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443:, who played Giuseppina Strepponi. The singers, from the WNO, were as follows: sopranos Elizabeth Collier and Christine Teare, mezzo-sopranos Beverley Mills and Wendy Verco, tenors John Harris and Mark Hamilton, baritones Henry Newman and Steven Page, and pianists Martin Andre and Michael Lloyd.
181:. This was a dramatic situation that immediately appealed to him – "a great artist going through a crisis, brought back to composition after a long silence, and finding himself a substitute prodigal son in the process" – and he took it as his subject matter.
188:, and designers. Mitchell said he found that the restrictions placed on the piece—small stage, single set, and only a few actors—actually became liberating, and helped him create a well-crafted and artistically sound play.
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The play focuses on this major turning point in Verdi's creative life, and combines it with a selection of opera excerpts, drama, and humor. The production is punctuated with full arias and vocal ensembles from
146:, and the pressure put upon him after his attempt to retire from composing. Continued insistent prodding from his friends eventually results in one of his greatest masterpieces, the opera
164:, commissioned the play, originally as a vehicle for the company's touring season to far-flung Welsh towns with smaller theatres than the average opera house. McMaster initially asked
174:, to write about the backstage life of an opera company. Mitchell, although he had been an opera fan in his youth, knew little about this milieu when he began working on the project.
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The two-act play spans the years from 1879 to 1887, and centers around the composer Verdi and his life and works after he has retired from composing and moved to his country estate.
184:
To familiarize himself with backstage and off-stage opera life, Mitchell took singing lessons, attended opera rehearsals and auditions, and talked to conductors, singers, directors,
26:
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review said "the plot ... is quite riveting.... For all that we know the outcome, it has us on tenterhooks!” The play has occasionally been compared to
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the conductor, convinced that Verdi should write another opera, try to persuade him to come out of retirement and collaborate with the young librettist
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In the course of his extensive research, however, Mitchell happened on "Boito and Verdi", the final chapter in Frank Walker's biography
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received mixed to favorable reviews, and has been praised for its intelligence, humor, and panache.
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524:. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1982 (paperback edition). pp. 447–510.
503:– Old Vic production data at robertfoxlimited.com. Retrieved 10 September 2010
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theatre, opening on 11 March 1986. Giuseppina
Strepponi was played by
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being noted for its accuracy, thoughtfulness, and erudition, and
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on a new work. One likely subject for a new opera is the play
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Additional performers, from the Welsh
National Opera:
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474:having the edge in terms of raw dramatic impact.
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439:The 1986 London cast was the same except for
1253:Orchestra Sinfonica di Milano Giuseppe Verdi
554:on Amazon.co.uk. Retrieved 26 November 2016.
480:was published in 1986 by Amber Lane Press.
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587:Cambridge University Press, 1995. p. 754.
160:Brian McMaster, managing director of the
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601:Plays by Julian Mitchell on doollee.com
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267:. Also included are arias from Boito's
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1552:Cultural depictions of Giuseppe Verdi
1537:Musicals inspired by real-life events
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168:, author of the hit play-turned-film
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1547:Biographical plays about musicians
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568:at the Internet Theater Bookshop (
542:. Amber Lane Press, 1986. pp. 5–9.
447:Critical reception and publication
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115:Drama, musical, suspense, comedy
584:The Cambridge Guide to Theatre.
138:) is a 1985 play-with-music by
693:I Lombardi alla prima crociata
663:Oberto, Conte di San Bonifacio
575:
572:). Retrieved 26 November 2016.
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294:opened on 24 October 1985 in
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1217:Theatres named after Verdi (
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1211:Memorials to Giuseppe Verdi
603:Retrieved 10 September 2010
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152:, which premiered in 1887.
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1321:Portrait of Giuseppe Verdi
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1562:Musicals set in the 1880s
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1341:Verdi, the King of Melody
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1169:String Quartet in E minor
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495:. Amber Lane Press, 1986.
