MADAMA BUTTERFLY and RIGOLETTO Return to The Bristol Hippodrome

Opera & Ballet International presents two Ellen Kent productions featuring outstanding soloists, a highly-praised chorus and a stunning full orchestra coming to The Bristol Hippodrome on January 18 and 19, 2018.

Following her recent critically acclaimed tours of Nabucco, Aida and La Bohème, award-winning producer Ellen Kent returns with two stunning, traditional productions: Puccini's Madama Butterfly, one of the world's most popular operas, and Verdi's Rigoletto, the dark opera they tried to ban.

Rigoletto, the magnificent masterpiece they tried to ban, will be presented at The Bristol Hippodrome on Thursday, November 18, featuring a magnificent golden eagle and two royal greyhounds.

Rigoletto is the dramatic tale of the jester's daughter whose heart is stolen by a charming but unreliable ruler - and how her father's attempts to prevent the love affair lead to tragedy.

Performed by a full orchestra, Rigoletto features two of the most celebrated tenor arias La Donna è Mobile and Questa o Quella, justly turned into classics by Caruso.

Based on a play by Victor Hugo, who penned Les Miserables, the opera was almost banned because it exposed the licentious behaviour of the powers-that-be at court.

When Hugo originally wrote the story it was called 'The King Who Amuses Himself', and it was banned due to its sexual content - at least officially. In reality, it was banned for political reasons as it made covert jabs at politicians of the time.

Inspired by the tradition of renaissance painting, Verdi turned the tragedy into an opera, reflecting the sexual depravity of the Mantuan Ducal Court and featuring seductive, naked courtesans.

Although entirely fitting for naked women to appear, it incurred the outrage of the censors, and the rape scene in Verdi's original version created an uproar at the time. The opera was banned after one performance until he agreed to remove the controversial scene. He then battled with censors in Italy and renamed the Opera, Rigoletto.

Wishing to reproduce Verdi's original intentions, Ellen Kent has tastefully reinstated the beautiful naked courtesans. The production has also sensitively reintroduced the rape scene.

This spectacularly-staged production also features a magnificent golden eagle with a seven-foot wingspan, and two regal hunting dogs, to add to the opulence and extravagance of the Mantuan Ducal Court.

Ellen has long been a campaigner for animal welfare. The animals featured in this production come from small registered charity Bristol DAWG (Greyhound & Lurcher Rescue) and Black Mountain Falconry, based just over the bridge in Abergavenny.

Ellen said: "To be able to promote animal welfare and preservation of endangered species through the drama and spectacle of my operas is a great joy and privilege for me."

International baritone Iurie Gisca, will be starring as Rigoletto alongside the beautiful soprano Alyona Kistenyova from Odessa National Opera, who is returning after her critically acclaimed performances of Aida, La Bohème, Carmen, Tosca and Die Fledermaus, to sing Gilda.

Spanish tenor Giorgio Meladze will be opening the tour at The Bristol Hippodrome and will star as The Duke of Mantua. Meladze has acquired critical acclaim in Europe, singing in Milan, Spain and across Europe. He also sang in Austria together with Jose Carreras in 2014, while Zara Vardanean, the American mezzo-soprano who trained at the Vienna State Opera, returns to sing the part of Giovanna.

Both Rigoletto and Madama Butterfly will be conducted by Vasyl Vasylenko, who is the artistic director and conductor at the National President's Orchestra of Ukraine, Kiev, and will be conducting 30 members of the outstanding National Ukrainian Orchestra.

Madama Butterfly, Puccini's poignant and popular tale, on which the hit West End musical Miss Saigon is based, appears at The Bristol Hippodrome on Friday, November 19.

One of the world's best-loved 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 and heart-wrenching results.

This magnificent production boasts Puccini's powerful score played by a live orchestra. Highlights include the melodic Humming Chorus, the moving aria One Fine Day and the unforgettable Love Duet.

The production also features exquisite sets, such as a spectacular Japanese garden, and sumptuous costumes including antique wedding kimonos from Japan designed by the renowned Russian designer Felix Bessonov, from St Petersburg.

International Korean soprano Maria HeeJung Kim from the National Opera House of Seoul will be making her debut in the UK singing the role of the tragic Cio Cio San. The talented young star studied in Milan and made her debut as Madama Butterfly at the Milan Opera. HeeJung Kim has sung Madama Butterfly and La Traviata at major Opera Houses in Europe.

Spanish tenor Giorgio Meladze has been invited to open the tour at The Bristol Hippodrome, after a successful tour of Aida, La Bohème and Nabucco, and will be singing the parts of Pinkerton and The Duke of Mantua in Rigoletto. Meladze has acquired critical acclaim in Europe, singing in Milan, Spain and across Europe. He also sang in Austria together with Jose Carreras in 2014.

Zara Vardanean, the American mezzo-soprano, trained at the Vienna State Opera, returns to sing the part of Suzuki.

The operas will be conducted by Vasyl Vasylenko, who is the artistic director and conductor at the National President's Orchestra of Ukraine, Kiev, and will be conducting 30 members of the outstanding National Ukrainian Orchestra.

Award-winning producer and director Ellen Kent is the biggest supplier of opera and ballet in the UK and Ireland. To celebrate her long love affair with operas, Ellen is now bringing Madama Butterfly and Rigoletto to Bristol as part of a UK tour.

Since 1983 Ellen Kent has achieved huge success with her theatre and opera productions. From her first opera, staging Nabucco to an audience of 7,000 in Rochester Castle, Ellen has devoted every minute of her life to ensuring her public get the best opera and ballet productions.

She has successfully filled theatres throughout Britain, regularly playing prestigious venues such as The Royal Albert Hall, Manchester Opera House, Liverpool Empire Theatre, Edinburgh Playhouse, Oxford New Theatre, and the Hackney Empire Theatre to name a few.

Ellen has orchestrated opera tours since 1992. March 2004 saw Ellen branch out into the Middle Eastern audience, becoming the first British Producer to perform Carmen in the Gulf in front of an audience with the Emir of Qatar in Doha and 3000 Royal Guests. Ellen went on to open the Beiteddine Festival in Lebanon later that year with her production of Turandot.

Ellen and her Company have been the recipients of many awards over the years. These include awards for breaking all opera box office records in the history of the Manchester Opera House as well as 'Best Opera' and 'Best Contribution to Theatre in Liverpool' in the Liverpool Daily Post Awards. Ellen has herself been nominated twice as 'European Women of the Year', been awarded a medal from the President of Moldova for 'The best contribution to the arts in Moldova' and received the 'Medal of Honour' and 'Golden Fortune' awards from the President of Ukraine.

Ellen has loved each and every venue on her tours and takes this opportunity to thank all of her audiences for their tremendous support for her productions, without which they would not have happened.

Ellen Kent's Rigoletto at The Bristol Hippodrome on Thursday, January 18 at 7.30pm. Tickets cost £19.90 to £46.90. Call 0844 871 3012 or visit www.atgtickets.com/venues/bristol-hippodrome

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