ABOUT BATH OPERA
Presenting sensational opera in Bath, sung in English with full orchestra, since 1977.
Bath Opera performs an annual fully-staged opera production in February and a small scale Summer touring production to venues within 25 miles of Bath. We also promote with Bath Spa University an annual ‘BOIBA’ singing contest ‘for a promising young opera singer’.
Our most recent production, was our Summer Tour of Mozart’s ‘The Marriage of Figaro’, which was performed across 5 venues in the Bath area during June and July 2023. Our last full-scale production, was Franz Lehar’s comic operetta ‘The Merry Widow’, which was performed at the Roper Theatre, Hayesfield School in February, complete with a full orchestra and troupe of can-can dancers. Go to ‘Our Last Production’ for more information.
Auditions for our next main production, Handel’s ‘Semele’ were held at the end of July and rehearsals start in September. It will be performed at the Roper Theatre in February 2024, and will be directed by Dave Key Pugh and conducted by Peter Blackwood. To read more about Dave’s vision for the production, go to ‘Our Next Production’.
Bath Opera: Past, present & future
What we do
1977 saw Bath Opera’s first fully staged production with Verdi’s Macbeth with Jill Fowles and David Edwards in the leading roles. Jill and David were to continue to oversee the development of the company for the next two decades attracting singers, conductors, instrumentalists, directors, designers and technicians of the highest possible calibre.
In addition to presenting opera from the mainstream, Bath Opera’s repertoire includes pioneering work from Eastern European opera, featuring Glinka’s Ruslan and Ludmilla and two operas by Smetana for which new English translations were provided from within the group.
Bath Opera continues this adventurous tradition performing works by Kurt Weill, Aaron Copland, Benjamin Britten and Césare Luis Menotti alongside such popular hits as Carmen, Cavalleria Rusticana, Madame Butterfly and La Boheme.
Where we perform
Bath Opera has performed at a number of venues in and around Bath, from the wide stage of Bath University to the intimate space of Larkhall’s Rondo Theatre. From 2018 our main productions have been held at the comfortable and superbly equipped new Roper Theatre – part of Bath’s Hayesfield School.
On the road
Each year, Bath Opera takes to the road with a tour of small scale fully staged operas across the south of the country from Surrey to South Wales. Venues closer to home have included Midsomer Norton, Seend, Great Chalfield Manor, Widcombe Manor and Chippenham’s Neeld Hall.
