Upcoming performances
AGRIPPINA | HGO
Everyone is hungry for power, but not all are worthy.
The coronation that goes wrong… When Agrippina hears of the death of her husband Claudio by shipwreck, she seizes the opportunity to place her son Nerone in power. After gaining the support of the toadying Narciso and Pallante, she is upset to find Claudio has been saved by the gallant Ottone, whom Claudio has rewarded with a promise of the crown. But Claudio, Nerone and Ottone are all obsessed with the cunning Poppea. As they pursue her, and Agrippina tries to steer Nerone back into the line of succession, we’re left to wonder whether any of these people should really be in charge.
Ashley Pearson’s staging of Handel’s satirical opera is performed by HGO’s brilliant cast of young singers, tomorrow’s opera stars, accompanied by the HGOAntiqua Orchestra of period instruments, including theorbo. The performance will be sung in Italian with English surtitles.
Performances on 13, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20 May at 7pm, on 14 & 21 May at 4pm.
ANNIVERSARY GALA | ST PAUL'S OPERA
Ten years ago, three music lovers got together and had a wild idea: why not stage an opera, using St Paul’s Church in Clapham’s Old Town as the stage?
The trio – the-then vicar of St Paul’s Deborah Matthews, Australian opera singer and teacher Jennifer McGregor and Clapham-based soprano Patricia Ninian – decided to stage a performance of two short operas, Gianni Schicchi and Der Schauspieldirektor. The rest is history.
To celebrate this 10th anniversary, director Ashley Pearson staged a special gala concert featuring favourite arias and scenes from SPO’s back catalogue, a ‘greatest hits’ compilation from operas staged over the years.
CINDERELLA | ST PAUL'S OPERA
This festive, family-friendly re-interpretation of the classic fairytale sees Cinderella as a feisty young orphan who dreams of a better life away from her nasty stepsisters. With the help of her Fairy Godmother, she meets Prince Charming and her life is changed forever.
A new English adaptation of Pauline Viardot’s opera in a magical reimagining of the renowned folk story combines overhead projection, shadow puppetry and stop motion animation alongside a cast of wonderful singers.
Performances at 7.30pm on 9 December & 3pm on 11 December.
PARTENOPE | FESTIVALS MALTA & HGO
An opera not-so-seria… Join us at the sea-side in Victorian England, where Partenope, proprietress of a leading establishment, faces takeover attempts (on her hotel and herself) from neighbouring hoteliers Arsace, Ormindo and Emilio, as well as the enigmatic Eurimene – can he really be what he seems? Threats, battles and surprises, and some thrilling singing, lead of course to a happy ending.
Ashley Pearson’s witty production was revived in Valletta’s historic Teatru Manoel at the Three Palaces Early Opera & Music Festival in Malta. The talents of the HGO cast and the renowned Cappella Neapolitana di Antonio Florio brought Handel’s sly take on opera seria endearingly to life.
Performances at 7.30pm on 4 November & 6pm on 6 November.
VERISMO | OPERA ON LOCATION
For Opera on Location, Ashley Pearson directed her own reimagining of one of the most iconic double bills in opera: Mascagni's Cavalleria rusticana and Leoncavallo's Pagliacci. This groundbreaking new interpretation of these popular one act operas transports audiences to the home front of World War II in a rollicking musical extravaganza.
The Pagliacci theatre troupe is in the final preparations for their upcoming production of Cavalleria rusticana. During the first run-through of their new production, the cast allow their personal feelings to take control. The lines between theatre and reality, truth and fiction, are blurred as love, anger and jealousy overwhelm the cast.
Performances at 7.30pm on 25, 26 & 27 August.