The Two Widows

Archive Listings for The Two Widows

T01771466837 (EIF08) New Production. Staged performance sung in English with English supertitles. Supported by Lord and Lady Laidlaw and the Scottish Opera Syndicate. Supported by The scottish Government Edinburgh Festivals Expo Fund. Run time 2 hours 30 minutes.Corporate Sponsor ScotRail. Producer Edinburgh International Festival. Company Scottish Opera. Conductor Francesco Corti. Director Tobias Hoheisel. Director Imogen Kogge. Design Tobias Heheisel. Lighting Peter Mumford. Choreographer Kally Lloyd-Jones. Other Micaela von Marcard (dramaturg). Performer Kate Valentine (Karolina Zaleska). Performer Jane Irwin (Anezka Miletinska). Performer Nicholas Folwell (Mumlal). Performer David Pomeroy (Ladislav Podhajsky). Performer Ben Johnson (Tonik - a peasant). Performer Rebecca Ryan (Lidka - a maid).
10 Oct 08 to 17 Oct 08	Theatre Royal, Glasgow :: V623 listing details L01628764798
9 Aug 08 to 12 Aug 08	Festival Theatre, Edinburgh :: V600 listing details L346534546
T0704515015 (GATE99) Performed in English. For the first time performed in its original dialogue version, Smetana's charming comedy is an ideal introduction to the world of opera.Director Graham Vick. Director Christopher Willis (music). Company City of Birmingham Touring Opera. Design Jon Morrell. Choreographer Ron Howell. Lighting Simon Mills. Performer Kate Flowers (Karolina). Performer Beverley Mills (Anezka). Performer Adrian Martin (Ladislav). Performer Michael Druiett. Music Christopher Willis (Arrangement for Piano Quintet). Translation Leonard Hancock (Singing). Translation David Pountney (Singing). Translation Graham Vick.
6 Nov 99	Assembly Hall Theatre, Tunbridge Wells :: V690 listing details L607286496
4 Nov 99	Medina Theatre, Newport :: V01504973828 listing details L0605496645
2 Nov 99	General, General :: V1266 listing details L01565809694
28 Oct 99	Queen's Hall Arts Centre, Hexham :: V984 listing details L1985468677
25 Oct 99	The Customs House, South Shields :: V575 listing details L01476122778
23 Oct 99	Stafford Gatehouse Theatre, Stafford :: V120 listing details L0927342568
21 Oct 99	The Auditorium, Grimsby :: V938 listing details L1158235028
19 Oct 99	General, General :: V1398193254 listing details L1154525375
T01346122311 (EVERY99) Sung in English
29 May 99	Everyman Theatre, Cheltenham :: V90 listing details L0259925697
T1308209796 (CB99) Company City of Birmingham Touring Opera.
11 May 99	Brighton Dome, Brighton :: V655 listing details L1721478678
1 May 99	Music Hall, Shrewsbury :: V106 listing details L585620844

Details

Opera or Operetta :: The Two Widows is brimming with musical wit in some of the most charming, life-affirming music Smetana ever wrote. He reveals a deep understanding of human foibles in this gentle and fun tale of Czech country life in the late 19th century. Two young widows, living a quiet country life, have sharply contrasting attitudes to life: Karolina lives for the future, enjoys life and love and runs her estate with great independence; Anezka is in denial of her true feelings, wishes to remain faithful to her husband and buries herself in the past. When a handsome stranger appears, Karolina guesses his reasons and instigates a mischievous game of love and jealousy. The opera is based on a French farce by Jean Pierre Félicien Mallefille which Smetana transposed to the world of the Czech landed gentry. He set out to write an opera in ‘the distinguished salon style' to show that the Czech repertoire could contain more than folksy or high-toned patriotic pieces. This is a delicate comedy, gentle, warm-hearted and melodic.

Music