text: The Siege of Calais (L'assedio di Calais) - English Touring Opera
  Gaetano Donizetti - Spring 2013
  A vocally brilliant, stirring and patriotic telling of the story of the burghers of Calais by 'bel canto' opera composer Gaetano Donizetti.
  Robust, virile and emotionally charged … English Touring Opera's performance is enthralling.
  — 4 STARS, Telegraph
  Donizetti's music always has a relentless jolliness about it… brings to mind some of the most stirring parts of Les Miserables.
  — 4 STARS, Daily Express
  Thrilling, emotive singing from mezzo Helen Sherman in the trousers role of Aurelio; from Eddie Wade as Eustachio, and from Paula Sides as Aurelio's wife. ETO has done The Siege of Calais proud.
  — 4 STARS, Sunday Telegraph
  What does it mean to be a citizen? What is it that a citizen owes to his city, or country? This is the question posed by Donizetti's rarely performed epic The Siege of Calais (L'assedio di Calais) – a 'serious' opera, sung in Italian, constructed of bel canto arias and ensembles of extraordinary quality.
  It is the story of the burghers of Calais (depicted by Rodin in his famous sculpture outside the Houses of Parliament), citizens who offer up their lives to save their city from a besieging army. Their sacrifice is quiet, ordinary, sublime – and it culminates in one of the most moving ensembles in all of opera, the momentous O sacra polve, o suol natio (O Sacred Earth).
  The opera also includes poignant, intimate scenes between the young couple at the heart of the drama (played by soprano Paula Sides and by mezzo Helen Sherman in a role originally written for a musico), and between the leader of the city (baritone Eddie Wade) and his anguished followers. Meanwhile, at the gates, the triumphant Edward III (played by extraordinary young baritone Cozmin Sime) shouts for blood.
  ETO's new production features designs by Faroese artist Samal Blak, inspired by the siege of Stalingrad.
  Running time: 2 hours (incl. one 20 minute interval).
  Click here to find out how you can become more involved in our new production of The Siege of Calais by joining our Production Syndicate
  ETO's performers sing "O sacra polve, o suol natio" from the end of Act II of The Siege of Calais (recorded at Snape Maltings Concert Hall).
  9th Mar 2013 - 7:30 pm
  22nd Mar 2013 - 7:30 pm
  27th Mar 2013 - 7:30 pm
  13th Apr 2013 - 7:30 pm
  20th Apr 2013 - 7:30 pm
  27th Apr 2013 - 7:30 pm
  2nd May 2013 - 7:30 pm
  11th May 2013 - 7:30 pm
  16th May 2013 - 7:30 pm
  21st May 2013 - 7:30 pm
  Hackney Empire — 9th Mar 2013 - 7:30 pm
  Exeter Northcott Theatre — 22nd Mar 2013 - 7:30 pm
  Norwich Theatre Royal — 27th Mar 2013 - 7:30 pm
  York Theatre Royal — 13th Apr 2013 - 7:30 pm
  Snape Maltings Concert Hall — 20th Apr 2013 - 7:30 pm
  Buxton Opera House — 27th Apr 2013 - 7:30 pm
  Everyman Theatre, Cheltenham — 2nd May 2013 - 7:30 pm
  Warwick Arts Centre — 11th May 2013 - 7:30 pm
  Perth Festival, Perth Concert Hall — 16th May 2013 - 7:30 pm
  Cambridge Arts Theatre — 21st May 2013 - 7:30 pm
  Eustachio, Mayor of Calais
  Training NOS, GSMD
  Awards first prize in the National Mozart Competition, Verdi / Wagner prize
  Opera Baron Douphol La Traviata (ROH, WNO, GTO), Mandarin Turandot (ROH), Marcello La Bohème (WNO), Executioner Inés de Castro, Sharpless Madama Butterfly (both SO)
  Concert Mendelssohn Elijah (Exeter and Wells Cathedrals), Essential Scottish Opera (SO), Verdi Requiem (Pontypridd Choral Society)
  Recordings Baron Douphol La Traviata (WNO broadcast on S4C)
  Aurelio, Eustachio's son
  Eleonora, Aurelio's wife
  Eduardo III, King of England
  Pietro de Wisants, burgher
  Giovanni d'Aire, burgher
  Edmundo, English general
  Giacomo de Wisants, burgher
  Born in South Africa, he attended the Drakensberg Boys Choir School and studied at the RAM where he was generously supported by the Ernest Oppenheimer Memorial Trust, SA Arts Council and various RAM bursaries. He was a Finalist in the 2012 Handel Singing Competition.
