur ti miro. Director Mark Gaal and Conductor Erin Helyard collaborate on their third production together, and lead an exemplary cast headed by mezzo soprano Helen Sherman, who thrilled audiences in the Pinchgut Opera production of Bajazet, and the Korean-American Countertenor Kangmin Justin Kim, a rising international star. This will be a Pinchgut event not to be missed. Orchestra of the Antipodes Helen Sherman Poppea Kangmin Justin Kim Nero Natalie Christie Peluso Ottavia, Drusilla Roberta Diamond Amore Kanen Breen Arnalta, Nutrice, Famigliari I Adam Player Soldato I, Famigliari II, Lucano Jacob Lawrence Soldato II, Liberto, Console David Greco Seneca, Littore Jeremy Kleeman Mercury, Famigliari III, Tribuno Running Time Approximately 3 hours including a 20 minute interval Erin Helyard Conductor and Harpsichord Mark Gaal Director Charles Davis Designer Ross Graham Lighting Designer Sung in Italian, with English surtitles Adult $90-$159 Under 27 $40-$50 Save by purchasing a subscription to Pinchgut Opera s 2017 season Bookings: cityrecitalhall.com 02 8256 2222
WHY SUBSCRIBE TO PINCHGUT OPERA As a subscriber to Pinchgut Opera, we welcome you to the Pinchgut Opera family. Subscriptions offer a number of benefits including: The opportunity to secure the best seats before the general public 10% discount on those tickets Access to a subscriber priority booking period for the 2018 season One free ticket exchange per subscriber A dedicated contact for all your booking enquiries: subscriptions@pinchgutopera.com.au 10% off full price single tickets to Ensemble Theatre plays in 2017. SUBSCRIPTION BOOKING FORM HOW TO SUBSCRIBE ONLINE cityrecitalhall.com PHONE 02 8256 2222 Mon Fri 9am 5pm MAIL Fill out the form below and mail to: Pinchgut 2017 Subscriptions City Recital Hall GPO Box 3339 Sydney NSW 2001 IN PERSON City Recital Hall Box Office 2-12 Angel Place, Sydney Mon Fri 9am 5pm FIRST SUBSCRIBER Name Address State Phone ( ) Email Postcode TICKET SELECTION 1. NUMBER OF SUBSCRIPTION TICKETS: 2. TICKET RESERVE (circle): Premium / A reserve / B reserve / C reserve Under 27: B reserve / C reserve 3. SEATING PREFERENCE (circle): Level 1 Stalls Centre / Sides Level 2 Circle Centre Balcony / Side Boxes Level 3 Circle - Centre Balcony / Side Boxes ADDITIONAL SEATING REQUIREMENTS: SIGN ME UP TO RECEIVE THE PINCHGUT POST NEWSLETTER? Yes No SECOND SUBSCRIBER Name Address State Phone ( ) Email If there are more than two subscribers, please attach their details on a separate sheet. TICKET PRICES Total Subscription Package Additional Single Tickets Premium $286 $159 A reserve $252 $140 B reserve $216 $120 C reserve $162 $90 UNDER 27s B reserve $90 $50 C reserve $72 $40 No group discount on subscriptions. Additional single tickets may be purchased with a subscription at full price. Booking and ticketing charges apply. Postcode 4. SELECT 2017 PERFORMANCES RAMEAU 1st Choice 2nd Choice Thur 15 June, 7pm Sat 17 June, 2pm Sun 18 June, 5pm Tues 20 June, 7pm Number of additional tickets CORONATION OF POPPEA 1st Choice 2nd Choice Thur 30 Nov, 7pm Sat 2 Dec, 2pm Sun 3 Dec, 5pm Tues 5 Dec, 7pm Wed 6 Dec, 7pm Number of additional tickets Booking form continued overleaf >
SUBSCRIPTION BOOKING FORM CONTINUED 5. DONATION I would like to make a donation of $ to Pinchgut Opera I would like to be acknowledged as I would prefer my donation to remain anonymous Please make donation cheques payable to: Pinchgut Opera Public Fund, or, if paying by credit card, include donation amount in the total payment below. 6. PAYMENT Subscription tickets total: $ Additional tickets total: $ Booking fee: $ Donation to Pinchgut Opera: $ TOTAL PAYMENT $ I enclose a cheque for the total cost of subscriptions and additional tickets, made payable to City Recital Hall, and/or a cheque for my donation, made payable to Pinchgut Opera Public Fund Please debit my credit card: Visa Mastercard Amex Amount Card Number: / / / Expir y Date: / CV V (3 or 4 digit code): Name on card Signature STAY IN TOUCH Stay in touch with Pinchgut Opera through social media. You can also sign up to our newsletter Pinchgut Post via our website. /pinchgutopera @pinchgut @pinchgutopera pinchgutopera.com.au BOOKING FEES: Online subscription booking fee: $6 per transaction Phone/mail/email booking fee: $8 Box office at City Recital Hall: no booking fee After the first free exchange, all subsequent ticket exchanges incur a fee of $2.50 per ticket Phone 02 9318 8344 PO Box 291 Strawberry Hills NSW 2012 mail@pinchgutopera.com.au ABN 67 095 974 191
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