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Details
Cadogan Hall
5 Sloane Terrace
Sloane Square, Belgravia
London
SW1X 9DQ
England
Programme
Vincenzo Bellini – La Straniera
Performers
Helena Dix – soprano
Thomas Elwin – tenor
Phillip Rhodes – baritone
Georgia Mae Bishop – mezzo-soprano
Will Diggle – tenor
Kevin Hollands – Bass
Chuma Sijeqa – Bass Baritone
Stephen Barlow – Conductor
Chelsea Opera Group Orchestra
Chelsea Opera Group Chorus
Programme Note
Chelsea Opera Group present Vincenzo Bellini’s La Straniera, in a concert performance in Italian on Sunday 1st June at 6.30pm at the Cadogan Hall, London.
After their triumph at La Scala, Milan, in 1827 with Il pirata. Vincenzo Bellini and the librettist Felice Romani continued their partnership with La straniera (The Foreigner). Their new opera, which had an equally enthusiastic reception at La Scala in 1829, is set in Brittany and centres on Alaide, the foreigner of the title, who is a former queen of France, compelled to live as a recluse. The romantic and dramatic complications arising from the presence of this mysterious figure in the local community make up the opera's story. Eschewing opportunities for vocal display, Bellini makes powerful use of expressive recitative and ensembles rather than arias to create his effects. This performance offers lovers of bel canto a rare opportunity to hear a strong piece which has fallen into neglect, overshadowed by the masterpieces like Norma and I puritani which followed it.
Helena Dix makes a welcome return in the lead role of Alaide.
Concert performance in Italian with English surtitles.
4.45pm: Pre-concert talk with Simon Bainbridge.
