28 May to 13 June: on tour
Pegasus Opera Company presents Treemonisha UK Tour, Summer 2010 by Scott Joplin
Pegasus Opera Company was founded in 1992 by Artistic Director Lloyd Newton and has a track record for producing excellent multi-racial Opera. Following their successful production of Delius' Koanga at London's Sadler's Wells, Pegasus Opera Company is once more offering a high quality, seminal operatic piece of work. Treemonisha is a rarely performed opera with music arranged by Abram Wilson and featuring Tomorrow's Warriors Jazz Orchestra. The performance will be conducted by Peter Selwyn.
Set in the American South and written a century ago, the story centres on Treemonisha, an educated former slave. In attempting to free her community from the grip of ignorance and superstition, she faces hostility, suspicion and dangerous opposition.
Mirroring aspects of the composer's own life, Joplin's acclaimed opera, with its mastery of different musical styles, is a stirring and engaging operatic gem which sparkles. Scott Joplin is probably best known for his ragtime compositions including one of America's best known pieces of music 'The Entertainer'. Adaptation's of Joplin's music was also featured in the soundtrack for the Academy Award winning film, 'The Sting'.
Treemonisha stars soprano Donna Bateman as Treemonisha, she has previously worked with English Touring Opera, Birmingham Opera and the London Handel Society. Maureen Brathwaite plays Monisha, her past credits includes winning both the Capital Radio Anna Instone Memorial Award and the Ian Fleming Award. Soprano Hyacinth Nicholls plays Lucy, she has performed internationally and her next performance will be singing the title role in the opera 'Mary Seacole' in Adelaide. Tenor, Bernard Abervandana plays Remus and bass Herbert Perry as Ned. Perry has performed with the Metropolitan Opera he has also performed the title role in 'Le Nozze di Figaro'; Leporello in 'Don Giovanni'; and Colline in 'La Bohème'. Peter Selwyn has conducted more than 45 operas, including Peter Grimes, 'Rigoletto', 'Traviata', 'Boheme', 'Carmen', 'Figaro', 'Iphigenie en Tauride' and 'Orfeo' at the Staatstheater Nürnberg, where from 1999-2004 he was Head of Music and Kapellmeister. For UK companies he has conducted 'Carmen' (WNO), 'Romeo and Juliette' for Opera North, 'Jenufa, Cenerentola' (ETO), and 'Hänsel and Gretel' at Opera Holland Park.
With its fusion of musical styles Treemonisha is a production with real family appeal.
Friday 28th May
EVERYMAN THEATRE
Regent Street
Cheltenham
Gloucestershire GL50 1HQ
£20, £18, £16, £12
Box Office 01242 572573 www.everymantheatre.org.uk
Saturday 29th May
RIVERFRONT THEATRE
The Riverfront
Kingsway
Newport NP20 1HG
£7.50 - £17
Booking Line (01633) 656757 www.newport.gov.uk/theriverfront
Tuesday 1st June
MIDDLESBROUGH THEATRE
The Avenue, Linthorpe,
Middlesbrough
TS5 6SA
Box Office 01642 81 51 81
Tickets: £15, £13 www.middlesbrough.gov.uk
entertainment
Saturday 5th June
THE QUEENS THEATRE
Boutport Street
Barnstaple EX31 1SY
Box Office 01271 324242 www.northdevontheatres.org.uk
Wednesday 9th June
QUEEN ELIZABETH HALL
Southbank Centre
Belvedere Road
London SE1 8XX
Tickets: £25, £22, £18, £11.
Box Office 0844 847 9910 www.southbankcentre.co.uk
Sunday 13th June
GREENWICH THEATRE
Crooms Hill
LONDON SE10 8ES
Tickets: £17.50, £15
Group of 8 or more £12.50
Box Office 020 8858 7755 www.greenwichtheatre.org.uk
Pegasus Opera Company was founded in 1992 by Artistic Director Lloyd Newton and has a track record for producing excellent multi-racial Opera. Following their successful production of Delius' Koanga at London's Sadler's Wells, Pegasus Opera Company is once more offering a high quality, seminal operatic piece of work. Treemonisha is a rarely performed opera with music arranged by Abram Wilson and featuring Tomorrow's Warriors Jazz Orchestra. The performance will be conducted by Peter Selwyn.
