BACKTim Benjamin’s latest opera Madame X will make its world premiere tomorrow in Todmorden at the Hippodrome Theatre. Rehearsals for Madame X have gone brilliantly, and Tim Benjamin’s new opera is featured in Sinfini Music’s classical music highlights for this week.
More news from behind the scenes can be found on the Madame X blog, including information about the cast and interviews with Tim Benjamin. The opera follows a young artist, Masetto, and his lover, Zerlina, as their lives and dreams are manipulated by Masetto’s corrupt agent and wealthy, powerful art collectors.
As Tim explains in The Lancashire Telegraph, it is quite possible that Madame X is the second opera ever to have been performed in Todmorden – the first being his opera Emily in 2013, which won great acclaim.
This photo from the technical rehearsal below shows a mysterious covered painting … but what really lies beneath?
Madame X will also be performed in Halifax, in London as part of the Grimeborn Festival, and in Manchester:
Thursday 21st August at Todmorden Hippodrome (World Premiere)
Friday 22nd – Saturday 23rd August at Square Chapel, Halifax
Monday 25th – Wednesday 27th August at Arcola Theatre, London (London Premiere)
Thursday 25th September at RNCM Opera Theatre, Manchester
You can also view the latest Madame X trailer here!
Follow Madame X on Facebook and Twitter, protagonists @MasettoPainter and @Zerlina83 have their own accounts, too!