‘Rita’, or ‘Deux Hommes et Une Femme’, a funny domestic comedy, has delighted audiences since its premiere.
Never performed in Donizetti’s lifetime, it premiered posthumously at the Opéra-Comique in Paris on 7 May 1860, 12 years after his death.
It will be presented in a new English language translation and new orchestration for chamber ensemble by Alejandro Bonatto, who will also be directing the production.
It is a strictly limited engagement just 10 performances from 7 - 20 August, 2022.
Cast: Laura Lolita Perešivana as Rita, Brenton Spiteri as Beppe, Phil Wilcox as Gasparo.
Director Alejandro Bonatto
Conductor Mark Austin
Production Designer Nicolai Hart-Hansen
Lighting Designer Rob Halliday
ALEJANDRO BONATTO (Director)
Alejandro was born in Argentina, where he studied music and opera direction. In 2004 he graduated with the “Best student performance” honour at the National Opera House School, Teatro Colon. Later, he completed his MA in Electroacoustic Composition in London. Since 2006, Mr. Bonatto has collaborated with many opera directors, film directors and choreographers. He was Associate Director for Sir Graham Vick from 2007 to 2011. His opera, La Casa de Max, won the TRINAC composition contest in 2017 and was staged in Berlin later in 2022. Mr. Bonatto was also winner of the ‘Opera de Camara del Teatro Colon’ competition in 2008 and won first prize at the Music Composition, Improvisation and Digital Arts Festival “IDAF” in 2013.
MARK AUSTIN (Conductor)
Mark Austin is energised by an extraordinary versatility as conductor, pianist and scholar. Displaying a rare breadth of activity, he performs at the highest level across operatic, orchestral and choral repertoire. He is passionate about music education and believes all children should be supported to learn an instrument and sing. He has worked with orchestras including Aurora, Britten Sinfonia, Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, and the Orchestre de chambre de Paris, and with opera companies including Royal Opera, Garsington, The Grange Festival, Folkoperan (Stockholm) and Opéra national de Paris. He is Artistic Director of Faust Chamber Orchestra. Recent highlights include his debut at Royal Opera House Linbury Theatre, and the final of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra Solti Conducting Competition. In 2019 he was elected an Associate of the Royal Academy of Music. He recently recorded an album of English song with mezzo-soprano Anna Harvey which will be released in June 2022. Mark is currently writing a chapter on Goethe and the Musical World for Cambridge University Press.
LAURA LOLITA PEREŠIVANA (Rita)
Laura is a Latvian soprano who started her operatic journey when she was only 19 years old, covering Lauretta (Gianni Schicchi) at the Latvian National Opera House. Recently Laura performed with the English National Opera Orchestra and was praised for her “star quality combined with a sumptuous, penetrating soprano suggest she is ready for any role a big house might throw at her”. (Opera Magazine). Miss Perešivana has participated in many competitions, receiving awards including the Second Prize at the Kathleen Ferrier Awards (2021), the 54th Tenor Vinas International Singing Contest Extraordinary prize, as well as the Musicians’ Company Award, and was selected as a 2021 City Music Foundation Artist. Laura Lolita is Georg Solti Accademia di Bel Canto alumna and has worked with conductor Richard Bonynge. Laura is a Young Artist at the National Opera Studio and a recent graduate of Guildhall School of Music & Drama Opera Course.
BRENTON SPITERI (Beppe)
Brenton is an Austalian-Maltese tenor and 2021 Guildhall Opera graduate. Recent appearances include Alberto (L’occasione fa il ladro) British Youth Opera, Narciso (Il turco in Italia) Longhope Opera, and Beppe (Rita) Guildhall Opera. Previous engagements include Trac (Le Roi Carotte), Soldato/Mercurio (The Coronation of Poppea) Opéra de Lyon; and Tenor Soloist in Schnittke’s Faust Cantata at the Barbican; also Tamino (The Magic Flute), Count Almaviva (The Barber of Seville), Rinuccio (Gianni Schicchi), Telemaco (The Return of Ulysees), Ernesto (Don
Pasquale). He won first prize in the Herald Sun Aria and was runner-up in the Mietta Song Competition.
PHIL WILCOX (Gasparo)
Phil is a portfolio career artist, a uniquely versatile musician who enjoys the many opportunities of a diverse musical life. He appears regularly as a concert soloist, opera singer, and professional chorister throughout the UK. Phil directs a number of choirs and is the Learning and Participation Manager for Leeds Lieder. He is a graduate of Leeds College of Music and a Licentiate of the Royal Academy of Music. Phil’s recent roles include Father (Hansel and Gretel) for Waterperry Opera Festival in a production which fully integrated British Sign Language and saw Phil accompany himself on the piano accordion; Alcindoro (La Bohème) for English Touring Opera; Prince Vyazemsky (Ivan the Terrible) for Grange Park Opera; Basilio (Barbiere di Siviglia); and Major General Stanley (Pirates of Penzance) for productions in both the UK and Saudi Arabia. He has sung for the Royal Shakespeare Company in London and New York; Opera North; Opera Holland Park Inspire; Tête à Tête; Buxton International Festival; Northern Opera Group.
For more details please visit www.philwilcox.com.
Charing Cross Theatre Productions
present
‘Rita’, or ‘Deux Hommes et Une Femme’
composed by Gaetano Donizetti with
libretto by Gusetave Vaëz
in a new English language translation and new orchestration for chamber ensemble by
Alejandro Bonatto, who also directs
Charing Cross Theatre
The Arches
Villiers Street
London WC2N 6NL
www.charingcrosstheatre.co.uk
Box office: 08444 930650
Press Night: Tuesday 9 August at 7.30pm
Performances:
7 – 20 August 2022
(10 performances)
Sunday 7 August, 19:30
Tuesday 9 August, 19:30
Wednesday 10 August, 19:30
Friday 12 August, 19:30
Saturday 13 August, 19:30
Sunday 14 August, 19:30
Thursday 18 August, 19:30
Friday 19 August, 19:30
Saturday 20 August, 14:30
Saturday 20 August, 19:30
Tickets: £39.50
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orders; no booking fee to personal callers
The box office is open from 2 hours before curtain time on performance days for personal callers
