Xerxes

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Event Xerxes
Venue The Civic, Auckland, New Zealand
Umbrella Event Auckland Arts Festival 2011
First Date 2 March 2011
Opening Date 2 March 2011
Last Date 6 March 2011
Dates Estimated No
Status Professional
World Premiere No
Description Handel's most popular opera, Xerxes is funny, poignant, and fast-moving with timeless themes of love, rivalry, courage, and loyalty. Handel's most popular opera, Xerxes is praised for its beautiful melodies and admired for its innovative blend of comedy and tragedy. Including one of opera's most beautiful and recognisable arias, the famous Largo, Xerxes demonstrates why Handel is considered one of the truly great opera composers of all time. Xerxes will be the first professional, fully-staged Handel opera to be presented to New Zealand audiences. Funny, poignant, and fast-moving, with timeless themes of love, rivalry, and vice being overcome by courage and loyalty, Xerxes resonates with contemporary audiences around the world. Led by Germany's Wolfgang Katschner, the exquisite period ensemble Lautten Compagney brings an assured authenticity to Handel's early music sound. Performing with this award-winning orchestra is a stellar cast including Tobias Cole (countertenor) singing the part of Xerxes and Tiffany Speight (soprano) in the role of Romilda. Roger Hodgman is directing, with John Verryt behind the set design. Glamour and opulence are prerequisites to capturing the true essence of a Handel opera and the cast will be stepping out in fabulous costumes designed by fashion icon Trelise Cooper. Presented by The NBR New Zealand Opera in association with Auckland Arts Festival. A Co-production with Victorian Opera.
Description Source Website
Primary Genre Music Theatre
Secondary Genre Comedy
Opera
Theatre
Tragedy
Related Events
Organisations
Contributors
Name Function Notes
Wolfgang Katschner Conductor
Trelise Cooper Costume Designer
Roger Hodgman Director
John Verryt Set Designer
Tiffany Speight Singer: Soprano Romilda
Tobias Cole Singer: Tenor Xerxes
Works
Text Nationality Germany
Production Nationality New Zealand
Event Status Completed
Data Source
Source Description
Web http://2011.aaf.co.nz/events/xerxes.aspx.html
Library Collection Auckland Arts Festival 2011 website - archived by the National Library via https://ndhadeliver.natlib.govt.nz/webarchive/wayback/20110323070046/http://www.aucklandfestival.co.nz/
Data Set AusStage
Event Identifier 157497