Photo credit: Robert Workman
Mark Le Brocq as Vítek. Photo credit: Donald Cooper
Ylva Kihlberg as Emilia Marty and Paul Nilon as Albert Gregor. Photo credit: Donald Cooper
Ylva Kihlberg as Emilia Marty. Photo credit: Robert Workman
Ylva Kihlberg as Emilia Marty. Photo credit: Robert Workman
Ylva Kihlberg as Emilia Marty. Photo credit: Donald Cooper
Nigel Robson as Hauk-Šendorf and Ylva Kihlberg as Emilia Marty. Photo credit: Donald Cooper
Ylva Kihlberg as Emilia Marty, Paul Nilon as Albert Gregor, Mark Le Brocq as Vítek and James Creswell as Dr. Kolenatý. Photo credit: Donald Cooper
Robert Hayward as Jaroslav Prus, Ylva Kihlberg as Emilia Marty and James Creswell as Dr. Kolenatý. Photo credit: Donald Cooper
Photo credit: Robert Workman
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Leoš Janáček (1926)
Who Wants to Live Forever?
New production
Do you wish for immortality? Even if your endless life would be one without love?
When the celebrated opera diva Emilia Marty reveals the whereabouts of the lost will of Baron Jaroslav Prus, it seems as the long lasting squabbling over Prus’ vast estate might finally be resolved. But when Marty reveals an uncanny knowledge of events long gone and exerts an inexplicable power over the men surrounding her, it soon emerges that the enigmatic singer has secrets of her own.
Based on Karel Čapek’s eponymous absurd comedy, Janáček’s penultimate opera is a mystery thriller about desire and eternal life. Tackling the big questions of love, life and death, it keeps its audience guessing until the gripping end. Written in Janáček’s creative period alongside masterworks like Katya Kabanova and The Cunning Little Vixen, The Makropulos Case is often described as featuring the most transcendent music of all 20th century operas and contains some of the composer’s most radiant, life-affirming music.
Richard Farnes conducts this new production by acclaimed director Tom Cairns, which opens the 2012 Edinburgh International Festival.
Sung in English with English titles
Lasts approximately 2 hours
Click on a venue below to find out more information.
Tom Cairns's new staging for Opera North, presented in a 1950s setting designed by Hildegard Bechtler, is cool and lucid and refreshingly untricksy.....the evening's star is Richard Farnes, who conducts his orchestra with a finely judged sense of the work's febrile modernist edge and urban restlessness: under his electrifying baton, the music reaches a white heat of intensity without blasting the singers or losing the plot.
Kihlberg is [...] exceptionally fine. She's particularly good at the panic behind the poise. Her voice blazes in sensual defiance against the physical weariness eating her away.....Richard Farnes's conducting, which is superb in its passion, elation and drive throughout
There was no lack of fire or inspiration in Richard Farnes’s conducting of Janácek at the Festival Theatre on Saturday....Opera North’s music director let the music blaze, maintaining a flawless balance between its tensile pulse and lyrical glow.
let’s savour this too rarely performed 1920s black comedy, especially when conducted and played with as much raw energy as Richard Farnes and his Opera North orchestra deliver.
Enjoy 20% off your bill at Sandinista (Cross Belgrave Street - New Briggate) on presentation of your Opera North ticket when placing your food order. To book a table call 0113 305 0372. Food is served till 10pm through the week with final orders at 9pm Friday and Saturday. Only valid on the day of the performance your ticket is for. Not to be used in conjunction with any other offer.
Why not make a night of it and enjoy a pre-show meal at The Lowry Restaurant? You can have your theatre programmes delivered to your table, pre-order your interval drinks or return for dessert and coffee during the interval. Call 0161 876 2121 to reserve your table.
Enjoy a two course pre-theatre meal at Pasqualino’s for just £15.50 or £13 for Friends. Available 5.30pm. Call the Box Office on 08448 11 21 21 to book.
Offer cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer. T&Cs apply.
Book your pre-show meal at Strada Italian Restaurant and get 2 for 1 on any main course upon presentation of an Opera North brochure.
The Corner House, Trinity Row, Nottingham, NG1 4DP0115 947 5009 www.strada.co.ukValid 20 – 24 November 5.00pm – 11.00pm. Up to 4 people per table.
Not valid in conjunction with any other offer, lunch menu or set menu. Valid at Strada Nottingham.
Richard Versalle died after an accident on stage during a performance of The Makropulos Case at the Metropolitan Opera. Versalle, who was singing the role of Vitek, fell 10 feet from a sliding ladder just after he sang the words "Too bad you can only live so long". MET officials initially reported that he died of a heart attack.
Full information can be found here.
On sale dates for Leeds Grand Theatre
Booking for fixed subscriptions opens on 28 May and booking for multibuy ticket packages opens on 18 June. Priority booking for Friends of Opera North and Groups opens on 9 July.
All tickets will be on public sale on 16 July 2012.
On sale dates for The Lowry
Booking for multibuy ticket packages opens on 14 June. Priority booking for Friends of Opera North and My Lowry opens on 28 June.
All tickets will be on public sale on 5 July 2012.
On sale dates for Theatre Royal Nottingham
Booking for multibuy ticket packages opens on 11 June. Priority booking for Friends of Opera North opens on 25 June.
All tickets will be on public sale on 2 July 2012.
This Autumn selected performances of The Makropulos Case will be audio-described (by Vocaleyes including a free touch tour).
Audio-described performances by Vocaleyes
For more information, to book for Leeds performances, to join our free mailing list or to discuss your requirements, please contact Eloise Williamson on 0113 22 33 590 or email eloise.williamson@operanorth.co.uk.
All discounts are subject to availability and may be withdrawn at any time. Discounts cannot be used retrospectively. Only one discount per ticket. Proof of eligibility must be shown.
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NEWCASTLE
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NOTTINGHAM
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BELFAST
It’s Monday morning, week two of The Makropulos Case rehearsals in the Linacre Studio here at Opera North. Richard Farnes has just returned from a triumphant evening of conducting the four-hour long Die Walküre at The Sage Gateshead...
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Here are some images from Hildegard’s original model of the set, an exact scale replica of what is currently on stage.
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Opera North is opening the 2012 Edinburgh International Festival and its own 2012/13 season with a brand new production of Janáček’s The Makropulos Case. Janáček’s penultimate opera is both a mystery thriller and a meditation on immortality and desire.
Comment from Simon Smith
Simon Smith said ago
Went to see the performance in Leeds on 27th October, with my wife and mother. Like many in the audience, this was the first time I'd seen, or listened to this opera. All three of us were impressed by the quality of the singing, orchestral playing and the acting (always a strength with this company). The set was ingenious, and the tension and drama kept us gripped throughout. And what a star in Ylva Kihlberg - very compelling.
Comment from Max Page
Max Page said ago
First time I've seen this opera and was totally blown away by the performance. Excellently sung and with an exceptional orchestra performance (even by Opera North standards) this is a show not to be missed.
Comment from Guest
Guest said ago
This is more like it. A splendid opera not performed often enough, presented with verve, humour and gorgeous singing and playing. This is what Opera North is so good at. The casting was brilliant and the pathos nicely judged. This has to be an operatic high spot of the year.
Comment from Per Ahlander
Per Ahlander said ago
I attended the opening performance at Edinburgh International Festival. I was already familiar with the music from the wonderful Söderström/Mackerras recording, but I had never seen it staged before, and I liked the entire production very much - both visually and musically. Just missed the sound of the Czech language a bit, but it is of course also good to be able to follow the story word by word without having to look at the surtitles.