The Bear by  William Walton and Angélique by Jacques Ibert

10 – 20 March 2010 (7 performances, 1 preview)

Arts Centre, Playhouse

This dynamic duo of a black comedy and a French farce will be on stage for eight performances including a preview at the Playhouse, Arts Centre, from Tuesday, March 10.

These two exquisite comic operas feature two dramatic and intense women, performed by Jessica Aszodi as Popova in The Bear, and Theresa Borg as the title role in Angélique.

William Walton’s The Bear (based on Anton Chekhov’s play), is an ‘Extravaganza in One Act’. This caricature of love and promiscuity is performed by only three singers, the widow Popova, her servant Luka sung by Andrew Collis and Smirnov, a creditor of the late husband, performed by the renowned tenor John Bolton Wood AM.

Followed by Jacques Ibert’s comical tale about the trials of marriage, where Angélique drives all men mad… the much loved Samuel Dundas returns to Victorian Opera to sing Angelique’s husband Boniface, and is joined by Pelham Andrews, Paul Biencourt, Jacob Caine, Gary Rowley and Benjamin Namdarian.

Victorian Opera welcomes Ollivier-Philipe Cuneo as the conductor of the double bill, and the return of the 2009 Rembrandt’s Wife team, director Talya Masel and set designer Adam Gardnir.

‘What I like about Victorian Opera is I get to see stuff they do which is really unusual. It’s a bit quirky and a bit whacky but beats the tired old war horses we see time and time again.’ A subscriber from Richmond in a letter to Richard Gill.

SEASON DETAILS:

The Bear              Angélique

10 – 20 March 2010

Arts Centre, Playhouse

Preview            10 March at 7:30pm

Season            11, 13, 17, 19 & 20 March at 7:30pm,

14 March at 5.00pm, 16 March at 6:30pm

Running time:  2 hours and 15 mins, including one 20 min interval

Sung in English with surtitles

Single Tickets:  $30 - $148 plus b/f

Bookings:          www.theartscentre.com.au or 1300 182 183

Conductor Ollivier-Philippe Cuneo

Director   Talya Masel

Set Designer Adam Gardnir

Costume Designer Harriet Oxley

Lighting Designer Toby Sewell

Discover The Bear / Angélique Sunday 28 February 2010, 3pm