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Details
Orangery Theatre - Westonbirt School
Bath Road
Tetbury
Gloucestershire
GL8 8QG
England
Programme
Stephen Storace – Bride & Gloom (Gli sposi malcontenti)
Performers
Jenny Stafford – soprano
Caroline Kennedy – soprano
Aoife O'Sullivan – soprano
Gavan Ring – Tenor
Adam Tunnicliffe – Tenor
Arthur Bruce – baritone
Robert Davies – baritone
Anthony Kraus – Conductor
Bampton Classical Players
Bampton Classical Opera
Programme Note
This summer Bampton Classical Opera will stage Stephen Storace’s lively comedy of unhappy newlyweds 'Gli sposi malcontenti' (1785) under the title 'Bride & Gloom'.
Stephen Storace is an undeservedly neglected 18th century composer, who was the brother of the legendary soprano Nancy Storace (Mozart’s first Susanna in 'Le nozze di Figaro'). Stephen and Nancy spent time in Vienna from 1785-87, and were friends with Mozart. 'Gli sposi malcontenti' was commissioned in 1785 by the Emperor Joseph II, and partly came about because the Emperor was infatuated with Nancy. Unfortunately on opening night Nancy lost her voice in the first Act, and retired from the stage for several months. 'Gli sposi malcontenti' was one of several operas which had an effect on Mozart and Da Ponte in their creation of 'Figaro' and 'Così fan tutte'.
Stephen Storace returned to England a couple of years later, and introduced Viennese classical style to London. His hugely popular English operas dominated the Drury Lane Theatre from 1788 until his death in 1796. Storace had a lyrical gift and more sense of the theatre than practically any other English opera composer of the eighteenth century apart from Thomas Arne. His hugely successful later London operas such as ‘The Pirates’ helped establish a trend which eventually led to Gilbert and Sullivan.
Stephen Storace Bride & Gloom (Gli sposi malcontenti)
Libretto: Gaetano Brunati
English translation: Brian Trowell
Director/Designer: Jeremy Gray
Conductor: Anthony Kraus
Orchestra of Bampton Classical Opera
Synopsis:
Newly-wed Casimiro and Eginia hardly seem to be enjoying a state of marital bliss. Why does Eginia sleep on her own, and why is her ex, Artidoro, still hanging around? He now seems to have an eye for the undoubted charms of Casimiro’s sister, Enrichetta – but she’s also attracted the lustful interest of dull and dusty Dr Valente, a man likely to turn nasty if thwarted…
Bampton Classical Opera is delighted that Gavan Ring will be joining the company for Bride & Gloom, having previously performed for Bampton in Mozart’s ‘La finta semplice’. These will be among Gavan’s first performances as a tenor, having already enjoyed a highly successful career as a baritone, including appearances with Glyndebourne, Garsington and Wexford. The talented team of singers assembled includes both company debuts and some familiar faces.
