Organization

Conductor

Paul Wingfield

Stage director

Lysanne van Overbeek

Set designer

Sorcha Corcoran

Singer

Soprano

Monica McGhee

Iolanta

Bass

Aidan Smith

Rene

Tenor

Andrés Presno

Count Vaudemont

Baritone

Alexey Gusev

Robert

Dan D'Souza

Ibn-Hakia

Contralto

Rebecca Afonwy-Jones

Marta

Dominick Felix

Almeric

Emyr Wyn Jones

Bertrand

Lara Marie Müller

Brigitta

Mezzo-soprano

Bethany Horak-Hallett

Laura

Charne Rochford

Nataliia Temnyk

Costume designer

If Opera

Orchestra

Bristol Ensemble

Russian

Iolanta, op. 69 -  (Iolanta)

Bradford on Avon

United Kingdom

Wiltshire Music Centre

Iolanta Tchaikovsky, P. I.

Public

English

Approved

Among Tchaikovsky’s canon sits what has become one of the most treasured of his operas – the fantastical, deeply moving Iolanta.  This one act opera is the fairytale of a blind princess who is unaware of her disability as all those who care for her manage to keep it secret from her. Her world is one of darkness, and she believes that is how it is for everybody.  Love, in the form of Count Vaudemont, however, comes to visit her and it is love’s embrace that magically gives her her sight.

Tchaikovsky’s ‘fairy tale’ has of course deeper meaning – the gift of Iolanta’s sight is wrapped up in the notion of love’s true power but it was also in line with contemporaneous medical thinking. Whatever the background to the story, however, Iolanta is a relentlessly beautiful opera with aria after aria, and a central duet of such febrile, blistering gorgeousness that there is a growing belief that this opera sits among the very best of the composer’s work. The final exultant chorus is without question one of Tchaikovsky’s most beautiful and powerful creations.

This costumed and staged production, our first at the Wiltshire Music Centre, will create the magic of Iolanta’s kingdom and gives the If Opera ensemble a chance to sing one of the most exquisite of late 19th century Russian operas.

Performance credits (Cast & Crew )

Cast

Crew

Ensemble