Encore Opera!
Opera for everyone
A Typical Encore Concert
The Programme below is an example from a concert in April 2019 and has been published to inform you of the types/styles of pieces that we do. Every concert is different and is dependent on the singers available at the time, so please do not be disappointed if the programme for the concert you see does not match this one!
Va pensiero… (Chorus of the Hebrew Slaves) Nabucco Verdi The Israelites- enslaved in Babylon- long for their fatherland. At the time, this chorus captured the nation’s hope for Italian reunification and independence, becoming almost a national anthem. (Chorus)
Sola, sola in bujo loco… Mille torbidi pensieri Don Giovanni Mozart In a dark room Donna Elvira searches for her husband, believing him to be the Don of the title, but it is actually his henchman, Leporello, trying to escape. Don Ottavio and Donna Anna enter, seeking revenge for the Don’s betrayal of them, followed by village girl Zerlina and her betrothed Masetto, likewise intent on killing him, while Elvira pleads for mercy and Leporello wonders if he will ever get out alive. (Louise, Emily, Karenna, Chris, Ron, Jim)
Mon coeur s’ouvre a ta voix Samson et Dalila Saint-Saëns
Dalilah is sent to discover the secret strength of the captured Samson, but this famous aria/duet ‘softly awakes my heart’ reveals an intense passion growing between them which leaves Samson powerless in her hands. (Kate, Chris)
Au fond du temple saint Les Pêcheurs de Perles Bizet 'The Pearl Fishers' is set in Ceylon, and the two fishermen, Nadir and Zurga, recall their rivalry for the hand of the beautiful priestess Leila, but agree that they should remain friends. (James, Jim)
O help me…! Back, loathly worm… Magic Flute Mozart Prince Tamino is threatened by a monster and calls for help. The three ladies - minions of the Queen of the Night - appear. They see off the monster but then cannot agree which should be left alone in charge of this handsome youth. (Chris, Louise, Naomi, Kate)
Qui chiamata m’avete? La Gioconda Ponchielli Laura is summoned to her husband, Alvise, who accuses her of being unfaithful to him. She protests, but he is adamant, and plans to make her drink poison. (Karenna, Ron)
O namenlose Freude Fidelio Beethoven Florestan and Leonora have come through the trials, of her daring recue of him from prison, and can finally reaffirm their love. (Emily, Chris) Habanera Carmen Bizet As the cigarette girls leave the factory, the gypsy Carmen tells her admirers to beware, love is free and obeys no rules, indeed if you try to run away it captures you; setting the scene for the opera’s tragic ending. (Kate, Chorus)
Addio, senza rancor La Bohème Puccini Knowing she is dying Mimi tries to say goodbye to Rodolfo, but they decide that love will keep them together until spring. Meanwhile, Musetta’s constant flirting causes a rift between her and Marcello. (Louise, James, Ron, Emily) Certo io….La ci darem la mano Don Giovanni Mozart The philandering Don seduces the innocent village maiden Zerlina, enticing her to steal away with him, despite her forthcoming marriage to Masetto. (Jim, Kate)
Chi mi frena Lucia di Lammermoor Donizetti Edgardo, Lucia’s love, returns from abroad, but Enrico, her brother, has told her Edgardo married another and forced her to marry Arturo. With the kindly chaplain Raimondo and the maid Alisa all sing of their various emotions at the situation. (James, Jim, Louise, Ron, Ann, Chris)
Brindisi La Traviata Verdi Alfredo extols the virtue of revelling in the pleasure of good times and toasts happiness, and is joined by Violetta and everyone at the party. (James, Emily, Chorus)
Un di, se ben rammentomi…. Rigoletto Verdi The lecherous Duke is overheard by Gilda as he seduces an unwitting but amused Maddalena. Her father Rigoletto, the jester, tries to console his distraught daughter, who thought she had the duke’s true love (despite his betrayal). (Chris, Karenna, Louise, Jim)
Come ti piace imponi La Clemenza di Tito Mozart Roman nobleman Sesto (sung by man or woman) is persuaded by Vitellia - jealous that Emperor Tito does not choose her as empress - to assassinate Tito. Through misguided and unrequited love for Vitellia, Sesto reluctantly agrees. & Vengo, aspettate Vitellia then receives news from Roman guard Publio and suddenly realizes that not only does Emperor Tito intend her as his desired empress, but she is too late to stop Sesto; with her ravings mistaken by Publio and friend Annio as euphoric delight. (Kate, Emily, Naomi, Jim)
O Mimi, tu più non torni La Bohème Puccini Rudolfo and Marcello reflect on their loves, who seem to have deserted them. (James, Ron)
Voi lo sapete, Mamma Cavelleria Rusticana Mascagni The peasant girl, Santuzza, laments to Mamma Lucia that the old lady’s son, Turridu, has now abandoned her, after courting her, and that she will now be damned. (Karenna)
Love duet Madame Butterfly Puccini The geisha Butterfly has fallen in love with Lieutenant Pinkerton, even renouncing her religious faith, never thinking that he would, as eventually happens, forsake her. (Louise, James)
The spinning wheel quartet Martha von Flotow The farmer, Plunkett, finds his new maids, Martha and Nancy - really Lady Harriet and her friend in disguise - have no idea how to spin, and sets about teaching them, aided by his brother Lionel. (Ron, Chris, Emily, Kate)
