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Singing for the Emperor Bregenzer Festsp

9, 11, 13, 14 June 2020, Millennium Centre, Cardiff

21, 22 July 2020, Royal Opera House, London

REVIVAL with Welsh National Opera

The Nightingale

By Igor Stravinsky, based on the story by Hans Christian Anderssen

Directed by Mark Down

The Nightingale, our first full puppet opera, directed by Artistic Director Mark Down, premiered at the the Bregenz Festival in 2014.

 

Cubist Puppets meet a bird with a beautiful voice in Blind Summit's daringly Dada-ist staging of Stravinsky's marvellous opera. Composed between 1912 and 1916 this opera literally straddles the birth of modernism. With seven singers, a 25 chorus, 11 puppeteers and a cast of life-sized puppets, Blind Summit create a visual wonderland for Hans Christian Anderssen's classic tale. 

Originally produced as part of a double bill with L'Hirondelle Inattendu at Bregenz in 2014.

Revived as part of a double bill with Bluebeard's Castle with Welsh National Opera for 2020.

TICKETS ON SALE NOW - CLICK HERE

"stunning puppetry... a great Cubist theatrical illusion."
 - Schwaebische - Original Review (in German)

"the ingenious and subtle direction of Mark Down was a success across the board, making this show a delight. The chorus stood stage left while the soloists were seated stage right. Centre stage were the puppeteers who, using puppets and a wide variety of accessories, tell the story in a simple and understated way whilst very touching and naive, and not without a sense of humour, doing perfect justice to the tale that inspired the music of Stravinsky. Only the singer playing Rossignol was among the puppeteers: Kathryn Lewek offered a magnificent performance, both theatrically and vocally, with perfectly controlled voice and nuanced singing."

 - Concerto Net - Original Review (in French)

For WNO:

CREATIVE TEAM 
Music Director - Tomas Hanus
Director - Mark Down
Set and Costume Design- Niki Turner
Puppet Design - Ruth Paton, Mark Down, Fiona Clift
Lighting Designer- Tim Mitchells

 

PUPPETEERS
TBC

SINGERS
The Nightingale - Olga Pudova
The Chef - Susan Bickley
Death - Monika-Evelin Liiv
The Fisherman - Benjamin Hulett
The Emperor
The Chamberlain - David Ireland
The Bonze

Puppet Makers
Billie Achilleos, Nick Barnes, Mark Down
Helen Foan, Jo Lakin, Ruth Paton

In Bregenz:

CREATIVE TEAM 
Music Director - Gerard Korsten
Director - Mark Down
Set and Costume Design- Claudia Raab
Puppet Design - Ruth Paton, Mark Down, Fiona Clift
Lighting Designer- Erwin Jutz
Prague Philharmonic Choir
Vorarlberg Symphony Orchestra 

PUPPETEERS
Valentin Alfery
Martin Angerbauer
Laura Caldow
Fiona Clift
Sean Garratt
Steve McCourt
Mariona Naudin
Alejandra Prieto
Eugenijus Segejevas 
Matt Short
Jake Waring

SINGERS
The Nightingale - Kathryn Lewek
The Chef - Magdalena Anna Hofmann
Death - Katrin Wundsam
The Fisherman - Rainer Trost
The Emperor - Markus Brück
The Chamberlain - Maximilian Krummen
The Bonze - Walter Fink

Puppet Makers
Billie Achilleos, Nick Barnes, Mark Down
Helen Foan, Jo Lakin, Ruth Paton

FOR MORE INFORMATION: We are seeking venue partners to revive the production.

 

Please contact: info@blindsummit.com

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