Burry Port Opera review
Burry Port Opera – Cavalleria Rusticana and I Pagliacci at Burry Port Memorial Hall
SOME 57 years of experience goes a long way in showbusiness. So, you know when you buy the ticket, you are guaranteed a good show from Burry Port Opera.
The opera group’s latest annual production was the double-header operatic treat of ‘Cav and Pag’.
Burry Port opera shows are well known for the clever balance of professional singers supported by a dedicated and enthusiastic local chorus.
It’s a neat formula which works, year in and year out. This latest production - the group’s fourth stab at Cav and Pag – was, in fact, the latest in a series of annual performances dating back to 1951.
The stars of the shows here were Suzanne Manuell (playing Santuzza in Cavalleria Rusticana and Nedda in I Pagliacci) and Richard Lloyd Owen (playing Turiddu in Cav and Canio in Pag).
But Richard Lloyd Owen would be the first to admit that top billing had to go to Suzanne Manuell, who was worth every penny of the admission price on her own.
The sympathy vote on the opening night had to go to baritone Gavin Davies, who gamely soldiered on with his on-stage acting duties as Silvio in Pag after losing his voice earlier in the day. With a mixture of choral support and some live ‘dubbing’ from the wings, he just about got away with it.
Opening night hiccups aside, these were two faithful renditions of classic operas.
The Burry Port Opera Chorus and Orchestra, under the distinguished baton of Ryan Lee, were well up to the mark, particularly during the Easter Resurrection Hymn from Cav. Always an emotional tour de force, it moved many in the Memorial Hall audience to tears.
The ‘Raging Bull’ Intermezzo was another highlight, but if nits have to be picked then it could have worked better focussed on an empty stage rather than a plain curtain.
Local hero Elizabeth Bevan was a feisty Lola in Cav, while the dramatic plaudits must go to James Cleverton (Alfio in Cav and Tonio in Pag), whose big stage presence was backed up by an even bigger voice.
The producer was Keith J Clarke, something for a find for the choir. He is a producer with West End experience who has recently moved to Burry Port.
The ladies and gentlemen of the chorus included: Shirley Atkins, Alison Beasley, Jill Bevan, Zoe Bevan, Hettie Davies, Margaret Davies, Daphne Edwards, Sian Edwards, Ann Evans, Jenny Fifield, Eileen Harrison, Tina Hulbert, Marian James, Anne Jones, Bethan Jones, Jacquelin Jones, Shirley Lewis, Jo Lewis, Anne Lloyd, Marlene McGairl, Val Nagy, Sheila Nurton, Carole Phillips, Linda Rosser-Lewis, Chris Rudge, Elizabeth Samuel, Maggie Small, Cathryn Thomas, Jean Thomas, Nona Thomas, Susan Thomas, Helen Woodward, Darryl Adams, Eric Davies, Malcolm Davies, Elwyn Fletcher, David John, Brian Lewis, Gareth Morgan, Meurig Rees, Byron Thomas, David Williams, Graham Williams, Martyn Williams, Meic Williams and Derek Worgan. Choir boys/clowns: Ceri Edwards-Rees, Samuel Lewis, Rhodri Thomas.
SOME 57 years of experience goes a long way in showbusiness. So, you know when you buy the ticket, you are guaranteed a good show from Burry Port Opera.
The opera group’s latest annual production was the double-header operatic treat of ‘Cav and Pag’.
Burry Port opera shows are well known for the clever balance of professional singers supported by a dedicated and enthusiastic local chorus.
It’s a neat formula which works, year in and year out. This latest production - the group’s fourth stab at Cav and Pag – was, in fact, the latest in a series of annual performances dating back to 1951.
The stars of the shows here were Suzanne Manuell (playing Santuzza in Cavalleria Rusticana and Nedda in I Pagliacci) and Richard Lloyd Owen (playing Turiddu in Cav and Canio in Pag).
But Richard Lloyd Owen would be the first to admit that top billing had to go to Suzanne Manuell, who was worth every penny of the admission price on her own.
The sympathy vote on the opening night had to go to baritone Gavin Davies, who gamely soldiered on with his on-stage acting duties as Silvio in Pag after losing his voice earlier in the day. With a mixture of choral support and some live ‘dubbing’ from the wings, he just about got away with it.
Opening night hiccups aside, these were two faithful renditions of classic operas.
The Burry Port Opera Chorus and Orchestra, under the distinguished baton of Ryan Lee, were well up to the mark, particularly during the Easter Resurrection Hymn from Cav. Always an emotional tour de force, it moved many in the Memorial Hall audience to tears.
The ‘Raging Bull’ Intermezzo was another highlight, but if nits have to be picked then it could have worked better focussed on an empty stage rather than a plain curtain.
Local hero Elizabeth Bevan was a feisty Lola in Cav, while the dramatic plaudits must go to James Cleverton (Alfio in Cav and Tonio in Pag), whose big stage presence was backed up by an even bigger voice.
The producer was Keith J Clarke, something for a find for the choir. He is a producer with West End experience who has recently moved to Burry Port.
The ladies and gentlemen of the chorus included: Shirley Atkins, Alison Beasley, Jill Bevan, Zoe Bevan, Hettie Davies, Margaret Davies, Daphne Edwards, Sian Edwards, Ann Evans, Jenny Fifield, Eileen Harrison, Tina Hulbert, Marian James, Anne Jones, Bethan Jones, Jacquelin Jones, Shirley Lewis, Jo Lewis, Anne Lloyd, Marlene McGairl, Val Nagy, Sheila Nurton, Carole Phillips, Linda Rosser-Lewis, Chris Rudge, Elizabeth Samuel, Maggie Small, Cathryn Thomas, Jean Thomas, Nona Thomas, Susan Thomas, Helen Woodward, Darryl Adams, Eric Davies, Malcolm Davies, Elwyn Fletcher, David John, Brian Lewis, Gareth Morgan, Meurig Rees, Byron Thomas, David Williams, Graham Williams, Martyn Williams, Meic Williams and Derek Worgan. Choir boys/clowns: Ceri Edwards-Rees, Samuel Lewis, Rhodri Thomas.
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