Merry wives of Cirencester (From Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard)

Merry wives of Cirencester

BEL CANTO Opera presents Otto Nicolai's comic masterpiece, The Merry Wives of Windsor, at the Bingham Hall, Cirencester on February 20 and 21 and at The Playhouse, Cheltenham on February 24, 25, 27 and 28.

Shakespeare's sauciest comedy has been the inspiration for a number of operas, but Nicolai's score is the most tuneful of all and wonderfully captures the spirit of Falstaff's comical and disastrous attempts to seduce two Windsor wives at one and the same time.

When Mistress Ford and Mistress Page discover the fat old knight has sent them identical love letters, they devise a series of hilarious pranks to humiliate him and teach him a lesson he'll never forget.

The Merry Wives of Windsor has been badly neglected in this country, being largely overshadowed by Verdi's Falstaff.

Tom Boyd has now deconstructed the German text for this new English version, and has restored much of Shakespeare's rich and witty language to provide a boisterous libretto in keeping with the bard's original rollicking Elizabethan romp.

In this production Mistress Ford is sung by popular soprano Susan Black who has played many leading roles with Bel Canto Opera since its founding in 1989 and is well known through her numerous concert and theatre performances throughout this area.

Mara Jagusz, who plays Mistress Page, is a mezzo-soprano with a distinguished career that includes singing principal roles with English National Opera, Scottish Opera, at Glyndebourne, and at Covent Garden with Carreras and Domingo.

Falstaff is sung by bass-baritone Martin Lamb, who has just completed an international tour with Pavilion Opera in the title role of Don Pasquale.

Although the orchestra and chorus are drawn from local talent, the professional principals come to the Cotswolds from all over Britain and abroad, bringing with them the experience of singing roles with opera companies all over the world.

The Bel Canto orchestra is conducted my music director William Bell and the production is directed by Tom Boyd.

Competition: Bel Canto Opera is offering a pair of tickets for the opening night at the Bingham Hall (February 20) to the person who can name the play from which the following Shakespeare quotes come. 1 All the world's a stage 2 Ay, there's the rub 3 Once more into the breach 4 Frailty thy name is woman 5 Parting is such sweet sorrow

Send your answers and your name, address and telephone number to Di Alexander, The Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard, 74 Dyer Street, Cirencester, to arrive no later than Tuesday, February 17.

Tickets for the opera from Cirencester TIC on 01285 654180 or from 01285 851237.