ONE of Europe's leading opera companies is visiting the Oxford Apollo Theatre on its first British tour.
More than 100 soloists, chorus, musicians, technicians and ballet dancers from the Ukrainian National Opera of Odessa will be presenting lavish productions never seen before in this country of Verdi's La Traviata and a full-blooded interpretation of Rossini's comic masterpiece, The Barber of Seville.
The tour will introduce British audiences to several exciting operatic talents who have found fame in their native lands.
Two favourites from the Chisinau National Opera will be joining the company too. Petru Racovita, who played Figaro in The Marriage of Figaro at Oxford two years ago, will appear as Figaro and Germont.
Elena Gherman also returns to the Apollo to play the tragic Violetta, sharing the role with British-based Rosa Lee Thomas.
Tour organiser impresario Ellen Kent said: "It is amazing that such an important company as the Ukrainian National Opera of Odessa has never toured Britain before.
"We are delighted to be bringing these shows to the Oxford Apollo Theatre for the first time. The company will be going from one historic theatre - their own - to another."
La Traviata is on at the Apollo on Thursday, May 23 and Friday, May 24 and Barber of Seville on Saturday, May 25. Both are sung in Italian with English surtitles and tickets are available from 0870 6063500.
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