Royal Opera House | ChicanePictures

marina rebeka

Statuesque Latvian soprano Marina Rebeka made her Royal Opera debut as Violetta Valéry in Verdi’s tragic opera La traviata in July 2010 and has returned to sing the role for this season. Richard Eyre’s production, now 21 years old returns for its twelfth revival of Verdi’s dramatically gripping and gloriously tune-laden tale of socially unacceptable love.

Since her breakthrough at the Salzburg Festival, singing Anai (Moise et Pharaon) in 2009 Marina has been a regular guest at the world’s most prestigious concert halls and opera houses.

She recently sang the role of the high society courtesan at the Metropolitan Opera in New York and was scheduled to perform later in the run at the ROH, but stepped into the opening performances for Sonya Yonchevia who has now joined the production. Her single performance in 2010 was also for a similar reason, replacing an ailing Angela Gheorghin.

The Met review said “Marina Rebeka delivers a devastating portrayal of Verdi’s tragic heroine.”

Marina signed my sketch after the opening night performance.

Georgia Jarman in Krol Roger

Brilliant American soprano Georgia Jarman made her Royal Opera debut as Roxana in Karol Szymanowski’s masterpiece Król Roger (King Roger) which finished this week. Kasper Holten’s “devastating” production was the first time in almost 40 years that the 1926 Polish opera was on a London stage.

A mysterious shepherd is brought before 12th century King Roger of Sicily. The church officials want him punished for his pagan preaching of love and pleasure but Roger’s Queen Roxana has converted and pleads with her husband to let the shepherd speak. Things fall apart from that point, as the charismatic stranger gains power.

“The singing – notably by Kwiecien, Jarman and Pirgu – is superb” wrote Michael Church in The Independent.

The New York Times even reviewed it, stating, “Georgia Jarman delivered Roxana’s show-stealing coloratura with immaculate style”.

The excellent staff at the Royal Opera House managed to get my sketch to Georgia on the final night, which she signed and added a kind dedication.