Champagne chorus Die Fledermaus Strauss At a masked ball, Adele and Eisenstein sing the praises of good wine and fun as a life strategy, roundly endorsed by everyone. (Emily, Jim, Chorus)
Va pensiero… (Chorus of the Hebrew Slaves) Nabucco Verdi The Israelites- enslaved in Babylon- long for their fatherland. At the time, this chorus captured the nation’s hope for Italian reunification and independence, becoming almost a national anthem. (Chorus)
Sola, sola in bujo loco… Mille torbidi pensieri Don Giovanni Mozart In a dark room Donna Elvira searches for her husband, believing him to be the Don of the title, but it is actually his henchman, Leporello, trying to escape. Don Ottavio and Donna Anna enter, seeking revenge for the Don’s betrayal of them, followed by village girl Zerlina and her betrothed Masetto, likewise intent on killing him, while Elvira pleads for mercy and Leporello wonders if he will ever get out alive. (Louise, Emily, Karenna, Chris, Ron, Jim)
Mon coeur s’ouvre a ta voix Samson et Dalila Saint-Saëns
Dalilah is sent to discover the secret strength of the captured Samson, but this famous aria/duet ‘softly awakes my heart’ reveals an intense passion growing between them which leaves Samson powerless in her hands. (Kate, Chris)
Au fond du temple saint Les Pêcheurs de Perles Bizet 'The Pearl Fishers' is set in Ceylon, and the two fishermen, Nadir and Zurga, recall their rivalry for the hand of the beautiful priestess Leila, but agree that they should remain friends. (James, Jim)
O help me…! Back, loathly worm… Magic Flute Mozart Prince Tamino is threatened by a monster and calls for help. The three ladies - minions of the Queen of the Night - appear. They see off the monster but then cannot agree which should be left alone in charge of this handsome youth. (Chris, Louise, Naomi, Kate)
Qui chiamata m’avete? La Gioconda Ponchielli Laura is summoned to her husband, Alvise, who accuses her of being unfaithful to him. She protests, but he is adamant, and plans to make her drink poison. (Karenna, Ron)
O namenlose Freude Fidelio Beethoven Florestan and Leonora have come through the trials, of her daring recue of him from prison, and can finally reaffirm their love. (Emily, Chris) Habanera Carmen Bizet As the cigarette girls leave the factory, the gypsy Carmen tells her admirers to beware, love is free and obeys no rules, indeed if you try to run away it captures you; setting the scene for the opera’s tragic ending. (Kate, Chorus)
Addio, senza rancor La Bohème Puccini Knowing she is dying Mimi tries to say goodbye to Rodolfo, but they decide that love will keep them together until spring. Meanwhile, Musetta’s constant flirting causes a rift between her and Marcello. (Louise, James, Ron, Emily) Certo io….La ci darem la mano Don Giovanni Mozart The philandering Don seduces the innocent village maiden Zerlina, enticing her to steal away with him, despite her forthcoming marriage to Masetto. (Jim, Kate)
Chi mi frena Lucia di Lammermoor Donizetti Edgardo, Lucia’s love, returns from abroad, but Enrico, her brother, has told her Edgardo married another and forced her to marry Arturo. With the kindly chaplain Raimondo and the maid Alisa all sing of their various emotions at the situation. (James, Jim, Louise, Ron, Ann, Chris)
Brindisi La Traviata Verdi Alfredo extols the virtue of revelling in the pleasure of good times and toasts happiness, and is joined by Violetta and everyone at the party. (James, Emily, Chorus)
Un di, se ben rammentomi…. Rigoletto Verdi The lecherous Duke is overheard by Gilda as he seduces an unwitting but amused Maddalena. Her father Rigoletto, the jester, tries to console his distraught daughter, who thought she had the duke’s true love (despite his betrayal). (Chris, Karenna, Louise, Jim)
Come ti piace imponi La Clemenza di Tito Mozart Roman nobleman Sesto (sung by man or woman) is persuaded by Vitellia - jealous that Emperor Tito does not choose her as empress - to assassinate Tito. Through misguided and unrequited love for Vitellia, Sesto reluctantly agrees. & Vengo, aspettate Vitellia then receives news from Roman guard Publio and suddenly realizes that not only does Emperor Tito intend her as his desired empress, but she is too late to stop Sesto; with her ravings mistaken by Publio and friend Annio as euphoric delight. (Kate, Emily, Naomi, Jim)
O Mimi, tu più non torni La Bohème Puccini Rudolfo and Marcello reflect on their loves, who seem to have deserted them. (James, Ron)
Voi lo sapete, Mamma Cavelleria Rusticana Mascagni The peasant girl, Santuzza, laments to Mamma Lucia that the old lady’s son, Turridu, has now abandoned her, after courting her, and that she will now be damned. (Karenna)
Love duet Madame Butterfly Puccini The geisha Butterfly has fallen in love with Lieutenant Pinkerton, even renouncing her religious faith, never thinking that he would, as eventually happens, forsake her. (Louise, James)
The spinning wheel quartet Martha von Flotow The farmer, Plunkett, finds his new maids, Martha and Nancy - really Lady Harriet and her friend in disguise - have no idea how to spin, and sets about teaching them, aided by his brother Lionel. (Ron, Chris, Emily, Kate)
Champagne chorus Die Fledermaus Strauss At a masked ball, Adele and Eisenstein sing the praises of good wine and fun as a life strategy, roundly endorsed by everyone. (Emily, Jim, Chorus)
