Organization

Conductor

Arvo Volmer

Vello Pähn

Costume designer

Silvia Collazuol

Stage director

José Cura

Singer

Soprano

Olga Mykytenko

Minnie

Tenor

Dick Johnson

Bass

Priit Volmer

Ashby

Märt Jakobson

Baritone

Jassi Zahharov

Sonora

Janari Jorro

Yuxuan Wang

Harry

Ivo Onton

Happy

Rauno Elp

Jack Rance

Mehis Tiits

Nick

Mezzo-soprano

Juuli Lill

Wowkle

Mart Madiste

Trin

Aare Kodasma

Bello

Andrei Karpievich

René Soom

Jake Wallace

Jaak Jõekallas

The Pony Express rider

Estonian National Opera

Italian

La fanciulla del West -  (The Girl of the Golden West)

Tallinn

Estonia

Main Stage

La fanciulla del West Puccini

Public

The Girl of the Golden West

Estonian

English

Approved

Tütarlaps kuldsest läänest / The Girl of the Golden West (Estonian National Opera)

“The Girl of the Golden West” (“La fanciulla del West”) followed “Madama Butterfly” (1904), which was also based on a Belasco play. The opera had a successful premiere at the Metropolitan Opera in 1910, starring the legendary Enrico Caruso and Emmy Destinn.

Puccini’s gorgeous melodies and orchestral colours are set against the backdrop of a gold-mining frontier camp, where a poker-playing, pistol-carrying saloon owner Minnie finds herself in a love triangle with a handsome outlaw Dick Johnson alias José Ramirez and the sheriff Jack Rance, who is in hot pursuit of him. Minnie has to fight for her love and for the chance to start a new life with her love by her side.

In the wake of the first literary westerns and as cinema began to exploit the genre, Puccini gave opera its first ever western. “The Girl of the Golden West” influenced many composers of the 20th century, especially Andrew Lloyd Webber, whose “Phantom of the Opera” (1986) features an aria “Music of the Night” that copies Dick Johnson’s Act I aria “Quello che tacete”.

Puccini’s musical vision of the American West is vividly brought to life by one of the greatest operatic names of our time, José Cura – an Argentinean tenor, conductor, director, scenographer known for his intense and original interpretations of opera characters. Seen and Heard International heralds Cura as “A a polymath, a Leonardo da Vinci of our time.”

José Cura: “I sung my first Johnson/Ramirez in 1992 and have ever since been in love with this incredible opera. One can argue that it is not Puccini’s best libretto or his more rounded-up piece of music, but how veritable is this opinion if the harmonic and melodic revolution with which “Fanciulla” has shocked the musical world of its time, has resulted in such a huge crowd of post-fanciulla composers, shameless imitators of what was — and sometimes still is —, so heavily criticised? I have always dreamt of bringing to the surface the many moments of emotional and psychological depth in this remarkable composition and Estonian National Opera has now given me this chance. I really look forward to a beautiful collaboration, which I hope will result in a common project for many other titles to come.”

Puccini muusikalise nägemuse Ameerika Metsikust Läänest toob lavale üks meie aja suurimatest nimedest ooperimaailmas, Argentina tenor, dirigent, lavastaja ja stsenograaf José Cura, kes on tuntud intensiivsete ja omanäoliste ooperitegelaste kujutamise poolest. Seen and Heard International on kirjeldanud Curat kui „polümaati, meie aja Leonardo da Vincit“.

„Tütarlaps kuldsest läänest“ („La fanciulla del West“) järgnes „Madama Butterflyle“ (1904), mis põhineb samuti Belasco näidendil. Ooper esietendus edukalt Metropolitan Operas 1910. aastal, peaosades legendaarsed Enrico Caruso ja Emmy Destinn.

Ajal, mil ilukirjanduses ja kinolinal hakkasid tooni andma vesternid, tõi Puccini selle žanri ka ooperilavale. „Tütarlaps kuldsest läänest“ mõjutas mitmeid 20. sajandi heliloojaid, eriti aga Andrew Lloyd Webberit, kelle „Ooperifantoomis“ (1986) esitatud aaria „Öömuusika“ kopeerib Dick Johnsoni esimese vaatuse aariat „Quello che tacete“.

Puccini kaunid meloodiad ja orkestri kõlavärvid on taustaks kullakaevurite laagrile, kus elab pokkerit mängiv ja püstolit kandev kõrtsiomanik Minnie. Minnie satub armukolmnurka ilusa lindprii Dick Johnsoni (varjunimega José Ramirez) ja šerif Jack Rance’iga, kes on Johnsoni otsinguil. Minnie’l tuleb võidelda armastuse eest, aga ka võimaluse eest alustada uut elu koos oma kallimaga.

Puccini muusikalise nägemuse Ameerika Metsikust Läänest toob lavale üks meie aja suurimatest nimedest ooperimaailmas, Argentina tenor, dirigent, lavastaja ja stsenograaf José Cura, kes on tuntud intensiivsete ja omanäoliste ooperitegelaste kujutamise poolest. Seen and Heard International on kirjeldanud Curat kui „polümaati, meie aja Leonardo da Vincit“.

José Cura: „Esimest korda laulsin Johnsoni/Ramireze osas 1992. aastal ja sellest ajast saadik olen sellesse ooperisse armunud. Võib ehk vaielda, kas tegu on just Puccini kõige parema libreto või terviklikuma muusikaga, ent seegi arvamus pole kuigi usutav, kui pärast „Fanciullaga“ alanud ja muusikamaailma šokeerinud harmoonia ja meloodia revolutsiooni jäljendavad nii paljud heliloojad häbitult midagi, mis kunagi – ja mõnikord ka tänapäeval – nii karmi kriitika osaliseks on saanud. Olen alati unistanud võimalusest tuua esile selle tähelepanuväärse teose mitmed emotsionaalselt ja psühholoogiliselt sügavad hetked. Nüüd on Rahvusooper Estonia selle võimaluse mulle andnud. Jään väga ootama meie ilusat koostööd, millest loodetavasti sünnib mitmeid järgmisi koostöövõimalusi pakkuv ühisprojekt.“

eesti

The Girl of the Golden West by Puccini, From (2022/2022), Directed by José Cura, Silvia Collazuol,, Conductor Arvo Volmer, Vello Pähn, Estonian National Opera, Tallinn, Estonia

Performance credits (Cast & Crew )

Cast

Crew

Program, About & Synopsis

Videos

Photos

Further reading

Performance Dates & Venues

Venues