Ellen Kent Opera – Spring 2024 Tour
Senbla, by arrangement with Opera International, proudly presents two Ellen Kent productions featuring the Ukrainian Opera & Ballet Theatre Kyiv with international soloists, highly praised chorus and full orchestra
Award-winning producer Ellen Kent returns with the Ukrainian Opera & Ballet Theatre Kyiv and presents stunning classical productions of Bizet’s Carmen and Puccini’s Madama Butterfly as the 2024 tour continues (there is also one performance remaining for Verdi’s La traviata).
CLICK HERE FOR A REVIEW OF THE 2024 CARMEN AT THE CLIFFS PAVILION
AND FOR A 2024 MADAM BUTTERFLY REVIEW CLICK HERE
Bizet’s masterpiece, Carmen, is an evening of passion, sexual jealousy, death and unforgettable arias. Carmen is the story of the bewitching gypsy girl whose tantalising beauty lures a soldier to desertion and leads to her own murder. The opera includes some of the most evocative and best-loved melodies in opera; ‘The Habanera’, ‘The Seguidilla’, ‘The Flower Song’, ‘The Chanson Bohème’ and perhaps the best-known baritone aria of all ‘The Toreador’s Song’. The stunning set reflects the magnificent architecture of Seville with its Roman and Moorish influences, which includes the main square, the bull ring and the famous tobacco factory. The set was built for Ellen Kent in England by Setup Scenery, who also build sets for the Royal Opera Covent Garden.
Alternating as Carmen are Ukrainian mezzo-sopranos Natalia Matveeva and Irina Sproglis. Carmen is sung in French with English surtitles and is directed by Ellen Kent.
‘Impassioned and sultry’ The Observer
Ellen Kent’s Madama Butterfly, winner of the ‘BEST OPERA AWARD’ by the Liverpool Daily Post Theatre Awards, returns in a new production with exquisite sets including a spectacular Japanese garden and fabulous costumes including antique wedding kimonos from Japan. One of the world’s most popular operas, Puccini’s Madama Butterfly tells the heart-breaking story of the beautiful young Japanese girl who falls in love with an American naval lieutenant – with dramatic results. Highlights include the melodic ‘Humming Chorus’, the moving aria ‘One Fine Day’ and the unforgettable ‘Love Duet’.
In Madama Butterfly the fabulous Korean soprano Elena Dee returns alongside Ukrainian soprano Alyona Kistenyova and Ukrainian mezzo-sopranos Natalia Matveeva and Irina Sproglis. Madama Butterfly will be sung in Italian with English surtitles and is directed by Ellen Kent.
‘Above all it was a production which captured the raw emotion at the centre of the opera. Don’t take a handkerchief with you, take a box of them.’ The Independent
Alike Ellen’s past UK and Ireland opera tours, Ellen personally hand-picks and directs all soloists to create visually beautiful and moving productions. Ellen Kent says ‘Since 2002, we have always been committed to touring with Ukrainian Opera companies and giving them the highest profile throughout the UK. We have taken the Ukrainian National Operas of Odessa and Kharkiv many times to the Royal Albert Hall and to many important venues in the UK such as the Manchester Opera House.
‘I am delighted to be working with the Ukrainian Opera & Ballet Theatre Kyiv again after the huge success of the spring 2023 tour. I started working with Ukraine in 2000 and have continued these strong relationships ever since, working with the Odessa National Opera for which I was awarded The Golden Fortune Honorary Medal from the President of the Ukraine, as well as the Kharkiv National Opera and for the last couple of years with the brilliant Opera & Ballet Theatre Kyiv.’
For more details of current performances and how to book tickets CLICK HERE.
Casts are subject to change.
