When east meets west

Opera buffs should be well pleased this week with Ellen Kent’s Opera & Ballet International staging two legendary Verdi productions plus a Puccini from the Chisinau in Moldova.

Kent has been bringing the finest operatic and ballet companies from Eastern Europe for 17 years.

They are certainly grateful in Eastern Europe, since the break-up of the Soviet Union meant that formerly generously-supported opera and ballet companies were suddenly left penniless, not knowing where to turn. Kent’s offer of touring to the West must have seemed like divine intervention, and she has been awarded medals by both the Ukraine and Moldova in recognition of her work.