An all-time favourite, Puccini's Tosca returns to the Aurora Opera House this October after what is considered an abnormally short time. But there will be a very good reason why Tosca reappears in 2018 after 2011 and 2014, and that reason goes by the name of Vivien Hewitt, the award-winning opera director, renowned for her Puccini expertise. With over 50 opera productions to her credit in Europe, Asia, Latin America and USA, her expertise extends to costume and light design.
Born in Ireland, she lives in Italy and works all over the world. Her latest stagings include La Bohème for Sugi Opera in Seoul, two different productions of Madama Butterfly for the Puccini Festival and the Teatro Carlo Felice in Genoa, Il Barbiere di Siviglia for the Carlo Felice, Tosca at the 5000 seat Yonsei Arena in Seoul, The Fairy Queen in Florence and Rigoletto at Seoul Arts Centre. At the Puccini Festival's 3,400 seat open-air theatre in Torre del Lago she has directed Madama Butterfly, Edgar, Tosca, Gianni Schicchi and Suor Angelica. Her Madama Butterfly, designed by famous Japanese sculptor Kan Yasuda and the Florentine fashion designer Regina Schrecker, is the most widely acclaimed and longest running production in the 64-year history of the Festival. Due for revival this summer, it has been on the bill in Torre del Lago in 2000, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2010 and 2012 and 2016. It has been viewed by no less than 120,000 spectators.
Understandably so, Hewitt's extensive star-studded CV brings to the Aurora in Gozo an exceptional comparative advantage, even in costume and set design, as well as the choice of the cast itself, which will be announced in due course. The engagement of Vivien Hewitt marks another milestone in the Aurora's quest for upping its artistic product. It ushers new working methods that enable a greater and more creative artistic discourse and augurs well for the new production that is being created.
With outstanding experience in televised and live-streamed productions, TV and cinema documentaries, teaching activity, Hewitt promises to bring the power of authenticity, beauty, harmony, elegance and emotional intensity in this Tosca production. Her objective is "to get under the skin of an opera and to combine music, text, visual imagery, lighting climate, gesture, action and interaction in a symbiotic way that deliver a powerful and authentically holistic experience for the public. I see tradition as a precious resource to be carefully conserved and explored with love and attention, offering an essential departure point for every exciting journey into new artistic expression".
Vivien Hewitt speaks further on her vision on www.teatruaurora.com.
Puccini's Tosca is on at the Aurora Opera House on Saturday October 13th, 2018 at 1930hrs. Online sales are available from www.teatruaurora.com or via the 24/7 ticket helpline 79045779.