Today, the Royal Opera & Ballet in London has announced a cast change for its production of Verdi’s Les vêpres siciliennes. Joyce El-Khoury will be stepping in at short notice to perform Hélène, marking her debut in the role.

Speranza Scappucci makes her debut as

Principal Guest Conductor in

The Sicilian Vespers

• Joyce El-Khoury, Sara Cortolezzis and SeokJong Baek make role debuts as Hélène and Henri in Verdi’s rarely performed opera, based on real historical events.
• Runs 19 September – 6 October on the Main Stage
• Tickets from £12 rbo.org.uk

Speranza Scappucci, Principal Guest Conductor of The Royal Opera says: ‘I am excited to officially take up my position as Principal Guest Conductor of The Royal Opera and I can think of no better opera than this to start off with. Verdi is one of the composers dearest to my heart, and The Sicilian Vespers is a monumental score full of incredibly dramatic music, big chorus scenes and intimate moments. Love, political intrigue, revenge, jealousy and redemption: I look forward to bringing this story to life for audiences with the brilliant Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Royal Opera Chorus and cast.’ Verdi’s rarely performed opera is based on the real historical events of 30 March 1282 when the Sicilian people began to rebel against the oppressive rule of Charles I of Anjou. Stefan Herheim’s production was the first production of the work by The Royal Opera and premiered in 2013 to mark the composer’s bicentenary. Herheim relocates the tale of loyalty and revenge to the time of the opera’s 1855 premiere, in the opulence of the Paris Opéra, the venue for which Verdi wrote the work.

The stellar cast is led by Joyce El-Khoury, Sara Cortolezzis and SeokJong Baek, who perform the roles of lovers Hélène and Henri. All three make their role debuts. The rest of the cast is comprised of Ildebrando D’Arcangelo (Jean Procida) and Quinn Kelsey (Guy de Montfort), Vartan Gabrielian (Robert), Neal Cooper (Thibault), Thomas D Hopkinson (Le Comte de Vaudemont), former Jette Parker Artists Blaise Malaba (Le Sire de Béthune) and Michael Gibson (Daniéli), as well as current JPAs Jingwen Cai (Ninetta) and Giorgi Guliashvili (Mainfroid). Gabrielian and Guliashvili make their Royal Opera debuts. Verdi’s grand opera is brought to life by set designer Philipp Fürhofer, costume designer Gesine Völlm and lighting designer Anders Poll with choreography by André de Jong.

ENDS

***

NOTES TO EDITORS

Images can be downloaded here

Marina Rebeka has withdrawn due to illness, the role of Hélène will now be performed by Joyce

El-Khoury and Sara Cortolezzis (3 October). Emmanuel Fonoti-Fuimaono has withdrawn from

all performances, Michael Gibson will perform the role of Daniéli.

PRESS CONTACT

Ruth Haines: Ruth.Haines@roh.org.uk | Head of Opera Press

The Royal Opera

THE SICILIAN VESPERS

Main Stage

19 September – 6 October

Guidance

This production contains depictions of rape, torture and murder

The performance lasts approximately 4 hours, including two intervals.

Sung in French with English surtitles

Tickets £12-£250

For more information and to book, visit rbo.org.uk

CREATIVES

Music Giuseppe Verdi

Conductor Speranza Scappucci

Director Stefan Herheim

Set Designer Philipp Fürhofer

Costume Designer Gesine Völlm

Lighting Designer Anders Poll

Choreographer André de Jong

Dramaturg Alexander Meier-Dörzenbach

CAST

Hélène Joyce El-Khoury/Sara Cortolezzis (3 October)

Henri SeokJong Baek

Jean Procida Ildebrando D’Arcangelo

Guy de Montfort Quinn Kelsey

Robert Vartan Gabrielian

Thibault Neal Cooper

Le Sire de Béthune Blaise Malaba

Le Comte de Vaudemont Thomas D Hopkinson

Ninetta Jingwen Cai*

Daniéli Michael Gibson

Mainfroid Giorgi Guliashvili*

*Jette Parker Artist

Royal Opera Chorus

Chorus Director William Spaulding

Orchestra of the Royal Opera House