We are delighted to announce the 2023 Season – Rossini’s Il barbiere di Siviglia, Mozart’s Mitridate, re di Ponto, Strauss’s Ariadne auf Naxos and Smetana’s The Bartered Bride.
Il barbiere di Siviglia
Gioachino Rossini
Rossini’s joyously inventive music makes Il barbiere di Siviglia a deftly- paced triumph of comic timing. Esteemed actor-turned-director Christopher Luscombe makes his Garsington debut with this most beloved of operas alongside Simon Higlett, whose design will transport us to the sumptuous glamour of early 1930s Seville. Conducting The English Concert in the pit will be Artistic Director Douglas Boyd.
Count Almaviva Andrew Stenson
Figaro Johannes Kammler
Rosina Katie Bray
Dr Bartolo Richard Burkhard
Don Basilio Callum Thorpe
Berta Josephine Goddard
Conductor Douglas Boyd
Director Christopher Luscombe
Designer Simon Higlett
Lighting Designer Howard Hudson
Movement Director Ewan Jones
The English Concert
Garsington Opera Chorus
May 31
June 2, 8, 10, 12, 17
July 7, 9, 16, 18, 22
Mitridate, re di Ponto
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
This seldom performed Mozart opera sees Director Tim Albery and Designer Hannah Clark present a simple yet striking concept with their contemporary setting imbibed with references to 19th century power and empire. An all-star cast featuring Robert Murray as well as exciting Garsington debuts from soprano Elizabeth Watts and countertenor Iestyn Davies, bring to life this intimate yet dramatic story, resulting in a complex web of rivalry, jealousy, aggression and pent-up passion featuring The English Concert under the baton of Clemens Schuldt.
Mitridate Robert Murray
Aspasia Elizabeth Watts
Sifare Louise Kemény
Farnace Iestyn Davies
Ismene Soraya Mafi
Arbate John Graham-Hall
Marzio Joshua Owen Mills
Conductor Clemens Schuldt
Director Tim Albery
Designer Hannah Clark
Lighting Designer Malcolm Rippeth
The English Concert
June 1, 3, 9, 11, 23, 27
July 2
Ariadne auf Naxos
Richard Strauss
Following the success of our 2021 production of Der Rosenkavalier, Bruno Ravella returns to direct another Strauss masterpiece, Ariadne auf Naxos. Mark Wigglesworth reunites with the Philharmonia after his ‘triumphant performance’ (The Stage) conducting The Turn of the Screw in 2022 and Olivier Award winning Giles Cadle brings the island of Naxos to life with his transportive design. As the Prima Donna (Ariadne), star-soprano Natalya Romaniw leads a formidable cast including Young Woo Kim as Bacchus and Jennifer France as Zerbinetta through this opera of two halves where comedy and music combine.
Ariadne Natalya Romaniw
Bacchus Young Woo Kim
Zerbinetta Jennifer France
The composer Polly Leech
His music master William Dazeley
The dancing master John Graham-Hall
Harlequin Marcus Farnsworth
Brighella Innocent Masuku
Truffaldino Ossian Huskinson
Scaramuccio Richard Pinkstone
Naiad Claire Lees
Dryad Siân Griffiths
Echo Harriet Eyley
The Major-Domo Graham Clark
Conductor Mark Wigglesworth
Director Bruno Ravella
Designer Giles Cadle
Lighting Designer Malcolm Rippeth
Choreographer Carmine De Amicis
Philharmonia Orchestra
June 18, 24, 29
July 1, 6, 14, 19, 21
The Bartered Bride
Bedřich Smetana
Reviving our critically acclaimed 2019 production, Jac van Steen returns to conduct the Philharmonia Orchestra and a cast led by Pumeza Matshikiza as Mařenka. Smetana’s opera has come to be seen as a celebration of Czech culture and identity, which translates here into a more familiar setting, complete with village pub and a maypole on the green. Dance is at the heart and soul of The Bartered Bride – from the intoxicatingly lively overture to a riotous and festive polka. There’s a circus with jugglers and acrobats, an escaped bear, rousingly beery drinking songs and heart-stopping love duets and arias. It’s an irresistible combination.
Mařenka Pumeza Matshikiza
Jeník Oliver Johnston
Kecal David Ireland
Vašek John Findon
Ludmila Yvonne Howard
Krušina William Dazeley
Ringmaster Jeffrey Lloyd-Roberts
Esmeralda Isabelle Peters
Mícha John Savournin
Háta Louise Winter
Conductor Jac van Steen
Director Rosie Purdie
Original production by Paul Curran
Designer Kevin Knight
Lighting Designer Howard Hudson
Choreographer Darren Royston
Philharmonia Orchestra
Garsington Opera Chorus
Circus Troupe led by Jennifer Robinson
June 30
July 3, 5, 8, 10, 13, 15, 20, 23
We are now accepting priority booking requests from members. Booking dates are detailed below:
Ingrams Circle, Constellation of Garsington & Patron deadline – 29 November 2022
Special Friend & Friend deadline – 10 January 2023
Affiliate Booking opens at 10am on 7 March 2023
GO≤35 Booking opens at 10am on 28 March 2023
Public Booking opens at 10am on 4 April 2023