‘Traditional, beautiful, sexy opera’

La Traviata on Thursday April 26 and Madama Butterfly on Friday April 27 are two of Ellen’s ‘traditional, sexy, beautiful operas’ as she calls them.

Ellen said: “They are definitely my favourites, they are two of my most successful shows and they are absolutely wonderful to direct.”

The 63-year-old is in charge of every aspect of each opera, from the set, costumes and casting to the transport and work permits for the international cast and crew.

She said: “It’s like giving birth every time you do an opera. If you do it from scratch, by the time it’s touring you feel like it’s your baby, you feel a very fierce ownership for it.

“The casts of La Traviata and Madama Butterfly are from all over the world, including the incredible Elena Dee as Madama Butterfly. All the leads are quite young and beautiful, otherwise it is not believable. You can’t have an old, fat person in a lead role it just isn’t real.”

The talented cast are accompanied by the Ukranian National Orchestra of Kharkiv.

For audiences who are new to opera, Ellen said: “They either enjoy it or they don’t. For those who haven’t been to opera before I’d say go and cut your teeth on something like Madama or Traviata. It’s glitzy and glam. If you like music then you will like opera –you will laugh, you will cry, it’s fantastic.”

Box Office: 01582 602080.