Guildhall School of Music and Drama presents an opera double bill of contrasting rarities: Debussy's 'L'enfant prodigue' (in French); and Donizetti's 'Francesca di Foix' (in Italian).
Based on the Bible story of The Prodigal Son, Debussy's tender examination of family love, a 'lyric scene', met with great acclaim upon its premiere in 1884 and won the composer the coveted Prix de Rome. Here it is paired with Donizetti's neglected comic gem, 'Francesca di Foix', a cautionary tale about the perils of being an overprotective husband, which influenced much of the composer's later work. Sung by the current cohort of singers on the Guildhall School's Opera Course.
Dominic Wheeler: conductor
Stephen Barlow: director
Yannis Thavoris: designer
David Howe: lighting designer
Victoria Newlyn: choreographer