Wit. Grandeur. An opera in disguise.

Who’s on stage

Nil Venditti is a real firecracker. So much so, Royal Northern Sinfonia snapped her up as Principal Guest Conductor after two visits.  Tonight she’s joined on stage by four super soloists, Royal Northern Sinfonia and Chorus of Royal Northern Sinfonia.

What they’re playing

It’s high energy from the start with Rossini’s Overture to The Barber of Seville, Mozart’s majestic Symphony No. 29 and then Rossini’s Stabat Mater.

What you’ll hear

Gioachino Rossini Overture to The Barber of Seville (8’)
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Symphony No. 29 (28’)
Gioachino Rossini Stabat Mater (61’)

Who’s playing

Nil Venditti conductor
Salome Jicia soprano
Marianna Pizzolato mezzo-soprano
Konu Kim tenor
Devid Cecconi baritone
Tim Burke chorus director
Chorus of Royal Northern Sinfonia
Royal Northern Sinfonia

What’s happening in the music?

Think of Rossini and you think of comic operas, impossibly fast-moving songs that are real tongue twisters, and his trademark chirpy musical demeanour, music that’s never without a smile. So it’s hard to imagine him writing music for a serious religious text, but write it he did – managing to combine music that’s heartfelt and serious with his innate musical drama and soaring, joyous melodies. Having said he’d never write another opera, perhaps he did… he just called it something different. In this concert it’s accompanied by one of his madcap overtures plus a Mozart Symphony that squeezes drama, elegance, majesty and exhilaration into 25 minutes.

That’s all folks…

It’s amazing what you’ll find hidden away in Saturday morning cartoons. Take a trip down memory lane with this Loony Tunes cartoon classic – Bugs Bunny’s own take on Rossini’s overture, The Rabbit of Seville.