Raymond Gubbay and the Royal Albert Hall present La Bohème
18 September, 2013
• Puccini’s tragic love story revived at the Royal Albert Hall for just 14 performances (27 Feb – 9 Mar 2014)
• Set in wartime Paris and staged fully in-the-round
• Directed by Francesca Zambello and sung in Italian
LA BOHÈME, Giacomo Puccini’s masterpiece of doomed love and tragic passion will play fourteen performances at the Royal Albert Hall, beginning on 27 February 2014. Francesca Zambello will direct, reviving her hugely successful 2004 production.
In a first for this production, the opera will be sung in Italian with English surtitles. The cast will be accompanied by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Oliver Gooch.
The role of the tragic seamstress Mimi will be shared by Jessica Rose Cambio, Alyson Cambridge and Danielle Pastin, opposite Sean Pannikar, Rame Lahaj and James Edwards, respectively, in the role of the poet Rodolfo. Anna Leese and Zulimar López-Hernández will play Musetta, with Michael Chioldi and ZhengZhong Zhou as Marcello. The role of Schaunard will be played by Stefano de Peppo. Joshua Bloom will play the philosopher Colline.
No opera can equal the captivating romance and heartfelt tragedy of Puccini's La Bohème. With its real characters and powerful emotion, this story of doomed love gave Puccini full rein to unleash his most glorious music. From the rapturous grand-scale celebrations of café Momus to the tender intimacy of the artists’ garret, you will be drawn into the unfolding action where passion and spectacle mix with despair and ultimate tragedy.
Staged fully in-the-round, this production transforms the iconic Royal Albert Hall into 1940s Paris. The vibrant café society, the bitter cold of the police checkpoint and the harsh reality of the student’s stark surroundings, all beautifully depicted and brought to life in every detail by an award-winning creative team and a cast of internationally acclaimed performers.
Including some of Puccini’s most beautiful arias, such as Che gelida manina, Si, Mi chiamano Mimi and O soave fanciulla, La Bohème has long been one of his most popular, and most performed, works.
Director Francesca Zambello is an internationally recognised director of opera and theatre. She debuted in America at the Houston Grand Opera with a production of Fidelio in 1984 and in Europe at La Fenice with Beatrice di Tenda in 1987, and has since staged new productions at major theatres and opera houses across Europe and the USA. Collaborating with outstanding artists and designers and promoting emerging talent, she takes a special interest in new music theatre works, innovative productions, and in producing theatre and opera for wider audiences. Recent credits include the first international production of Carmen to ever be presented at the National Centre for the Performing Arts in Beijing, the world premiere of An American Tragedy, Cyrano and Les Troyens for the Metropolitan Opera, Carmen and Don Giovanni at the Royal Opera House, Boris Godunov, War and Peace, Billy Budd and William Tell at the Paris Opera, and The Ring for the San Francisco Opera.
-ENDS-
Press night will be held on Thursday 27 February 2014 at 7.30pm
For further information please contact Stephen Pidcock at The Corner Shop PR on 020 7831 7657 or email stephen@thecornershoppr.com.
LISTINGS:
LA BOHÈME
By Giacomo Puccini
Royal Albert Hall, Kensington Gore, London SW7 2AP
Thursday 27 February – Sunday 9 March 2013
Francesca Zambello director
Oliver Gooch musical director
Peter J. Davison set design
Sue Wilmington costume design
Arthur Pita choreographer
Andrew Bridge lighting design
Bobby Aitken sound design
La Bohème will be sung in Italian with English surtitles
Box Office
Phone 020 7838 3100
Online www.royalalberthall.com
Booking fees apply except to personal visitors at the Box Office.
Tickets from £23.93 - These prices include a transaction fee of 2% of the total booking and a £2 per ticket fee when booked over the phone or online.
Group rates for 10+ are also available on Tuesday – Thursday performances, please contact the Box Office for details
Mid-week matinee – Thursday 6 March
Concessions available for Senior Citizens, Children (U16), Unwaged – 1/3rd off all ticket prices (subject to availability)
Fine dining packages are also available through the Box Office.
For corporate hospitality, please contact 020 7959 0609 or entertain@royalalberthall.com
Performance schedule:
Thursday 27 February, 7.30pm
Friday 28 February, 7.30pm
Saturday 1 March, 2.30pm & 7.30pm
Sunday 2 March, 2.30pm
Tuesday 4 March, 7.30pm
Wednesday 5 March, 7.30pm
Thursday 6 March, 2.30pm & 7.30pm
Friday 7 March, 7.30pm
Saturday 8 March, 2.30pm & 7.30pm
Sunday 9 March, 2.30pm & 7.30pm
NOTES TO EDITORS:
Royal Albert Hall
The Royal Albert Hall is the world’s most famous stage. Its breathtaking auditorium hosts over 375 shows a year by the world’s greatest artists. The magical atmosphere combined with inspired artists creates legendary events.
Opened in 1871 as part of Prince Albert’s vision for a centre for the Arts and Sciences, the Hall is a registered charity which operates without public funding, remaining true to his founding ambitions within a modern context. Extending the brand with 200 events outside the auditorium, the Hall has broadened its appeal to younger, diverse audiences whilst still engaging its existing customers. The Hall offers the Elgar Room, a state of the art small-scale performance space which hosts performances of classical, jazz and world music, comedy, dance and hush, a series of gigs for newly signed bands throughout the year.
It also works extensively with schools, young people, disadvantaged groups and partners such as Music For Youth through its Education programme, reaching over 100,000 participants each year as part of its extensive public benefit remit. It has also been appointed by the Arts Council as one of the country’s regional music education hubs.
For more information, please visit www.royalalberthall.com / www.facebook.com/royalalberthall / http://life.royalalberthall.com
Registered charity number: 254543
Raymond Gubbay
Now in its 46th year, Raymond Gubbay presents a wide range of concerts, opera and ballet in major venues in London and across the country and is established as one of the leading promoters of popular classical music in the United Kingdom. Following on from our previous co-productions, we are delighted to be presenting La Bohème at the Royal Albert Hall.
www.raymondgubbay.co.uk / www.facebook.com/raymondgubbayltd