Today : world première of 'Elizabetta' by Gabriel Prokofiev in Regensburg

Today, the Theater Regensburg presents the world première of Elizabetta, an opera composed by Gabriel Prokofiev, with a libretto by David Pountney inspired by the life of 'Blood Countess' Elizabeth Bathory.

It is the composer's second opera after The Ghost of Gunby Hall (Skegness, 2012).

Elizabetta is a beautiful, famous and successful woman. But Elizabetta is scared. The sought-after film actress fears the age more than death. When her lover and doctor one day tells her of the rejuvenating power of the blood, it soon becomes clear how far Elizabetta is ready to go for eternal youth. (freely adapted from the Theater Regensburg website)

The cast includes mezzo Vera Semieniuk (Elizabetta), soprano Sara-Maria Saalmann (Anna), baritone Adam Kruzel (Doctor), tenor Angelo Pollak (Reporter) and soprano Ayumi Futagawa (Conference manager). Chin-Chao Lin conducts the Regensburg Philharmonic Orchestra and Opera Chorus. Marcus Lobbes directs.

The venue is the Theater am Bismarckplatz. The performance should last about 2 hours and 15 minutes, including the interval.

Today : world première of Iain Bell's 'In Parenthesis' in Cardiff

Today, the Welsh National Opera presents the world première of Iain Bell's In Parenthesis, with a libretto by David Antrobus and Emma Jenkins after the epic poem by Welsh poet David Jones.

© Peter M Mayr

 
It is the composer's third opera after A Harlot's Progress (Vienna, 2013) and A Christmas Carol (Houston, 2014).

Private John Ball and his comrades in the Royal Welch Fusiliers are posted to the Somme. In Mametz Wood they enter a strange realm – outside of time, dream-like but deadly. Even here amongst the destruction, a fragile flowering of regeneration and re-birth can be found. (reproduced from the WNO website).

The cast includes tenor Andrew Bidlack (Private John Ball), baritone Peter Coleman-Wright (Bard of Brittannia / HQ Officer), soprano Alexandra Deshorties (Bard of Germania / Alice the Barmaid / The Queen of the Woods), baritone George Humphreus (Lieutenant Jenkins), baritone Marcus Farnsworth (Lance Corporal Lewis) and tenor Graham Clark (The Marne Sergeant). Carlo Rizzi conducts the WNO Chorus and Orchestra. David Pountney directs.

After performances in Cardiff at the Wales Millennium Centre, the opera will tour to Birmingham (June 10) and the Royal Opera House in London (June-July). The opera will be broadcast by BBC Radio 3 on July 2.