James Rutherford

Les naufrageurs is a French-language opera in three acts composed by Dame Ethel Smyth to a libretto by Henry Brewster, telling of the plundering of ships by Cornish villagers. Completed in 1904, it was premiered in 1906 in Leipzig in a German translation, with cuts, before being championed by Sir Thomas Beecham and given performances in 1909 in London, now in an English translation as The Wreckers

It is love at first sight when the knight Walther von Stolzing first meets the goldsmith’s daughter, Eva. But tradition trumps love in 19th-century Nuremberg. Her father has decreed there’s only one way to win Eva’s hand in marriage, and that’s to join Nuremberg’s guild of competitive singers—and beat them all in song.

Rigoletto, court jester to the libertine Duke of Mantua, is cursed by the father of one of the Duke’s victims for his irreverent laughter. When the Duke seduces Rigoletto’s daughter Gilda, it seems the curse is taking effect… Rigoletto arranges to have the Duke assassinated. But Gilda still loves the womanizing Duke and sacrifices herself in his place. Rigoletto eagerly uncovers the corpse only to find instead his fatally wounded daughter, who dies in his arms.

An ill tailor is trying to finish a coat for a wealthy man. He is hindered by his cat and helped by some grateful mice.

With this production of La Traviata, director Peter Konwitschny achieved a resounding success and Marlis Petersen made a sensational debut in the title role. The first ever production of La Traviata by Peter Konwitschny of Graz Opera is a highly-focused, intelligent reading of the music that was widely acclaimed by audiences. With a reduced stage set and daring cuts in the score, the production concentrates on the tragic story of the courtesan Violetta. Soprano Marlis Petersen (2010 „Singer of the Year“ in Germany) is superb in the title role.