Facade/Eight Songs for a Mad King - T1963288403Do we need a little madness to set us free, or just a little freedom to be mad? Experience the madness, mayhem and mischief of the musical worlds of Walton's Fa?ade and Peter Maxwell Davis' Eight Songs for a Mad King. This unusual pairing will take you on a journey into the heart of twentieth-century musical innovation, whilst examining different states of human psychology and exploring what it means to be truly mad. Facade offers a bizarre, yet often-humorous outlook, in which the protagonists imaginatively proclaim their inner turmoil to the world, whilst Eight Songs for a Mad King exposes the perpetual torture of a life impeded by mental barriers. Conducted by Oliver Zeffman (Melos Sinfonia) and directed by Ella Marchment, with design by Linbury Prize finalist Holly Pigott, this production is not one to be missed. Recommended for all ages. Running time: approx. 1hr 30mins inclu. an interval.Presented byMelos Sinfonia. Director Ella Marchment. Conductor Oliver Zeffman. Design Holly Pigott. Design Benjamin Fox (video). | |
| 5 Sep 14 to 7 Sep 14 | Arcola, Inner London :: V1422226940 listing details L0909960742 |
Aikainen ['aikainen] = early, about time - T692451999We all know what time means, or even think that we're able to describe what time is, but we fail if we really have to explain it. "What is time?" is one of the central philosophical questions since Seneca. There is a strong connection between time and music. To recognize a melody as a melody (and not as a single tone), there has to be a reverberation in mind through time. This is where Aikainen begins: as a collection of remarks on and techniques of manipulation, in the shape of an experimental music theatre. In order to capture as many facets of time as possible, the different parts of Aikainen vary in style and language. Time is the precondition for experience and no experience is conceivable outside of time. We all have the dirty dust of time on us. We all are aikainen.Presented byArcola Theatre. Presented byExClaM!. Music Miika Hyytiainen. Director Jaakko Nousiainen. Performer Gaile Griciute (piano). Performer Turkka Inkila (flute & 3D-printed ocarina). Performer Taavi Oramo (Clarinet & 3D-printed ocarina). Performer Kari Olamaa (violin). Performer Johanna Tarkkanen (cello). Performer Frauke Aulbert. Performer Annika Fuhrmann. Performer Alicja Sowiar. | |
| 1 Sep 14 to 3 Sep 14 | Arcola, Inner London :: V1422226940 listing details L369063382 |
The Coronation of Poppea - T1246242508Ryedale Festival Opera return to Grimeborn with Monteverdi's greatest opera - an ?immorality tale' of power, lust and corruption in Imperial Rome. Nero's wife, Ottavia, is cast aside in favour of his mistress, Poppea; the philosopher Seneca is rewarded for his temperate and judicious advice by being forced to commit suicide; Poppea's former lover, Ottone, is blackmailed into an unsuccessful attempt to murder her. And, as the illicit couple gradually emerge with everything they wanted, Monteverdi draws us deeper and deeper into this gripping and disturbing world with some of the most complex and ravishingly beautiful music he ever wrote. The opera will be sung in a new translation by John Warrack. Recommended for all ages. Running time: approx. 2hrs 50minsMusic Monteverdi. Translation John Warrack. Presented byRyedale Festival. Director Nina Brazier. Musical Director Christopher Glynn. | |
| 29 Aug 14 to 30 Aug 14 | Arcola, Inner London :: V1422226940 listing details L1357353943 |
Incident/Ex Ponto - T1276444354Two new operas by emerging international composers take you on a journey from Featherston Prisoner of War Camp in World War II to a deserted apocalyptic wilderness. Gendall's opera Incident absorbs the audience into the camp on 22 February 1943 during a sit-in of 275 prisoners, who refused to work. Troiani's opera, Ex Ponto, takes the audience to Mount Etna moments before the death of Empedocle. Recommended for ages 16+. Running time: approx 85mins plus a 15min intervalMusic Chris Gendall (Incident). Music Lorenzo Troiani (Ex Ponto). Presented bySize Zero Opera. Director Matthew Monaghan. Conductor Jonathan Mann. Performer Max Welford (clarinet). Company Size Zero Opera Ensemble. Performer Christopher Diffey. Performer Richard Latham. Performer Benjamin Williamson. | |
| 25 Aug 14 to 28 Aug 14 | Arcola, Inner London :: V1422226940 listing details L0501789851 |
Werther - T2126897123This tragic tale of forbidden love tells the story of a young poet, Werther, and his beautiful muse, Charlotte. Werther quickly falls passionately in love with Charlotte before learning that she is promised to another man, Albert. Keeping her word to her dying mother she marries Albert despite her true feelings, but when Werther appears at Charlotte's home on Christmas Eve, he realises that his love is returned. Ruled by his infatuation for a woman he cannot have and questioning the purpose of life without her, Werther turns to thoughts of suicide.Presented byArcola Theatre. Author Jules Massenet. Performer Edouard Blau. Lyrics Paul Milliet. Lyrics Georges Hartmann. Director Aylin Bozok. Lighting Joshua Pharo. Costume Bora Aksu. Musical Director Philip Voldman. Performer Adam Tunnicliffe. Performer Katie Bray. Performer Lucy Knight. Performer Simon Wallfisch. Performer Thomas Faulkner. | |
| 19 Aug 14 to 23 Aug 14 | Arcola, Inner London :: V1422226940 listing details L1671093930 |
