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The Leisure and Cultural Services Department will present Giuseppe Verdi's four-act opera "Il Trovatore" in December.
An epic about war, love and vengeance, "Il Trovatore" is an opera of immense verve. Two brothers separated in infancy are brought up to be rivals. A secret is only to be revealed at the price of death.
Set in medieval Spain, it tells the story of the troubadour Manrico and his rival Count di Luna, who have loved the same woman, Leonora. Twisted fate brings these two opponents together in a duel and, eventually, the shared blood is unveiled in tragedy. With numerous heart-wrenching melodies, fiery orchestration and extravagant arias, this is Verdi's most powerful opera from his golden era.
Professionals involved in "Il Trovatore" include Lo King-man (producer and director) and Lio Kuokman (music director), together with the Hong Kong Virtuosi and the Chorus of the Opera Society of Hong Kong. The talented cast for "Il Trovatore" includes tenors Stephen Mark Brown and Luis Chapa as Manrico and sopranos Marina Costa Jackson, Jee-hye Han and Song Yuan-ming as Leonora. Other performers include mezzo-sopranos Robynne Redmon and Ann McMahon Quintero, baritones Michael Corvino and Brian Montgomery and bass Freddie Tong.
Produced by Musica Viva, "Il Trovatore" will be performed in Italian, with Chinese and English surtitles, at 7.45pm on December 11 and 12 (Friday and Saturday) and 2.45pm on December 12 and 13 (Saturday and Sunday) at the Concert Hall of Hong Kong City Hall. Tickets priced at $150, $300, $460 and $630 are now available at URBTIX (www.urbtix.hk). For telephone credit card booking, please call 2111 5999. For programme enquiries and concessionary schemes, please call 2268 7321 or visit www.lcsd.gov.hk/CE/CulturalService/Programme/en/music/program_832.html.
Conducted by Lo King-man, two talks on the opera will be held at 1.45pm on December 12 at the Exhibition Hall of Hong Kong City Hall (conducted in Cantonese) and after the performance on December 13 at the Concert Hall of Hong Kong City Hall (conducted in Cantonese and English). Admission is free.
Ends/Friday, November 6, 2015
Issued at HKT 12:12
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