A new production of Tchaikovsky's The Queen of Spades, which will be sung in Russian, opens the Welsh National Opera's autumn programme at the Apollo Theatre next week. Antony Walker conducts on Tuesday, October 17 and Vladimir Jurowski on Friday, October 20.
The story concerns the efforts of in inveterate gambler Hermon (Vitali Taraschenko) to wrest a winning card-playing formula from the Countess (Susan Gorton) who possesses it. Surprised by him in her bedroom, she dies of shock; then returns to haunt him in the form of the horrifying ghost pictured on today's Weekend cover. On Wednesday, the company performs a revival of Bizet's popular opera Carmen, with the young American mezzo-soprano Beth Clayton making her debut with the WNO as the wild gypsy girl. John Hudson will take the role of Don Jose. Carmen will be conducted by the WNO's Head of Music, Julian Smith. Carmen will also be staged on Saturday night, with a new production of Gluck's Orpheus & Eurydice taking the Thursday evening slot. The conductor for this performance will be Paul McCreesh.
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