Bel Canto Gala Concert

 

13 MAY 2012 @ 18H00
Opera House, Artscape

Cape Town Opera presents

Bel Canto Gala Concert

with Lawrence Brownlee and Sally Silver

 

Listen to Lawrence Brownlee (click here)

American tenor Lawrence Brownlee makes his Cape Town debut in a spectacular gala concert of bel canto showpieces, with South African-born soprano Sally Silver and mezzo-soprano Violina Anguelov, conducted by Jeremy Silver.

Described by the Washington Times as “perhaps the finest bel canto tenor of our times … with a supple, luminous voice that can only be described as heavenly”, Lawrence Brownlee has thrilled audiences around the globe with his radiant tone and seemingly effortless technical mastery of notoriously challenging repertoire. In the decade since he made his professional debut, his extraordinary rise to fame has seen him triumph at the world’s great opera houses, including the Met, Covent Garden and La Scala. Best known for his performances in operas by Rossini and Donizetti, including Il barbiere di Siviglia, La Cenerentola and La fille du régiment, Mr Brownlee will make his Cape Town debut in a thrilling programme of favourite bel canto excerpts. He is joined by South African-born soprano Sally Silver, who returns from the United Kingdom fresh from widely praised appearances in Lucia di Lammermoor, I puritani and Orlando, as well as Violina Anguelov with the Cape Philharmonic Orchestra under the baton of Jeremy Silver.

“Brownlee is as fine a Rossini tenor as exists today. It isn’t just his astonishing agility or the high notes he produces without strain or alteration of vocal color; it’s the honeyed tone and nuanced phrasing he brings to lyrical and virtuoso passages alike.” Opera News

Beautiful singing

The term bel canto, Italian for ‘beautiful singing’, is used both to describe a style of singing characterised by lyricism, legato phrasing and beautiful tone, and a style of Italian opera from the early 19th century. The greatest exponents of the style, Rossini, Donizetti and Bellini, wrote virtuosic display arias for their leading sopranos and tenors which demand formidable technique and wide ranges from singers.


CONDUCTOR Jeremy Silver
DIRECTOR Christine Crouse
ORCHESTRA Cape Philharmonic Orchestra
SET/COSTUME DESIGNER Michael Mitchell
LIGHTING DESIGNER Fahiem Baardien

 

Suggested Programme

1.    Roberto Devereux (Donizetti)  Sinfonia – Cape Philharmonic Orchestra
2.    I Puritani (Bellini) A te, o cara – Lawrence Brownlee
3.    I Puritani (Bellini) Qui la voce … Vien diletto – Sally Silver
4.    Don Pasquale (Donizetti) Tornami a dir – Lawrence Brownlee & Sally Silver
5.    Il Barbiere di Siviglia (Rossini) Una voce poco fa – Violina Anguelov
6.    La Cenerentola (Rossini) Un soave non so che – Lawrence Brownlee & Violina Anguelov
7.    Linda di Chamonix (Donizetti) Ah! tardai troppo… O luce di quest’anima – Sally Silver
8.    La Fille du Regiment (Donizetti) Ah, mes amis! – Lawrence Brownlee

INTERVAL

1.    L’Italiana in Algeri (Rossini) Overture – Cape Philharmonic Orchestra
2.    La Sonnambula (Bellini) Prendi l’anel ti dono– Lawrence Brownlee
3.   Norma (Bellini) Casta Diva – Sally Silver
4.    Norma (Bellini) Mira o Norma .. Si, fin’ allora – Sally Silver & Violina Anguelov
5.    L’elisir d’amore (Donizetti) Una furtiva lagrima – Lawrence Brownlee
6.   L’italiana in Algeri (Rossini) Cruda Sorte – Violina Anguelov
7.    Les Huguenots (Meyerbeer) O beau pays – Sally Silver
8.    I Puritani (Bellini) Vieni fra queste braccia – Lawrence Brownlee & Sally Silver

Concessions:

OPERA WEEKEND SPECIAL – See La Bohème on Friday 11 and the Bel Canto Gala Concert on 13 May and ENJOY R100 discount on the purchase of the 2 tickets. Contact us on This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . **Not applicable on lowest price [R150/R125/R100] price category.

Pensioners & students: 50% discount on the day of the show with ID at the venue

Block bookings: 10% discount for groups of 8 or more

Schools (ages 5 to 21): 50% discount on the day of the show with ID

Cast subject to change without prior notification

Patrons are kindly reminded to switch off their cellular telephones during performances

The use of cameras or recording equipment is not allowed during the performance

Please note casting and dates are subject to change without prior notice