Le comte Ory
A crazy comedy of disguise, seduction & chaos
Come on a wild ride as we unveil Rossini’s comic opera masterpiece, presented for the first time by NZ Opera.
So the lads are out of town for a while, and they’ve left their ladies behind. Enter Count Ory: a schemer to be sure, but more than a little hapless. He’s dead set on making the most of the men’s absence – and he’s especially keen on winning the affections of Countess Adèle. Unfortunately for him, Adèle wasn’t born yesterday, so she’s not having a bar of his nonsense. And while he’s so fixated on his own schemes, Ory’s completely clueless about the fact that his supposedly trusty sidekick, Isolier, also has grand plans for the countess.
Intrigued? You will be. A whirlwind blend of silly and sublime, Le comte Ory’s music and script are bursting with Rossini’s trademark pizzazz, with a contemporary (and very Kiwi) staging by Simon Phillips and Tracy Grant Lord breathing new and vivid life into the work. And let’s not forget our pièce de résistance: an outrageous three-in-a-bed romp with over fourteen minutes of slow-burn musical sensuality.
Prepare yourself for a rollercoaster of deception, intrigue, and a dash of playful flirtation, all wrapped up in some of the smoothest Rossini tunes you’ve ever heard.
Duration: 2 hours 45 minutes (including an interval)
Language: Sung in French with English surtitles
Age advisory: This production of Le comte Ory contains mature themes and content, and is best suited for audiences 16+
Strobe light advisory: Please be advised that this production of Le comte Ory will include a scene featuring flashing lights towards the end of Act 1. This may potentially affect audience members who are sensitive to flashing lights or who suffer from conditions such as epilepsy.
Christchurch TicketsAUCKLAND
30 May & 1 June, 2024
7:30pm
Kiri Te Kanawa Theatre
Tāmaki Makaurau, Auckland
1 June, 2024
Audio-description and touch tour
WELLINGTON
13 & 15 June, 2024
7:30pm
St. James Theatre
Te Whanganui-a-Tara, Wellington
15 June, 2024
Audio-description and touch tour
CHRISTCHURCH
27 & 29 June, 2024
7:30pm
Isaac Theatre Royal
Ōtautahi, Christchurch
29 June, 2024
Audio-description and touch tour
MUsIC
Gioachino Rossini
libretto
Eugène Scribe
ORCHESTRAS
Auckland Philharmonia
Orchestra Wellington
Christchurch Symphony Orchestra
Ngā Kaiwhakaari
Cast
Count Ory
Countess Adèle
Isolier
Raimbaud
Tutor
Ragonde
Alice
WITH THE NZ OPERA CHORUS
Te Rōpu Auaha
Creative Team
Conductor
Director
Set & Costume Designer
Lighting Designer
Assistant Conductor
Assistant Director
Surtitle Translation
TE ROPU PUORO
MUSIC STAFF
Principal Répétiteur
David Kelly
Chorus DirectIoN (AKL)
Brad Cohen
Chorus Director (WEL)
Michael Vinten
Chorus Director (CHCH)
Nicholas Forbes
crew
HEad of wigs & makeup
Karina Sanasaryan
HEAD OF WARDROBE
Sophie Ham
HEAD OF LIGHTING
Zach Howells