The Elixir of Love
After the success of their 2023 and 2024 visits, Wild Arts return in 2025 with two operas - Tchaikovsky's romantic love story Eugene Onegin, directed by former Globe Artistic Director Dominic Dromgoole, and Donizetti's dreamy, sun-kissed comedy The Elixir of Love, set in an Italian seaside village in the 1950ies and performed in a mischievous new translation.
The performances will take place in the beautiful Great Hall in the main house, with room for only 175 audience members.
The operas will be fully staged, in costume and sung in English by a cast of exceptional singers, with a chamber orchestra of top musicians, conducted by Wild Arts' Artistic Director Orlando Jopling.
Forde Abbey is a Grade 1 listed 17th century country house with 30 acres of award-winning gardens, including the highest-powered fountain in England, wildflower meadows, topiary lined vistas, herbaceous borders, arboretum, bog garden, and walled kitchen garden.
Thursday 3 July
6pm The Elixir of Love
You are welcome to arrive from 5pm to set up your picnic in the gardens, and bring food, drink, rugs, chairs, tables, friends, and candelabras. The performance will start at 6pm, with a 90-minute picnic interval at approximately 7pm before Act II starts at 8.30pm. Curtain down will be at approximately 9.30pm.
Directed by Guido Martin-Brandis, designed by Sophie Lincoln and conducted by Orlando Jopling.
Tickets and information
Dress - Summer Smart
Front rows £95 | Mid section £75 | Back rows £55
Please book early - last year's opera sold out. A limited number of joint ticket to both operas are available at a discount.
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