Kuala Lumpur City Opera (KLCO) presents Hansel & Gretel, an all-time favorite fairy tale opera by composer Engelbert Humperdinck on 5, 7 and 8 July at Kuala Lumpur Performing Arts Centre (klpac). The opera based on Grimm Brother’s story of the same name was composed in 1893 just in time for Christmas.
KLCO established since 2012, is the only active opera company in the country presenting and promoting western operas. Some of KLCO’s past productions include Puccini’s La Bohème, Bizet’s Carmen, Donizetti’s L’Elisir d’Amore, La fille du régiment, Menotti’s Amahl and the Night Visitors and Mozart’s masterpiece, The Marriage of Figaro (Le Nozze di Figaro).
Conducting an orchestra ensemble of 8 players is renowned Colombian Conductor, Juan Montoya. Mr. Montoya has been the recipient of several scholarships and prizes as a Pianist and Composer. He has been the principal conductor at KLCO in Malaysia since 2014. Renewing the partnership, KLCO welcomes back award winning stage director, Christopher Ling who had previously directed KLCO’s productions L’elisir D’amore, Amahl and the Night Visitors and La Bohème. Chris is also the Artictic Director of theatrethreesixty.
Singing the title roles are Ho Chi Mei as Gretel and YiLing Chaing, as Hansel. Both, Ho and Chaing were also featured in KLCO’s last production the Marriage of Figaro, singing the roles of Susanna and Cherubino respectively. Chi Mei known for her fine sense of musical engagement and stylistic understanding in her singing continues to mature in her choices of roles. Chaing, an up and coming mezzo soprano with rich and silky voice sings her second role with KLCO. She is also a qualified Kodaly music educator who has regular engagements in Myanmar, China, Taiwan and Australia.
Making her KLCO debut, Malaysian Queen of Shanghai Jazz, Janet Lee plays the villain role of Gingerbread Witch. Janet who is classically trained, has dabbled into musical theatre, dance, theatre and now a major role in an opera. Samuel Lim, who sang the title role in the previous production, Le Nozze di Figaro returns as Peter, the broom maker while Cynthia Tan is Getrud, his wife. Bui Yik Ling and Sandy Cheng sings the role of Sleep Fairy and Dew Fairy respectively.
Hansel and Gretel is in 3 acts and is sung in English with Chinese surtitles . The opera tells the story of two mischievous children who were punished by their Mother and whilst picking berries in the forest encounters the Witch who turns children into gingerbread and devours them. Catch the opera to know the fate of the siblings!
Date and time:
Thu 5 July, 2018 8:30PM; Sat 7 July, 2018 8:30PM and Sun 8 Jul, 2018 3:00PM
Sat 7 July, 2018 3:00PM-4:00PM (Family Fun Day),
Venue
Pentas 1, Kuala Lumpur Performing Arts Centre (KLPAC)
Jalan Strachan off Jalan Ipoh
51100 Kuala Lumpur
Production & Artistic Team
Executive Producers - Danny Chen & Ho Soon Yoon
Conductor - Juan Montoya
Stage Director – Christopher Ling
Vocal Director - Cecilia Yap
Chorus Master - Chi Hoe Mak
Concert Master – Lim Jae Sern
Répétiteur – Soon Kun Ming
Costume Design - Dominique Devorsine
Casts (In order of appearance)
Gretel Ho Chi Mei
Hansel Yi Ling Chaing
Mother Cynthia Tan
Father Samuel Lim
Sleep Fairy Bui Yik Ling
Dew Fairy Sandy Cheng
Gingerbread Witch Janet Lee
Featuring
KL City Opera Chorus
Orchestra Ensemble of KL City Opera
Children from KLCO Opera for Kids and Teens workshop
