Press Release
Derek Block & Blackburn International Proudly Present two
ELLEN KENT PRODUCTIONS
Puccini’s Madama Butterfly & Verdi’s La Traviata
FEATURING THE INTERNATIONALLY ACCLAIMED UKRAINAIN NATIONAL OPERA OF KHARKIV
Starring the International sopranos Rosa Lee Thomas & Elena Dee *
Listings
Puccini’s Madama Butterfly
Wed 19 & Thu 20 Oct 7.30pm
Verdi’s La Traviata
Fri 21 & Sat 22 Oct, 7.30pm
RICHMOND THEATRE
The Green, Richmond, Surrey, TW9 1QJ
Box Office: 0844 871 7651 (fees apply)
www.atgtickets.com/richmond (fees apply)
Tickets - £21 - £37
Back by overwhelming public demand, the award winning opera and ballet producer Ellen Kent, who is the biggest supplier of opera and ballet in the UK and Eire returns to Richmond with two classics operas.
Having produced her own shows for over 27 years, in 2009 Ellen decided to step down from her work as a producer with Eastern European Opera & Ballet companies and to further develop her role as an artistic director focusing on large scale productions particularly in the Arenas.
Following her ‘Farewell Tour’, Ellen joined forces with Derek Block Concert Promotions, one of the biggest International promoters in the Entertainment Industry.
Ellen quoted: ‘I am delighted to be returning with two of my favourite productions La Traviata and Madama Butterfly and even more so in light of many letters I have received asking me why I no longer tour my shows in the UK – it is also very exciting to be working with a promoter I’ve always admired since he brought the Bolshoi Ballet to the Royal Albert Hall in 1992/1993’
The result of this collaboration is the exciting prestigious national tour of the major theatres in the UK and Eire this Autumn of Puccini: Madama Butterfly & Verdi: La Traviata featuring the Ukrainian National Opera of Kharkiv – this follows the very successful visit to the UK of the Kharkiv ballet back in spring 2009.
Madama Butterfly, Puccini’s popular tale, which was used as the basis for the popular West End musical Miss Saigon. Based on a real-life incident, this heart breaking story tells of a beautiful Japanese girl, who falls in love with an American naval lieutenant, resulting in heart wrenching drama; and La Traviata – the operatic version of La Dame aux Camelias, the romantic true story about the love and life of the passionate courtesan Violetta.
These magnificent BRAND NEW productions boast beautiful sets and new costumes from the well known Russian designer Nadezhda Shvets who is also the resident designer for the Kharkiv Opera & Ballet theatre - accompanied in these shows will be the esteemed Kharkiv theatre orchestra, conducted and lead by Vitalii Kutsenko.
Ellen is directing these wonderful and traditional productions in her usual way and has invited a host of International Soloists to include the beautiful Korean soprano Elena Dee and the American-Korean soprano Rosa Lee Thomas who will be singing the roles of Cio Cio San & Violetta.
Joining the cast on stage playing Pinkerton & Alfredo will be Andriy Perfilov, whose acting was called ‘reminiscent of Orlando Bloom’ in one of the newspapers on a previous visit to the UK and is also a ladies’ favourite for both his voice and looks. Also on stage will be Ruslan Zinevych, who amongst his many accolades has sung with Pavarotti and performed in Ellen’s Operas at the Royal Albert Hall in London.
‘This is a Butterfly to cherish’ – Manchester Evening News
‘Uplifting, charming, heroic and finally tear-jerking’ – Liverpool Echo, La Traviata
Sung in Italian with English Surtitles
*Cast subject to change
6200
For further press information, to request interviews or review tickets please contact Charlotte Twining, Press Officer, on 020 8332 4521 or email
For review tickets please contact Rebecca Batten, Press & Marketing Assistant, 020 8332 4500 or email
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