Joe Fuller: Entertainment

Verdi’s Nabucco and Aida at Theatre Royal Brighton: a great chance to give opera a go

It gives me real pleasure to preview Ellen Kent’s touring opera at the Theatre Royal because she was responsible for some of my early forays into the art form. Kent’s productions tour extensively, and impressively, with lavish sets and the occasional live animal thrown in for good measure. The price might be significantly cheaper than most opera tickets but the shows are still of a startlingly high quality.

Next week you can pick between two Verdi offerings or treat yourself to both. Verdi is a bright and bold composer with memorable tunes and technicolour emotional sweeps so any newcomer to opera would have a fine starting point here.

First up is Nabucco, with Kent presenting a new production of the very first opera she produced. The powerful tale of the Hebrews’ exile by Babylonian king Nabucco will feature some elaborate staging and something burning down (no spoilers here) so you can expect an exciting spectacle.

Kent’s productions tour extensively, and impressively

Aida is considered the grandest of all Ellen Kent’s operas and will feature a new set built by Set-Up Scenery, who also build sets for the Royal Opera House. The opera contains famous arias (moving solo singer bits) such as ‘Celeste Aida’ and ‘Ritorna Vincitor’ that you can stream on YouTube to try out Verdi’s bombastic style.

Both productions are sung in Italian with English surtitles so you can comfortably follow the plot. I think that some are often too quick to assume that everyone already knows what happens in opera storylines. Folly! Countless people don’t know what happens and should feel welcome to experience the opera as its creator intended. Try it out and enjoy the ride.

Nabucco: Wed 5 Oct 7.45pm, Aida: Thurs 6 Oct, 7.45pm,
Theatre Royal Brighton, £21-£44, 0844 871 7650