Heber Opera performances

Opera that's close enough to touch

Verdi's Nabucco

Heber Opera presented a series of performances of Verdi’s early success, Nabucco, throughout Sussex at the end of June and beginning of July 2012.

Nabucco, with its world famous chorus ‘Speed Your Journey’ ('Va pensiero' in the original Italian), together with exciting arias and rousing choruses, was the opera with which Verdi made his mark as one of the most exciting composers of the nineteenth century.

The story from the Old Testament is loosely based on the destruction of the Temple of the Hebrews by the Babylonian hordes led by Nebuchadnezzar, followed by his conversion to the Hebrew faith, the subtext being the subjugation of the Italians by the Austrian Empire and their subsequent quest for independence: a recurring story to this day.

The solo roles were taken by Nick Forrest, Veronica Brooks, Steve Hawksley, Sally Wilson, Tim Crouch and Andy Holden, supported by chorus and orchestra under the direction of Michael Withers. 

The performances were in Heber Opera’s signature 'in the round' style, with the audience involved in the action.  

28 June               Plumpton  (7.30pm)
29 June               The Steyning Centre, Steyning (7.30pm)
30 June               Hurstpierpoint Village Centre (7.30pm)
5 July                   St George's, KempTown, Brighton (7.30pm)
6 July                   Uckfield Civic Centre (7.30pm)
7 July                   St Peter's, Henfield (7.30pm)
8 July                   Adastra Hall, Hassocks (6pm)

Fidelio

Beethoven's masterpiece of loyalty, passion and freedom was Heber Opera’s Autumn production for 2011.

Congratulations to the strong, dedicated cast. Superb performances all round and very well received by the audiences.

The performance dates were:

18 November     All Saints Centre, Lewes
19 November     The King Edward Hall, Lindfield
20 November     The Steyning Centre
24 November     St Peters Church, Henfield
25 November     Uckfield Civic Centre
26 November     St Georges, Kemp Town
27 November     Hurstpierpoint Village Centre

L'Elisir d'Amore

Congratulations to everybody on the marvellous performances of L’Elisir d’Amore in May 2011. 

Nemorino is a poor peasant consumed with love for haughty landowner Adina.  His declarations of love are met only with derision and in desperation he buys a love potion from a wandering physician.  The potion is in fact only wine, but the confidence it gives him unnerves Adina, who tries to take revenge by agreeing to marry Sergeant Belcore (in Heber Opera’s production a lifeguard).  After another bottle of the elixir however, and a little more suffering for both parties, all is happily resolved, especially for the doctor, whose potion seems to have worked.

Solo roles were taken by Tim Crouch, Veronica Brooks, Steve Hawksley, Nick Forrest and Ann-Marie Forster, supported by chorus and orchestra under the direction of Michael Withers.

Cosi fan tutte

Concerts

Eugene Onegin

Many thanks to cast, orchestra, stage crew, and especially the audience for the recent successful Eugene Onegin, Tchaikovsky's marvellous evocation of love and life in Russia. Performances were to high capacity houses, with enthusiastic applause.

Performances were held at:

Friday 15 May: Lindfield
Saturday 16 May: Lewes
Sunday 17 May (at 6.30pm): Hurstpierpoint
Thursday 21 May: Steyning
Friday 22 May: Plumpton Green
Saturday 23 May: Lewes
Sunday 24 May: Uckfield

IlTrovatore (Verdi)

Heber Opera recently performed Verdi's Il Trovatore at the following venues in East Sussex

Duke Bluebeard's Castle (Bartok)

Heber's most recent performance was Bartok's Bluebeard's Castle at a number of venues in the Sussex area:

• Friday 23 November:      Uckfield Civic Centre (8pm)
• Saturday 24 November: Ralli Hall, Hove (8pm)
• Sunday 25 November:    Hurstpierpoint Village Centre (6pm)
• Friday 30 November:      Plumpton Village Hall (8pm)
• Saturday 1 December:   Queen's Hall, Cuckfield (8pm)
• Sunday 2 December:      King Edward's Hall, Lindfield (6pm)