Gala Celebration
Nicki Calcutt - Friday 23rd May
We hope you enjoy this selection of some of Nicki's favourite opera pieces.
Anna Gregg
Soprano
Bronwen Stephens-Harding
Mezzo-Soprano
David Powton
Tenor
Nick Dwyer
Baritone
Guy Murgatroyd
Pianist
We'll introduce each piece (sung in the original language), but if you'd like to know more, please click on the cards below for translations and information about the music.
First Half
Placido e il mar
Placido è il mar
The sea is calm
The Cretans invoke calm seas for the voyage of Electra and Idamantes. Electra hopes the gentle breezes will bring her love.
Madamina
Madamina
Catalogue Aria
Leporello reveals to Donna Elvira the catalogue of Don Giovanni’s numerous conquests.
Dopo notte atra e funesta
Dopo notte atra e funesta
After a dark and fateful night
Ariodante looks forward to a bright future after a tormented time mistakenly believing his beloved had betrayed him.
Per le Porte del tormento
Per le porte del tormento
Through the gates of torment
After the turmoil of battle and the fear of being separated forever, Sosarme and Elmira welcome the joy they will share.
In fernem Land
In fernem Land
In a distant land
Lohengrin sings of the Grail and its wondrous powers and reveals himself as a Knight of the Grail.
Pilgrims’ Chorus
Pilgrims’ Chorus
A group of pilgrims returns from Rome, praising the miracle they have seen.
Dio, che nell’alma infondere
Dio, che nell’alma infondere
God who wished to fill our souls…
Don Carlo, son of the King of Spain, demands freedom for the people of Flanders. His father denies this and orders his arrest, but Rodrigo defends his friend.
La ci darem
La ci darem la mano
There I’ll give you my hand
Don Giovanni charms Zerlina with his seductive promises of a shared future.
Mir ist die Ehre widerfahren
Mir ist die Ehre widerfahren
I have been given the honour
Octavian presents a perfumed silver rose to Sophie von Faninal, on behalf of Baron Ochs, as a token of the Baron’s marriage proposal.
Second Half
Mir ist so wunderbar
Mir ist so wunderbar
I feel so wonderful
A beautiful quartet giving very different perspectives on the scene unfolding: joy, trepidation, hope, dejection.
As with Rosy Steps the Morn
As with Rosy Steps the Morn
Faced with persecution by the Romans in 4th century Antioch, Irene rallies the endangered Christian community by affirming the hope her faith gives her.
Parigi o cara
Parigi o cara
We shall leave Paris
Alfredo and Violetta dream of a life together away from Paris, to restore Violetta to health.
Lascia ch’io pianga
Lascia ch’io pianga
Let me lament
Almirena, abducted a by sorceress, laments her fate. Separated from her lover, Rinaldo, she prays for mercy and release from her torment.
O du mein holder Abendstern
O! du mein holder Abendstern
O you, my lovely evening star
Wolfram, in love with Elisabeth, asks the evening star to guide her soul to paradise.
Cinque, dieci, venti, trenta
Cinque, dieci, venti, trenta
Five, ten, twenty, thirty
Figaro is measuring the dimensions of their bedroom while Susanna is admiring the hat she has made for their wedding, which will take place later that day.
Flower Duet
Sous le dôme épais
Under the wide canopy
This instantly recognisable duet, sung by Lakmé and her maidservant Mallika, evokes the beauty and serenity of nature.
Lensky’s Aria
Kuda kuda vi udalilis
Where, where have you gone …
Lensky meditates on his love for Olga and the prospect of death in his upcoming duel with Onegin.
Soave sia il vento
Soave sia il vento
Gentle be the breeze
Two sisters, Fiordiligi and Dorabella, are led to believe by Don Alfonso that their fiancés have been called up to fight. The trio pray that the wind will be gentle on their journey to battle.
