"Verdi’s fifth opera is a wheel of fire turning on themes of passionate love, fanatical honour and bloodthirsty revenge...This opera with its echoes of Trovatore is full of magnificent choruses and ensembles."
- John Slavin, The Age, 23 March 2009"Melbourne City Opera’s performance of Ernani provides an ideal opportunity for opera buffs to become familiar with this seldom performed Verdi opera... The Melbourne City Orchestra, under the direction of Erich Fackert, demonstrated a consistently fine level of playing, bringing out the wide range of Verdi’s orchestral colours making this score a real listening joy."
- Ronald McCoy, ArtsHub, 23 March 2009
 |
March 2009 ErnaniAn opera in four Acts by Giuseppe Verdi. Italian libretto by Francesco Maria Piave, based on the play Hernani by Victor Hugo BMW Edge
Friday 20 March
|
Ernani was performed as a concert production featuring:
Martha George Carmela De Losinno Ian Lowe Desmond Lukey Lucio Coceani Salvatore Granata Marco Cinque Sebastian Giacobello Caroline Bopp Paula Coster
With narrator Dr. Joseph Talia OAM
The MCO orchestra was conducted by the company’s musical director
Erich Fackert.
Women
Ludmilla Alekseenko, Vicki Bishop-Simpson, Caroline Bopp, Tania Borg, Rosemary Brown, Felicity Cartwright, Paula Coster, Esther Counsel, Geraldine Finn, Celia He, Helen Hill, Renata Mashta, Lucy Nicholson, Niamh Parkinson, Samantha Putrino, Rachael Wagstaff, Marnie Westh and Claire Wickremesooriya.
Men
Ern Arnold, Raymond Abbott, Tino Lo Bartolo, Isaac Bergman, Othon Charalambous, Sebastian Giacobello, Tony Manago, Richard Pugh, Gary Simpson and Joseph Talia
Repetiteurs
Irina Cherkasski
Sue Robinson
Violin 1
Irene Gregorian (Concert Master),
Erik Adams, Biana Goldenberg, Loretta Meagher,
Sylvia Winfield, Juliette Zeelander
Violin 2
Nicole Billimoria, Elisa Grech, Vicky Howse, Kate Jensen, Nick Waters, Ashley Wood
Viola
Matt Gough, Felicite Heine, Therese McCoppin,
Hamish Patterson
Cello
Danial Condon, Sam Goble, Josie Graham, Annette Martin
Bass
Lindy Merry, Leanda Smith
Trumpet
Robert Harry, Daniel Henderson
Trombone
David Singh
Flute
Ruth Stone, Elizabeth Hamilton
Oboe
Jenny Lowe, Dafydd Camp
Clarinet
David Laity, Loukia Gauntlett
Bass Clarinet
David Laity
Bassoon
Matthew Kneale, Miriam McGregor
French Horn
Phoebe Smithies, Alice Yang
Harp
Tara Minton
Timpani
Bruce Lancashire
Percussion
Danielle Wilkinson
Director Ann Sanciolo; Stage Manager Nikki Baker; Costumes Ella Scodellaro, Ella Melita-Pearman
Banners Sam and Pam Esposito; Props courtesy of Gilbert and Sullivan Opera Victoria