Verdi: Don Carlos (Sept - Oct 2019)

The new season begins with a Verdi Festival. A trilogy of Verdi Masterpieces for audiences to get their teeth stuck into. Beginning with Don Carlos - performed in the original and slightly longer French version.
For me the most memorable part of this production will be our fabulous costumes. I get to wear some incredibly comfortable blue silk pyjamas with a Pope style white pointed hat on my head. I sometimes find it hard to recognise myself when I see photos of myself in the production. 
I love the music in this piece. I once had tickets to go and watch it at the Royal Opera House. I was sat in my seat ready to have my mind blown by this piece - when they announced that the performance was going to be cancelled and all tickets would be refunded! The soprano singing "Elizabeth" had been taken to hospital last minute and they did not have a cover available. I remember, feeling so disappointed that I could not watch the full opera. The Royal Opera House did put on a few small scenes and arias for the audience that didn't involve this key character. It was so magical to hear these clips. I felt so frustrated, and I could not wait to one day be able to see it again. Who would have thought that the first time I would be watching the opera, would be from inside this production with Opera Vlaanderen? (Someone touch some wood to try and not tempt fate! We have only done one of our thirteen performances so far. I really don't want the same thing to happen again.)

​https://operaballet.be/en/programme/2019-2020/don-carlos 

Photos: Annemie Augustijns