"...this version of a rarely performed work yields fine accomplishments throughout its length."
"As Fidelio/Leonora, Suzanne Ribet produced another fine performance. She took to the taxing Abscheulicher! solo with gusto, notably in the concluding Ich folg dem inner Triebe, and swept through the final scenes without faltering."
- Clive O'Connell, Reviewer, The Age, 9 July 2008
"Melbourne City Opera’s new production is an ebullient and joyful staging of the work, a piece of
lusty music-making that should please fans of German opera and/or the great composer."
- Sybil Nolan, Reviewer, Herald Sun, 9 July 2008
 |
July 2008 FidelioAn opera in two acts by Ludwig van Beethoven. German libretto by Joseph Sonnleithner from the French libretto by Jean-Nicolas Bouilly. Melba Hall
Monday July 7
|
Florestan is dying in a state prison. He is the innocent victim of his political enemy, Governor Pizarro. His wife Leonore believes he is still alive and, disguised as Fidelio, works for Rocco the jailer. Displaying heroic courage, Leonore finds her way to Florestan’s cell. Risking her life, she stands up to Governor Pizarro, frees her husband and the entire prison. [click here for Synopsis]
Fidelio was performed as a concert production featuring:
Suzanne Ribet Gary Rowley Ian Lowe Paula Coster Jerzy Kozlowski Sam Granata Marco Cinque
With narrator Michael Strong
The MCO orchestra was conducted by the company’s musical director
Erich Fackert.
Women
Ludmilla Alekseenko, Vicki Bishop-Simpson, Caroline Bopp, Pat Carney, Paula Coster, Melodee Faulkner , Geraldine Finn, Martha George, Helen Hill, Janelle Hopman, Irma Kuzminsky, Renata Mashta, Lucy Nicolson, Kylie Payman, Genevieve Phillips, Rosemary Rowe, Suzanne Shaw, Judith Sporton, Katerina Stathis, Felicity Thompson, Marie France-Urruty, Rachael Wagstaff, Marnie Westh and Claire Wickremesooriya
Men
Raymond Abbott, Isaac Bergman, Giuseppe Corizzo, Tino Lo Bartolo, Richard Fisher, Sebastian Giacobello, Cohn Gudgeon, Adam Kaczanowski, Tony Manago, John Overberg, Richard Pugh, Gary Simpson, Giovanni Salamanca, Allan Sendra, Michael Strong and Yannis Triandafillou
Repetiteurs
Irena Cherkassy, Sue Robinson
Violin 1
Irene Gregorian(Concert Master),
Juliette Zeelander, Biana Goldenberg,
Erik Adams, Sylvia Winfield, Loretta Meagher
Violin 2
Robert Mack*, Kate Jensen, Nick Waters,
Vicky House, David Wasserman
Viola
John North*, David Chan, Felicite Heine,
Hamish Patterson
Cello
Megan Smithies*, Margot Bremner,
Katrina Puggioni
Bass
Stuart Bradley*, Lindy Merry
Trumpet
Chris Eury*, Robert Harry
Flute
Ruth Stone*, Elizabeth Hamilton
Oboe
Jenny Lowe*, Dafydd Camp
Clarinet
David Laity, Loukia Gauntlett
Bassoon
Claire Bancroft, Edwin Chow
French Horn
Ella Jakins/Phoebe Smithies*, Joanne Ghiocas
Timpani
Bruce Lancashire
* denotes Principal