Rob Murray is back performing with English National Opera at The London Coliseum next month. The Chorleywood based tenor makes his role debut as Emilio in Handel’s Partenope.
“The plot is intricate and much more than a love triangle, there are five involved in this love story! The heroine is the beautiful Partenope. In mythology Partenope founded Naples but here she is a society hostess with three suitors – Arcase, Armindo and Emilio – me!”
Arcase’s ex Rosemira still loves him and dresses as a man to try and win him back. There’s passion and jealousy and the plot gets really tangled up and comical with girls with moustaches and beards, dressed in men’s suits, bow ties and hats who are smoking pipes, drinking cocktails and playing cards. It all takes place in 1920s Paris at a stark white Art Deco style apartment with a sweeping curved staircase.
“In this production my character is loosely based on the artist Man Ray whose surreal photographic imagery influences the set design. The characters are off the wall and the score is brilliant!”
Partenope 15 – 24 March, London Coliseum www.eno.org
Rob Murray’s latest CD, Schubert, Die Schöne Müllerin is available from Amazon, Presto Classical, iTunes or Spotify.
His recording was a listening option on the plan when he recently took a BA flight to Seattle!