  Operatic roles have included Autumn/The Fairy Queen, Parpignol/La Boheme, Tantale/La descente d'Orphée aux enfers (GFO), Don Curzio/Le Nozze di Figaro, Araldo/Rinaldo (GTO), Don Ottavio/Don Giovanni, Pedrillo/Die Entführung aus dem Serail, Monostatos/Die Zauberflöte, Pelléas/Pelléas et Mélisande, Adolphe/Die Opernprobe, Hot Biscuit Slim/Paul Bunyan.
  Oratorio performances include Messiah (Harry Bicket, ECO, Laurence Cummings), Dixit Dominus, St. John/St. Matthew Passion, The Choice of Hercules (Laurence Cummings), L'Allegro, il Penseroso ed il Moderato (William Christie), Mozart Requiem (OAE), Ode on St. Cecilia Day, Haydn Creation and Nelson Mass, St. John Passion (Evangelist), Bach Magnificat and B minor Mass.
  Concert venue appearances include the Royal Albert Hall, St. James Piccadilly, St. Martin-in-the-Fields, Houses of Parliament, Palau de la Musica, Neresheim Cathedral, Auditorio Nacional de Música, Duomo Montepulciano and Thêâtre des Champs-Élysées.
  As a member of the BBC Singers Ad Hoc list he has performed numerous world premieres by contemporary composers such as Harrison Birtwistle, Thomas Adès and Edward Cowie, and has, amongst others, worked with conductors such as Daniel Barenboim, the late Richard Hickox and Jiří Bělohlávek. He has also made numerous TV and radio broadcasts with the group.
  Matthew has worked for companies including WNO, SO, MWO, Chelsea Opera Group, London Festival Opera and BYO and worked with ETO for the first time last year. He has performed roles including title role Le nozze di Figaro, Marcello / Schaunard La bohème, Guglielmo Così fan tutte, Sid Albert Herring, Eustachio L'assedio di Calais, Germont Pere La Traviata and Yamadori Madame Butterfly. He studied on the Opera Course at GSMD and continues to study privately with John Evans.
  An enthralling performance, especially from Helen Sherman and Paula Sides.
  Said wendy at 07:30am on 23rd Mar 2013
  What a great tour you are having - Simon Boccanegra in Sheffield was tremendous and on Saturday in Buxton another feast of singing and playing (especially Eustachio, Aurelio and Eleonora). Brava and bravo to all involved.
  Said Judy and Roger at 14:12pm on 29th Apr 2013
  We would just like to say how much we enjoyed the performances of the Siege of Calais and Simon Boccanegra at Buxton this weekend. Our enjoyment was contributed to considerably by the interesting and informed pre-performance talks by Carlos del Cueto.
  Said Douglas and Jenny at 14:14pm on 29th Apr 2013
  This is the third one I saw at the Everyman, Cheltenham last week - and what a week! Obviously I'd never heard this opera before and wasn't going to miss the chance of such a rarity. And ETO did it proud - wonderful chorus work and great singing from all the principals.
  Looking forward to next year's offerings!
  Said Margaret Eccles at 00:53am on 7th May 2013
  I never dreamed it possible to make L'Assedio di Calais work so movingly and brilliantly as I saw at Warwick Arts on Saturday. Big thanks!
  Don't suppose you'll tour Northern Ireland or the Republic? It's a bit of a way from Armagh to Warwick...still, the journey was definitely worth it!