Opera tour starts locally

20/02/2018 @ 10:32

Mid Wales Opera’s (MWO) 2018 Spring Tour marks a key moment in the company’s 30-year history - their first ever production of Tchaikovsky’s lyrical masterpiece Eugene Onegin.

With a cast which mixes rising stars with more established talent, and an orchestra supplied by North Wales based chamber music specialists Ensemble Cymru, the nine-venue tour promises to be a real treat for audiences across Wales and the Borders.

The opera combines Russian author Pushkin’s compelling and heart-breaking story with Tchaikovsky’s sweeping lyricism in a stunning exploration of love, death, life and convention.

MWO’s Music Director Jonathan Lyness is passionate about the piece and can’t wait to bring it to the stage.

He explained: “The key thing about Onegin is its understatement. The opera does not wear its heart on its sleeve like some shiny gold wrist-watch, easily accessible and brandishing its Pucciniesque magnetism, but more like a quiet piece of beautifully executed craftsmanship, tucked under the cuff, ready and waiting to tear at your heartstrings if you care to take a peek.

“It’s full of passion, but the passion is more tender, more honest, more human. There are no histrionics in Onegin, no long-held high notes, no unnecessary outpourings front of stage, no coming and grabbing you by the scruff of the neck. This opera is beguiling, sensuous, beautiful and hypnotic.”

The role of Tatyana in MWO’s touring production will be played by Elizabeth Karani who can’t wait to get started with this exciting new production: “I think what excites me about Tatyana is that she's an ordinary girl and though she is a dreamer, by rights she should lead a very ordinary life. However, the things that happen to her and the journey she goes on allow her to explore and express huge depths of emotion.”

Elizabeth is joined by charismatic baritone George Von Bergen, who takes the role of Eugene Onegin, and he told us: “When I first performed Onegin in 2006 I was struck by the emotional immaturity of Onegin in stark contrast to the world weary life that he has already lead as a young man.”

The production will be the first partnership between MWO and Ensemble Cymru, two organisations who share a passion for bringing high quality chamber scale music to communities across the whole of Wales.

The partnership is a great fit for both companies and Ensemble Cymru’s Artistic Director, Peryn Clement-Evans said: “As a chamber music ensemble, we’re thrilled to be working with Mid Wales Opera. MWO’s mission to reach audiences across rural Wales with international quality performances of chamber opera is a perfect fit with ours.”

Wales based tenor Robyn Lyn Evans makes his role debut as Lensky on the tour and he said: “Eugene Onegin is an opera I’ve been waiting for the opportunity to perform for a long time. It’s got such beautiful music. I’ve never performed Lensky before, but everyone tells me it’s such a fabulous role - I did sing it some 20 years ago in the National Eisteddfod of Wales, however, that was in Welsh.”

For full details of their Eugene Onegin tour dates go to www.midwalesopera.co.uk

Tour dates