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1009:Libiamo ne' lieti calici
156:Background and inception
1246:Giuseppe Verdi Monument
973:Bella figlia dell'amore
793:La battaglia di Legnano
305:The production starred
853:Les vĂŞpres siciliennes
1567:Musicals set in Italy
1018:Un dì, felice, eterea
435:Pianist: Martin Andre
199:Verdi's two friends,
1480:Verdi Transcriptions
1130:Un ballo in maschera
1076:La forza del destino
903:La forza del destino
893:Un ballo in maschera
647:List of compositions
381:Giuseppina Strepponi
287:Original productions
219:Giuseppina Strepponi
162:Welsh National Opera
63:Giuseppina Strepponi
1312:Cultural depictions
1191:Quattro pezzi sacri
1039:Opera discographies
1239:Milan Conservatory
1160:Inno delle nazioni
1141:Other compositions
863:I vespri siciliani
673:Un giorno di regno
536:Mitchell, Julian.
489:Mitchell, Julian.
203:the publisher and
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1354:(1982 miniseries)
1351:The Life of Verdi
1288:Verdi, California
1000:La donna è mobile
414:: Christine Teare
357:Richard Griffiths
307:Richard Griffiths
134:(original title:
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92:Original language
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339:premiere at the
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432:: Jonathan Best
426:: Michael Burch
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171:Another Country
166:Julian Mitchell
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136:Verdi's Messiah
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142:. It is about
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420:: Wendy Verco
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1374:(2011 opera)
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1203:Recognitions
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1112:Il trovatore
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964:Anvil Chorus
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1364:(1985 play)
1344:(1953 film)
1334:(1938 film)
1274:Verdi Range
1267:Verdi Inlet
1194:(1889–1897)
1121:La traviata
856:(June 1855)
843:La traviata
441:Gemma Jones
345:Gemma Jones
270:Mefistofele
186:répétiteurs
1527:1985 plays
1521:Categories
1482:(Finnissy)
1361:After Aida
1281:3975 Verdi
1058:Don Carlos
916:(1867/84)
913:Don Carlos
906:(1862/69)
783:Il corsaro
756:(1847/65)
565:After Aida
539:After Aida
508:References
500:After Aida
492:After Aida
478:After Aida
468:After Aida
452:After Aida
397:David Lyon
333:After Aida
319:Robert Fox
292:After Aida
131:After Aida
43:Characters
33:Written by
19:After Aida
1103:Rigoletto
876:(1857/81)
823:Rigoletto
813:Stiffelio
773:JĂ©rusalem
234:Rigoletto
1507:Category
1227:Florence
1219:Brindisi
1067:Falstaff
943:Falstaff
192:Synopsis
1432:Macbeth
1231:Trieste
1223:Busseto
1179:(1874)
1085:Macbeth
936:(1887)
926:(1871)
896:(1859)
846:(1853)
836:(1853)
826:(1851)
753:Macbeth
683:Nabucco
484:Sources
472:Amadeus
466:, with
463:Amadeus
412:Soprano
341:Old Vic
296:Swansea
275:Rossini
252:Macbeth
246:Requiem
214:Othello
120:Setting
102:Subject
96:English
87:, Wales
85:Swansea
1455:(2005)
1445:(1987)
1435:(1987)
1425:(1986)
1422:Otello
1415:(1983)
1405:(1953)
1395:(1906)
1392:Otello
1324:(1886)
1171:(1873)
1163:(1862)
1153:(1848)
1094:Otello
946:(1893)
933:Otello
886:(1857)
883:Aroldo
816:(1850)
806:(1849)
796:(1849)
786:(1848)
776:(1847)
766:(1847)
746:(1846)
743:Attila
736:(1845)
733:Alzira
726:(1845)
716:(1844)
706:(1844)
703:Ernani
696:(1843)
686:(1842)
676:(1840)
666:(1839)
654:Operas
337:London
280:Otello
264:Otello
261:, and
243:, the
240:Ernani
149:Otello
424:Tenor
321:with
112:Genre
1442:Aida
1402:Aida
1049:Aida
923:Aida
325:and
273:and
228:Aida
72:1985
277:'s
1523::
1229:-
1225:-
1221:-
529:^
399:–
389:–
379:–
369:–
359:–
329:.
323:Ed
283:.
255:,
249:,
237:,
231:,
1233:)
1029:"
1025:"
1020:"
1016:"
1011:"
1007:"
1002:"
998:"
993:"
989:"
984:"
980:"
975:"
971:"
966:"
962:"
630:e
623:t
616:v
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