The picturesque grounds of the Royal Agricultural University will play host to two operas this summer.
Tosca by Puccini will be performed on Friday July 25 and Rigoletto by Verdi on Saturday July 26, with performances starting at 7.30pm.
Performed by Opera Brava, returning for its seventh year to the Cotswolds, the cast includes young, exciting singers mixed with international artists who have performed in major opera houses, including Covent Garden and English National Opera.
Based on the French play, La Tosca is a melodramatic piece set in Rome in the 1880s, when the Kingdom of Naples’s control of Rome was threatened by Napoleon’s invasion of Italy. Tosca is often regarded to be one of Puccini’s greatest scores, full of passion, tragedy, beauty and pathos. The Role of Tosca will be performed by Katrina Sheppeard who recently appeared in the English National Opera production of Fidelio.
The performance of Rigoletto, starring International Baritone Andrew Mayor, is considered by some to be the first of the operatic masterpieces of Verdi’s mid to late career. It revolves around the tragic story of the Duke of Mantua, his court jester Rigoletto, and Rigoletto’s beautiful daughter, Gilda.
Opera Brava is a professional opera company specialising in touring opera. Now in its 23rd year, the company presents a packed programme of classic productions at a wide variety of locations every year.
The Royal Agricultural University is nestled in 25 acres of scenic grounds set around a gothic-Victorian building and the 16th century Bathurst Wing. The RAU has hosted a number of large-scale events, including the BBC’s Antiques Roadshow last year.
Bring your picnics and parasols and enjoy a weekend of opera.
Tickets cost £25 per adult (£35 on the gate) and £10 per child. To book your place, visit www.operabrava.co.uk
You can also call the box office to book tickets:
Opera Brava – 01444 443000 / Royal Agricultural University – 01285 652531 / Everyman Theatre – 01242 572573
