Explore culture and feel something new in January 2019 as Tchaikovsky’s The Queen of Spades and Verdi’s best-loved opera La traviata are screened at the Torch Theatre direct from the Royal Opera House this month
The Queen of Spades tells the story of Gherman (Aleksandrs Antonenko), a penniless soldier obsessed by both gambling and the beautiful Liza (Eva-Maria Westbroek). After Gherman tries to discover a winning card trick from Liza’s grandmother the Countess (Felicity Palmer), and she dies of fright, his obsession turns into madness. Stefan Herheim’s inventive production places Tchaikovsky himself at the heart of the action. The Queen of Spades features some of Tchaikovsky’s most beautiful music, with grand choruses, intimate arias and impassioned duets. Antonio Pappano conducts.
La traviata features a star cast including Royal Opera favourite Plácido Domingo. The opera tells the story of the Parisian courtesan Violetta (Ermonela Jaho) and her tragic love affair with Alfredo Germont (Charles Castronovo). Their romantic idyll in the countryside ends abruptly when Alfredo’s father Giorgio (Domingo), shocked by their scandalous liaison, persuades Violetta to leave Alfredo for the good of his family – even though he knows Violetta is seriously ill. A distraught Alfredo finally learns the truth when Violetta is on her death bed. The opera contains some of Verdi’s most inspired arias including Violetta’s ‘Sempre libera’ and ‘Addio del passato’. Antonello Manacorda makes his Royal Opera debut as conductor.
The Royal Opera’s The Queen of Spades lasts approximately three hours and 30 minutes including one interval and receive an encore screening on Sunday 27 January 2019 at 2pm. La traviata lasts 3 hours and 20 minutes including two intervals and will be broadcast live to UK cinemas and worldwide on Wednesday 30 January 2019 at 6.45pm with an encore screening on Sunday 3 February 2019 at 2pm.
The Queen of Spades will be sung in Russian and La traviata will be sung in Italian, both with English surtitles.
The Queen of Spades will be screened on Sunday, January 27, commencing at 2pm.
La Traviata will be broadcast live on Wednesday, January 30, commencing at 6.45pm
Tickets cost £19 (concessions £17) and £8.50 for a child.
For more details visit torchtheatre.co.uk or call box office 01646 695267.
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