Simon Boccanegra opens tomorrow night

Grant Doyle as Paolo and Elizabeth Llewellyn as Amelia

English Touring Opera’s first new Verdi production for several years is Simon Boccanegra – a mature masterpiece, and an intimate drama uniquely suited to ETO theatres.

The story comes from the history of Genoa, for centuries a great maritime republic, and from it Verdi creates an impassioned plea for Italian unity.

The composer’s musical depiction of the shimmering Mediterranean is wonderful; so too are the characters he creates, from the rough-hewn buccaneer-turned-ruler (the title role, played by Craig Smith) to his spiteful adversary and father-in-law (Fiesco, Keel Watson); from the embittered traitor (Paolo, Grant Doyle) to the idealistic Adorno (Charne Rochford).

This is a massive undertaking for English Touring Opera, with an unusually large chorus and orchestra – a personal ambition of ETO General Director James Conway and Music Director Michael Rosewell, supported with a special grant from the Peter Moores Foundation.

SHOWING AT:

Hackney Empire
8th Mar 2013 - 7:30 pm
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Curve Theatre, Leicester
12th Mar 2013 - 7:30 pm
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Churchill Theatre, Bromley
16th Mar 2013 - 7:30 pm
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Exeter Northcott
21st Mar 2013 - 7:30 pm
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Exeter Northcott
23rd Mar 2013 - 7:30 pm
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Norwich Theatre Royal
26th Mar 2013 - 7:30 pm
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The Hawth, Crawley
3rd Apr 2013 - 7:30 pm
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Lighthouse, Poole
6th Apr 2013 - 7:30 pm
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Lyceum Theatre, Sheffield
9th Apr 2013 - 7:45 pm
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York Theatre Royal
12th Apr 2013 - 7:30 pm
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Wolverhampton Grand Theatre
16th Apr 2013 - 7:30 pm
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Snape Maltings Concert Hall
19th Apr 2013 - 7:30 pm
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Gala Theatre, Durham
23rd Apr 2013 - 7:30 pm
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Buxton Opera House
26th Apr 2013 - 7:30 pm
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Everyman Theatre, Cheltenham
1st May 2013 - 7:30 pm
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Everyman Theatre, Cheltenham
3rd May 2013 - 7:30 pm
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