Ongoing tour schedule:
Fri 9 Feb Woking, New Victoria Theatre – Carmen
Sat 10 Feb Woking, New Victoria Theatre – Madama Butterfly
Sun 11 Feb High Wycombe, Swan Theatre – Madama Butterfly
Wed 14 Feb Birmingham, Alexandra Theatre – Carmen
Thu 15 Feb Reading Hexagon Theatre – Madama Butterfly
Fri 16 Feb Torquay, Princess Theatre – Madama Butterfly
Sun 18 Feb Malvern Festival Theatre – Madama Butterfly
Tue 20 Feb Swansea Grand Theatre – Madama Butterfly
Wed 21 Feb Bath Forum – Madama Butterfly
Thu 22 Feb Sheffield City Hall – Madama Butterfly
Sun 25 Feb Glasgow Royal Concert Hall – Madama Butterfly
Mon 26 Feb Glasgow Royal Concert Hall – Carmen
Thu 29 Feb Blackpool, Grand Theatre – Carmen
Sat 2 Mar Stoke, Regent Theatre – Madama Butterfly
Wed 6 Mar Dublin, The Helix – Carmen
Thu 7 Mar Dublin, The Helix – Madama Butterfly
Fri 8 Mar Limerick, University Concert Hall – Carmen
Sat 9 Mar Limerick, University Concert Hall – Madama Butterfly
Sun 10 Mar Kilarney, Gleneagle INEC Arena – Madama Butterfly
Wed 13 Mar – Edinburgh Playhouse – Carmen
Thu 14 Mar Edinburgh Playhouse – Madama Butterfly
Fri 15 Mar High Wycombe, Swan Theatre – Carmen
Sun 17 Mar Basingstoke, The Anvil – Madama Butterfly
Mon 18 Mar Richmond Theatre – Madama Butterfly
Tue 19 Mar Portsmouth, Kings Theatre – Madama Butterfly
Thu 21 Mar Darlington Hippodrome – La traviata
Fri 22 Mar Darlington Hippodrome – Madama Butterfly
Sat 23 Mar Blackpool, Grand Theatre – Madama Butterfly
Sun 24 Mar Sheffield City Hall – Carmen
Wed 27 Mar Southend, Cliffs Pavilion – Carmen
Thu 28 Mar Dartford, Orchard Theatre – Madama Butterfly
Tue 2 Apr Cardiff New Theatre – Carmen
Wed 3 Apr Bexhill, De La Warr Pavilion – Carmen
Thu 4 Apr Bexhill, De La Warr Pavilion – Madama Butterfly
Fri 5 Apr Ipswich, Regent Theatre – Carmen
Sat 6 Apr Lowestoft, Marina Theatre – Madama Butterfly
Sun 7 Apr Cambridge, Corn Exchange – Madama Butterfly
Tue 9 Apr Stoke, Regent Theatre – Carmen
Wed 10 Apr Leicester, De Montfort Hall – Carmen
Thu 11 Apr Leicester, De Montfort Hall – Madama Butterfly
Fri 12 Apr Wolverhampton, Grand Theatre – Carmen
Sat 13 Apr Wolverhampton, Grand Theatre – Madama Butterfly
Sun 14 Apr Malvern Festival Theatre – Carmen
Mon 15 Apr Cardiff New Theatre – Madama Butterfly
Tue 16 Apr Swansea Grand Theatre – Carmen
Wed 17 Apr Torquay, Princess Theatre – Carmen
Fri 19 Apr Sunderland Empire – Carmen
Sat 20 Apr Sunderland Empire – Madama Butterfly
Sun 21 Apr Birmingham, Alexandra Theatre – Madama Butterfly
Tue 23 Apr Dartford, Orchard Theatre – Carmen
Wed 24 Apr Coventry, Warwick Arts Centre – Carmen
Thu 25 Apr Coventry, Warwick Arts Centre – Madama Butterfly
Fri 26 Apr York, Grand Opera House – Carmen
Sat 27 Apr York, Grand Opera House – Madama Butterfly
Sun 28 Apr Aylesbury, Waterside Theatre – Madama Butterfly
Mon 29 Apr Kings Lynn, Corn Exchange – La traviata
Tue 30 Apr Portsmouth, Kings Theatre – Carmen
Wed 1 May Bournemouth Pavilion – Carmen
Thu 2 May Bournemouth Pavilion – Madama Butterfly
Fri 3 May Brighton Theatre Royal – Carmen
Sat 4 May Brighton Theatre Royal – Madama Butterfly
Sun 5 May Southend, Cliffs Pavilion – Madama Butterfly
Tue 7 May Reading Hexagon Theatre – Carmen
Wed 8 May Basingstoke, The Anvil – Carmen