The Indian Queen

A touring production with a steam-punk flavour presented by New Sussex Opera Chorus.

Purcell’s last opera has been neglected, probably because it was left unfinished and was in fact completed by his brother Daniel.

It is a story of two lovers divided by war. Acacis is missing and Quivera, waiting for him, fends off another suitor, but for how long? Will Acacis ever return? How long should she wait?

Henry & Daniel Purcell

May 2015
The Birley Centre, Eastbourne
All Saints Centre, Lewes
Barcombe Village Hall

NSO company and chorus
NSO Baroque Players
Conductor Nick Milner-Gulland
Director Rebecca Hanbury
Costume Barbara Campbell

Quivera  Rachel Farago
Acacis   Luke Churchill
Montezuma Carlos Gomez Palacio
Envy John Newman
Ismeron Jason Crook
Goddess of Dreams Hilary Andrews
Spirits Bea Monaco, Siân Griffiths,
Boo Wild, Sarah Cross
Married Man  Norman Wood
Married Woman  Talitha McIntyre-Burnie
Follower of Cupid  Richard Fisher

Footnotes

A complete reworking of the story by director Rebecca Hanbury into a simple tale of  love – nothing Indian about it and there was no queen to be seen – saw this production set in a clock factory with a steampunk theme to the costumes: an entire chorus in aviator goggles. 

The spirits of the air climbed into a symbolic hot-air balloon, while a real model balloon was suspended overhead.

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