Acis and Galatea - T880077855Eboracum Baroque return to the Arcola Theatre to present Handel's pastoral "little opera" Acis and Galatea, accompanied by a small orchestra of period instruments. In this intimate space evoking a naturalistic, outdoor setting, the audience are invited to join the wedding celebrations of Acis, a shepherd, and the semi-divine nymph Galetea. Of course, love's course never runs smoothly and the couple's delight is interrupted with the arrival of the wretched giant Polyphemus, whose jealous love for Galatea causes him to 'rage' and 'burn'. Acis's fellow shepherds warn him he is unable to overcome the wrath of Polyphemus, Acis refuses and pledges his eternal love for Galatea. Polyphemus, in witnessing this tender moment, ?ies into a drunken rage, brutally beating Acis to death. The opera concludes with Galatea transforming Acis's body into a beautiful stream, thus immortalising him in nature. Recommended for all ages. Running time: approx. 1hr 35mins plus an intervalPresented byEboracum Baroque. Music Handel. Conductor Chris Parsons. Director Jennifer Bakst. Performer Hailey Willington (violin 1). Performer Ellen Bundy (violin 2). Performer Jess Tickle (viola). Performer George Pasca (cello). Performer Ellie Robertson (oboe). Performer Katie Cowling (oboe). Performer Tom Nichol (harpsichord). Performer Gareth Edmunds (Acis). Performer Naomi Sturges (Galatea). Performer Nils Greenhow (Damon). Performer Angie Hicks (Coridon). Performer Charlie Murray (Polyphemus). Company Eboracum Baroque Chorus. | |
| 20 Aug 14 to 23 Aug 14 | Arcola, Inner London :: V1422226940 listing details L097084074 |
The Medium - T01225207012Composed in 1946, The Medium is an eerie story that follows the journey of a fraudulent psychic woman. Often referred to as a musical drama, The Medium appeals to both theatre, opera and even film audiences. Recommended for all ages. Running time: approx. 60minsAuthor Gian Carlo Menotti. Director Natalie Katsou. Musical Director Maite Aguirre. Performer Julia Sitkovetsky (Monica). Performer Grainne Gillis (Madame Flora). Performer Rosie Bell (Mrs Gobineau). Performer Patrick Holt (Toby). Performer Charlie Avella (Spirit). | |
| 14 Aug 14 to 16 Aug 14 | Arcola, Inner London :: V1422226940 listing details L1779331943 |
San Domino - T1424024080Based on the reality of Mussolini's persecution of homosexuals, this is the story of men sentenced to five years confinement for degeneracy. One night in 1938, Carlo, Claudio and friends are arrested in Catania. Condemned without any trial, they arrive on San Domino: a prison island solely for gay men. For all the indignity and squalor of prison life, men previously forced to live in the shadows now have no need to hide who they are. But whatever kind of life they may be trying to build, in the background war is looming. Actor-musicians conjure up an intimate claustrophobic world, as they interweave the poignant tale of the inmates' struggles with a modern day visit to the island in 2013 by gay activists, eager to challenge homophobia and end Italy's ignorance, or denial, of its fascist past. Recommended for ages 12+ due to mild sexual content, occasional swearing and some violence. Running time is approx. 90minsPresented byTKD Prod Ltd. Author Tim Anfilogoff. Author Alan Whittaker. Director Matthew Gould. Musical Director James Cleeve. Design Jean Gray. Stage ManagerJohn Nicholl. | |
| 4 Aug 14 to 6 Aug 14 | Arcola, Inner London :: V1422226940 listing details L1307241131 |
2012: The Opera Festival - T0505653899 | |
| 21 Aug 12 to 8 Sep 12 | Arcola, Inner London :: V1422226940 listing details L0808425532 |
2011 The Opera Festival - T1497476557Curated by Mehmet Ergen. | |
| 15 Aug 11 to 27 Aug 11 | Arcola, Inner London :: V1422226940 listing details L01826033540 |
2010 - T01709471777Cocteau, Crows and Edgar Allen Poe; Britten, butchery, baritones and blood. Young tongues licking life into old lyrics. Fresh works given birth before your ears. There Must Be Feathers On The Bird... | |
| 9 Aug 10 to 22 Aug 10 | Arcola, Inner London :: V1422226940 listing details L0750862314 |
2009 - T0227656570Love, sex, death, football, goddesses, clowns, faeries and drag queens. Yes, the Arcola is off to the opera again with GRIMEBORN 2009! Twenty-six fantastic companies from all over the world will rip apart classics, show raw new work and re-arrange modern music to really get to the heart of what opera can be about. | |
| 24 Aug 09 to 5 Sep 09 | Arcola, Inner London :: V1422226940 listing details L0359842119 |
2008. An Opera Season - T01703285930Brecht/Weill, Pergolesi, The Irrepressibles, Karl Lewkowicz, Kindertoten Lieder, Kaspar Hauser, The Bacchae, The Umbrellas of Cherbourg, New York Shorts, Don't Shoot Jack... After last year's sell out success, Grimeborn returns to Arcola bigger and better than before. A festival of opera and music, from classics to premieres, from multi-media installations to a concert series with some of the best young opera singers in London - this is a festival like no other. Grimeborn will see young practitioners and established names from the UK and abroad coming together to share and develop work. | |
| 4 Aug 08 to 31 Aug 08 | Arcola, Inner London :: V1422226940 listing details L1745644264 |
Other listings | |
| 25 Jul 17 to 2 Sep 17 | Arcola, Inner London :: V1422226940 listing details L0354576249 |
| 4 Aug 15 to 29 Aug 15 | Arcola, Inner London :: V1422226940 listing details L2063104373 |
Bold new versions of classic operas. Rarely-seen and long-forgotten works. Brand new pieces from the most exciting up-and-coming composers, musicians and companies.
