Opera Events' forthcoming double bill at the Wentworth Falls School of Arts is an exciting combination of two very different short operas, both based on the themes of love and jealousy, the first of them never before performed in the Mountains.
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Opening the program will be the charming 18th century La Serva Padrona (The Maid Turned Mistress) by Giovanni Pergolesi. This supremely tuneful comedy centres on the attempts of the maid Serpina (sung by Lyndall
Rees) to persuade her reluctant master Uberto (Lindsay Watson) to marry her, thus securing her position as mistress of the household. She is aided and abetted by the inebriated servant Vespone, a non-singing role acted with uproarious humour and panache by John Manners.
The second opera will be Mascagni's much-loved Cavalleria Rusticana (Rustic Chivalry), a story of love, betrayal and vendetta played out against the pageantry of Easter celebrations in a Sicilian village. Principal singers
Pat Watson, Orazio Di Paola, Robert Horn, Kate O'Sullivan and Elizabeth Hylton will be joined by the Mountain Opera Chorus, whose rendition of the famous Easter Hymn is sure to be one of the highlights of the performance. As accompanist and musical director, we are lucky once more to have the services of well-known Sydney pianist Ingrid Sakurovs.
There will be a 2pm matinee on Sunday, March 8 and an evening performance on Saturday, March 7 at 7.30pm. For further details, ring Lyndall on 4754 3737.
