24 March 2008
Victoria Simmonds as Pinocchio. Photo: Clive Barda
Pinocchio
Monday 24 March 2008 18:30-21:15 (Radio 3)
A special treat for Easter Monday!
Catherine Bott presents The Adventures of Pinocchio - a new opera from composer Jonathan Dove and librettist Alasdair Middleton, based on the story by Carlo Collodi.
Young Pinocchio meets many colourful characters in his adventures - a cat and a fox (the baddies!) a cricket, a beautiful blue fairy and a giant green fisherman. He joins the circus, gets sold, eaten and roasted alive, and even has time to go to school - not bad for a little boy made of wood.
Opera North's production has been acclaimed by audiences and critics alike. Victoria Simmonds, who plays the title role will be in the studio with Catherine Bott to talk about her experience of performing this new opera and the very active role of Pinocchio!
For much more information on all aspects of this wonderful new production, click on Opera North
Duration:
2 hours 45 minutes
Playlist
Johathan Dove: The Adventures of Pinocchio
Cast List and The Story
Pinocchio ...... Victoria Simmonds
Geppetto ...... Jonathan Summers
The Blue Fairy ...... Mary Plazas
Cricket/Parrot ...... Rebecca Bottone
Puppeteer/Ape-Judge/Ringmaster ...... Graeme Broadbent
Lampwick ...... Allan Clayton
Cat ...... Mark Wilde
Fox/Coachman ...... James Laing
Pigeon/Snail ...... Carole Wilson
Chorus of Opera North
Orchestra of Opera North
David Parry (conductor)
Pinocchio is the son of a poor carpenter called Geppetto. But Pinocchio is not like other boys. He is a puppet, carved by Geppetto from a piece of wood. Desperate to become a real boy, he is told that the secret is to listen and learn. But no matter how hard he tries to be good, Pinocchio just can't seem to steer clear of trouble. He lets down his penniless father, rejects the wise advice of a cricket, and breaks all the promises he makes to his dear friend the Blue Fairy.
Before long he is footless, having burnt off both feet lazing by the fire, has been tricked out of what little money he does possess by the Cat and the Fox, and carted off to Funland where he is turned into a donkey - and then sold to a drum-maker for his hide. Worse still, a worried Geppetto has been swallowed by a Monster Fish as he searches for the son he loves so much. It's little surprise that by the time Pinocchio finds them again both Geppetto and the Blue Fairy are ill. (The cricket's more than ill. He's dead, squished against the wall when Pinocchio threw a boot at him much earlier in the story).
Desperate now to save his father's life, Pinocchio works as hard as he can to earn enough money to buy food for him, and with what is left, he'll buy medicine for the Blue Fairy. In doing so, Pinocchio proves that he has learned to love and feel. But is it enough to make his dream of becoming a real boy come true?
©Opera North
Listen Live
help
