PRESSRELEASE

16/01/2012

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

The RNCM presents Handel’s Xerxes

March 22, 27, 29 & 31 at 7pm and March 25 at 3pm

RNCM Theatre

Tickets: £19-£34

Box office: 0161 907 5555

Xerxes, a tale of misunderstandings, double bluff and cross-dressing is the chosen opera at the Royal Northern College of Music (RNCM) this spring.

Sung in Italian with English surtitles, Xerxes (or Serse in the original Italian) finds Handel playing with the conventions of Baroque opera in ways that manage to be heartfelt and parodic at once. There are dramatic absurdities – the opening aria, the famous Ombramaifu, is Xerxes’ love song to a tree – and missed signals, as well as a comic servant straight out of the loosey-goosey tradition of 17th-century Venetian opera. At the same time, Handel’s music is never less than emotionally transparent. The amorous roundelay involving the Persian king, his brother Arsamene and several love-struck women may strike the audience as faintly ridiculous, but the expressive score proceeds from the premise that it’s entirely real for those involved.

RNCM operas are renowned for the impressive credentials of the creative team and this year is no exception. Stefan Janski (RNCM Head of Opera) once again directs, joined by lighting designer Emma Chapman. And as part of a new RNCM collaboration with the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, the College is delighted to announce that this production’s stage set and costumes will be designed by RADA postgraduate student VelinEdrov. The RNCM Opera Orchestra will be conducted by Roger Hamilton, who will be assisted by Carlos del Cueto, a current Junior Fellow in Conducting at the RNCM.

Two large-scale operas are performed to great acclaim at the RNCM each year, enhancing its position as one of the North West’s most prolific performance venues. Last year, students presented Samuel Barber’s Vanessa and Benjamin Britten’s Albert Herring, both of which received 4* reviews in The Times. Xerxes aims to maintain the RNCM’s reputation for presenting excellent operas of the highest quality.

For more information or to request images and interviews contact Liz Rowley, PR and Media Relations Officer on 0161 907 5369 or email

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Notes to Editors:

Listings information:

  • Xerxes will be conducted from the harpsichord, on a tiered stage, by Roger Hamilton.
  • Xerxes will be staged at the Royal Northern College of Music, Manchester, on Thursday 22, Sunday 25 (3pm performance only), Tuesday 27, Thursday 29 and Saturday 31 March 2012 at 7pm.
  • Tickets, priced between £19 and £32 are now on sale. Call the box office on 0161 907 5555 or visit

Xerxes Cast:

Role

/ Performances
Thursday 22 March: 7pm
Tuesday 27 March: 7pm
Saturday 31 March: 7pm / Performances
Sunday 25 March: 3pm
Thursday 29 March: 7pm
Xerxes / Heather Ireson / Hanna-Liisa Kirchin
Arsamene / Helen Gregory / Sophie Goldrick
Elviro / Timothy Allan / Jonathan Alley
Romilda / Gabriella Cassidy / Aimee Toshney
Atalanta / Elizabeth Karani / Eleanor Garside
Amastre / Alexandra Wynn / Lucilla Graham
Ariodate / Laurence Kirkby / Stefan Berkieta

About the RNCM:

  • In addition to being one of the UK’s top conservatoires, the RNCM is recognised as one of the North West’s leading performing venues offering a large Concert Hall and Theatre, a smaller Studio Theatre and the newly-refurbished Carole Nash Recital Room.
  • Throughout the year the College is host to over 400 concerts and events ranging from classical music to world music and jazz. It is both a platform for RNCM students to develop their incredible talent, and a stage for world-class performers.
  • The RNCM has a specifically designed competitive professionally equipped Opera Theatre and enjoys a national/international reputation for its Opera productions. The College has, against stiff competition from professional opera companies such as Opera North and Glyndebourne, been awarded numerous nominations and won five prestigious Manchester Evening News Awards for Opera.
  • Alumni of current artists working in International Opera houses include: soprano Amanda Roocroft; mezzo-soprano Christine Rice; tenor Barry Banks; baritone Simon Keenlyside; and bass Sir John Tomlinson.
  • To date, some of the biggest names in popular music have also appeared at the RNCM, including Adele and Jarvis Cocker.