Grange Park Opera

Mozart Le nozze di Figaro – A grand household falls into disarray over a servant romance.

Mozart Così fan tutte – The faithfulness of women is put to the test by two soldiers in disguise.

Mozart Don Giovanni – A dishonourable nobleman meets his match when a vengeful statue comes to dinner.

Another Mozart, e.g. Idomeneo – In the aftermath of the Trojan War, new love awakens between a Trojan princess and a Cretan prince. Two obstacles stand in their way: the god Neptune and a bloodthirsty sea serpent.

A Monteverdi

A Handel

A Purcell opera or masque

A serious Rossini

Verdi La Traviata – Violetta Valéry is Paris’s most beloved courtesan, until she falls in love with countryman Alfredo and embarks on a new life. But their happily-ever-after is threatened by unhappy relatives.

Verdi Otello – A jealous colleague vows to destroy the Moorish general Otello via the person he treasures most: his wife Desdemona.

Verdi Don Carlo – In war-torn France, blossoming love between a French princess and the Infante of Spain offers hope to the people. However, the King of Spain decides instead that he himself will wed the princess, leaving Infante Don Carlos in despair.

Verdi Falstaff – Shakespeare’s satiric masterpiece, Falstaff, hopes to restore his fortunes by seducing two married women. They see through his plan immediately and plot a playful revenge.

Verdi Simon Boccanegra – One ally-turned-enemy lurks round every corner as Simon Boccanegra, a former pirate, rules Genoa.

Verdi Rigoletto – The court jester is highly entertained by his master’s womanizing ways, until they are turned upon the jester’s daughter.

Puccini La Boheme – A group of penniless friends in 1830s Paris must grasp at happiness wherever it shows up.

Puccini Tosca – A singer is in love with an artist whose political loyalties could get him killed.

Puccini Madama Butterfly – An idealistic Japanese girl falls in love with an ill-intentioned American lieutenant.

Beethoven Fidelio – Leonore cannot believe her husband has perished in prison, so she dons a prison guard’s disguise to carry out her own investigations.

A Bellini, e.g. Norma – This is a family drama like no other: a love affair between a Roman consul and a Druid priestess spawns two children, a love triangle, and a declaration of war.

A Donizetti comedy, e.g. L’elisir d’amore – How can Nemorino, a penniless peasant, win the affections of the beautiful but cruel heiress Adina? A love potion seems to be the answer to all his troubles.

A Donizetti bel canto history opera, e.g. Maria Stuarda – Donizetti’s imaginative take on the tale of Mary Stuart sees sparks fly between Elizabeth I and the imprisoned Queen of Scotland.

Rossini Barber of Seville – “Figaro here, Figaro there, Figaro high, Figaro low!”: this barber can hardly catch his breath as he runs errands across the city. His latest assignment? Help a disguised nobleman win over the woman of his dreams.

Rossini Cenerentola – In this twisted Cinderella story, the wicked stepmother is replaced by an even more wicked stepfather, while the fairy godmother is a philosophy teacher unafraid to fight fire with fire.

Leoncavallo Pagliacci – Canio the Clown cannot shake the feeling that his co-star wife is being unfaithful.

Mascagni Cavalleria Rusticana – Scorned by his one-time fiancée, Sicilian villager Turiddu embarks on a reckless love affair.

Dvořák Rusalka – In the fashion of The Little Mermaid, the water nymph Rusalka pursues royal love – but she is disillusioned at what she discovers onshore.

Janacek The Cunning Little Vixen – This folk music-infused opera sees creatures of the forest unwittingly embroiled in human affairs.

A Richard Strauss, e.g. Capriccio – Music, poetry or theatre? The widow Countess Madeleine is wooed by the arts as she chooses between suitors.

Wagner Tristan & Isolde – Passion and rage abound in this love story, where Isolde falls for her husband’s killer.

Another Wagner

Tchaikovsky Eugene Onegin – Two best friends lock themselves into a duel over a prideful misunderstanding.

Another Tchaikovsky

Bizet Carmen – Irresistibly dangerous, Carmen offers José a life of adventure – with terrible consequences.

A Massenet, e.g. Don Quichotte – The windmill-tilting knight and his long-suffering sidekick take on bandits, romance and a quest to find a pearl necklace.

Debussy Pelleas et Melisande – Prince Goulaud rescues a damsel in distress and makes her his bride. But palace life turns her stomach – and her heart lies elsewhere.

Britten The Turn of the Screw – Could two angelic children be under threat from evil spirits, or is their over-protective governess losing her mind?

And then, from the age of 36-40, there is The Ring Cycle…