The Opera Group
Blond Eckbert & Other Stories
Blond Eckbert & Other Stories
Welcome to the magical forest of tales and riddles in which animals can sing, the commonplace becomes mystifying and the past always returns to haunt you.
Miniature stories by the Brothers Grimm are brought to life by composers Judith Weir and Kenneth Hesketh and introduce the strange world of the acclaimed opera Blond Eckbert.
A magical singing bird tells an enchanting fairy tale which hides an extraordinary and disturbing secret. A child, raised in an isolated mountain forest by a strange old woman, tries to run away but cannot escape. Inspired by the films of Alfred Hitchcock this opera is a taut psychological thriller.
Judith Weir’s richly lyrical musical language and concern with theatrical storytelling is at its best in one of her most highly praised operas. Her newly commissioned version for ten instrumentalists receives its premiere in a new production by The Opera Group, best known for its vivid storytelling and outstanding young singers.
“The performances are excellent: Owen Gilhooly is the tortured Eckbert, Heather Shipp his neurotic wife, while Mark Wilde plays the disturbing Walther. The Opera Group Ensemble, conducted by Patrick Bailey, play with energy and insight.”
The Guardian
“the piece sparkles with a magical, luminous charm”
The Guardian
More information about Blond Eckbert & Other Stories
Conductor Patrick Bailey
Director John Fulljames
Designer Adam Wiltshire
Lighting Giuseppe Di Iorio
Cast
Eckbert Owen Gilhooly
Berthe Heather Shipp
Bird Claire Wild
Walther Mark Wilde
Wed 14, Thu 15 & Sat 17 June, 7.30pm
Linbury at the Royal Opera House 0207 304 4000.
www.royalopera.org
Sun 18 June 7.15pm
Lyceum Theatre, Sheffield 0114 249 6000,
www.sheffieldtheatre.co.uk
Fri 30 June 7.30pm
Royal Northern College of Music 0161 907 5555
www.rncm.ac.uk
Sun 2 July 7.30pm
Cheltenham Music Festival 01242 227 979
www.cheltenhamfestivals.co.uk
Sat 8 July 7.30pm
Oxford Playhouse 01865 305 305
www.oxfordplayhouse.com
Sat 29 July 7.30pm
The Crescent Theatre, Birmingham
(promoted by BCMG) 0121 643 5858
www.bcmg.org.uk
Supported by
