KATIE BRAY, the English mezzo soprano who won the Dame Joan Sutherland Audience Prize at the 2019 Cardiff Singer of the World competition, is coming to Galway to perform the title role in Antonio Vivaldi's Griselda.
While Vivaldi (1678-1741 ) is best known for his marvellous 'Four Seasons' concerto, he was also a prolific compose of opera, and is said to have written 94 such works, of which 50 survive.
Griselda was first performed in Venice at the Teatro San Samuele on May 18 1735, but has only occasionally been performed since. As such, Irish National Opera's production at the Town Hall Theatre on Saturday October 12 at 8pm is a rare chance to see this side of Vivaldi's talent.
Alongside Katie Bray, the cast includes Irish mezzo soprano Sinéad O'Kelly, winner of the 2018 Bernadette Greevy Bursary, as Ottone; Spanish tenor Jorge Navarro Colorado (Gualtiero ), Irish soprano Emma Morwood (Costanza ), Australian counter tenor Russell Harcourt (Roberto ), and Irish mezzo-soprano Raphaela Mangan (Corrado ).
The music will be performed by the Irish Baroque Orchestra, conducted by Peter Whelan. The production will be directed by Tom Creed, who describes the opera as "an exciting political and romantic thriller, full of passion, longing, betrayal, and deceit. Vivaldi’s dazzling writing for singers is full of psychology and emotion."
Creed's production will mix 18th century Venetian intrigue with contemporary reference points, including House of Cards and The Crown, to reflect a society where our every move being watched and recorded.
For tickets contact 091 - 569777 or www.tht.ie See also www.irishnationalopera.ie
