Carlos Avilez Auditorium – Edifício Cruzeiro, Estoril.
Performance for children from the 6 to 10 years
Group bookings: [email protected]
Teaching ResourcesTickets available on Ticketline.
BUY TICKETS
It all begins at the home of Faustina Balão and Bellini del Canto, a couple preparing to celebrate their silver wedding anniversary. But in a family that seems to live permanently inside an opera, nothing goes quite as planned.
Faustina is a true prima donna, while Bellini is so concerned with his appearance that he surprises his wife by preparing Tosca, the maid, to help her maintain some semblance of order amid the chaos. Along the way, there is also Pedro Patê, an adolescent son who is tired of living “inside an opera” and dreams of a magical, more illustrious life as a singer.
And then there is Don Giovanni, Faustina’s cat, who disappears on the very day of the celebration. The search for the cat sets off a chain of misunderstandings, lies and confusion, while Bellini tries to conceal his grand secret: he has prepared a special ring for Faustina, featuring a rare “unicorn ruby”, which he plans to present to her inside a cake.
Things become complicated when Pedro Patê and Tosca try to transform the family dog, Leitmotiv, into the missing cat. Amid magical tricks, a marching orchestra that suddenly abandons the stage, a cake, a wig and countless attempts to hide the truth, everyone finds themselves caught up in a hilarious comedy of errors.
In the end, the plan is exposed in the most unexpected way: the dog swallows the ring, which ends up on Faustina’s head, setting off a chain of events that finally unravels the mystery. The real Don Giovanni appears where least expected, hiding in a cupboard to escape the vet. Bellini finally confesses his intentions, and Faustina forgives him, bringing the celebration to a close with music and dancing.
Production and Communication: Cascais Ópera · International Vocal Competition
Librettist · Actress, Playwright, Director and Writer
Music & Musical Direction · Conductor
Materials to help prepare students for their visit to the opera.
22 – 25 October ·
Carlos Avilez Auditorium, Estoril
Over the past three decades, primarily in London, Portugal and Amsterdam, Dr Jorge Balça
has developed a strong portfolio of work and a unique combination of skillsets – as a stage
director (of theatre, opera, and hybrid forms), a teacher and workshop leader, a presentation
skills, acting and creativity coach, and practice-based researcher. His work in all these
domains is distinguished by his commitment to and skill in making fantasy and invention
emerge from precise knowledge and training – and by his ability to inspire a similar alchemy
in his collaborators.
Classically trained as an actor and countertenor, he studied theatre directing in London and
Moscow, specialising in Shakespeare, techniques of adaptation, Meyerhold and commedia
dell’arte. Jorge also holds a PhD exploring the dramatic training of opera performers.
With a love for site-specific projects and collaborative forms, and an equal flair for comedy
and drama, his work is dramaturgically inventive, visually striking, and physically engaged.
He was the artistic director of Bloomsbury Opera and associate director of The Opera
Makers, both in London. In Portugal, he has recently directed L’Heure Espagnole and The
Turn of the Screw at Centro Cultural de Belém, and Don Giovanni and La Voix Humaine at
Festival de Ópera de Óbidos.
Jorge is committed to his work as a teacher, having taught at the Dutch National Opera
Academy, Morley College London, Universidade de Évora and other institutions. He
maintains an international coaching private practice and is the acting coach at the Neil
Semer Vocal Institute in Italy.
After filling in the information below click subscribe.
We will keep you up to date.
Over the past three decades, primarily in London, Portugal and Amsterdam, Dr Jorge Balça
has developed a strong portfolio of work and a unique combination of skillsets – as a stage
director (of theatre, opera, and hybrid forms), a teacher and workshop leader, a presentation
skills, acting and creativity coach, and practice-based researcher. His work in all these
domains is distinguished by his commitment to and skill in making fantasy and invention
emerge from precise knowledge and training – and by his ability to inspire a similar alchemy
in his collaborators.
Classically trained as an actor and countertenor, he studied theatre directing in London and
Moscow, specialising in Shakespeare, techniques of adaptation, Meyerhold and commedia
dell’arte. Jorge also holds a PhD exploring the dramatic training of opera performers.
With a love for site-specific projects and collaborative forms, and an equal flair for comedy
and drama, his work is dramaturgically inventive, visually striking, and physically engaged.
He was the artistic director of Bloomsbury Opera and associate director of The Opera
Makers, both in London. In Portugal, he has recently directed L’Heure Espagnole and The
Turn of the Screw at Centro Cultural de Belém, and Don Giovanni and La Voix Humaine at
Festival de Ópera de Óbidos.
Jorge is committed to his work as a teacher, having taught at the Dutch National Opera
Academy, Morley College London, Universidade de Évora and other institutions. He
maintains an international coaching private practice and is the acting coach at the Neil
Semer Vocal Institute in Italy.
This site uses cookies for a better user experience.
By using this site you are agreeing with our Privacy Policy and Terms and Conditions
