City News

The Swineherd Prince, a magical and enchanting opera for children and families comes to Birmingham Repertory Theatre from June 28 to 30 in a thrilling collaboration with the CBSO, the Conservatoire of Bari and the internationally acclaimed Italian theatre company, Teatro Kismet.

Inspired by Hans Christian Andersen's tale, internationally famous composer Nino Rota created this comic opera when he was just 13-years-old. Nino Rota is best known for his compositions for the films of Federico Fellini and Francis Ford Coppola's The Godfather. The Birmingham dates mark the first major production of The Swineherd Prince outside of Italy, and also the first major collaboration between The REP and the CBSO.

The Swineherd Prince is the bittersweet story of a prince's attempts to win the heart of the Emperor's beautiful but capricious young daughter. When the princess shuns the prince's gifts of a single rose and a nightingale, the prince tricks his way into the court disguised as a poor swineherd.

This ravishing production is awash with colour and atmosphere. Comic interventions by the larger than life characters of Hans Christian Andersen (played by British actor John Ramm) and Nino Rota (played by Augusto Masiello) explain how the opera came about and enhance the young audience's enjoyment and understanding of the musical themes, the instruments, the characters and the story. A visual and magical treat for all the family, The Swineherd Prince combines lyrical song, fairy tale magic, and is full of theatrical surprises including a chorus of dancing piglets in suits.

The production will be performed by singers from the Conservatoire of Bari accompanied by members of the CBSO chorus. The music will be played by a 15-piece chamber orchestra featuring musicians from the CBSO and emerging talent for the Birmingham Conservatoire. The work will be conducted by Niccola Scardicchio who wrote this arrangement of The Swineherd Prince from Rota's libretto and piano score after the full orchestral score was lost, possibly during the Second World War bombing of Milan. Scardicchio was a disciple of Rota in Bari, and is now a respected authority on the composer's work as well as an active conductor and composer in his own right.

This exciting collaboration between The REP, the CBSO and Teatro Kismet is also a highlight in a series of arts and cultural activities for young people as part of the Telford Culture Zone, a partnership involving 16 schools and six cultural organisations in Shropshire and Birmingham The collaboration will offer hundreds of school children a wonderful introduction to opera.

The Swineherd Prince is directed by Teresa Ludovico, set and lighting design by Luca Ruzza, costume design by Laura Colombo and choreography is by Giorgio Rossi. A co-production by Fondazione Lirico Sinfonica Petruzelli e Teatri di Bari, the Conservatorio Niccolo Piccinni di Bari and Teatro Kismet. Supported by the District Council of Bitonto and the Telford Cultural Zone. Sponsored by Borsch Electrics.

Listings Information
The Swineherd Prince
A big opera for small people written by Nino Rota, inspired by Hans Christian Andersen's tale. Sung in Italian with narrative in English

Thursday 28th to Saturday 30th June
Performance Times: 2pm on Thursday and Saturday, 11am and 7pm on Friday (running time approx 1hour 15 minutes)
Tickets: £10 to £14.50
Recommended age: 8+
Birmingham Repertory Theatre, Centenary Square, Broad Street, Birmingham B1 2EP Box Office: 0121 236 4455 www.birmingham-rep.co.uk.