ABOUT BATH OPERA
Presenting sensational opera since 1977
Bath Opera performs an annual fully staged opera production in February together with a smaller touring production during the summer.
The February 2019 production will be Bellini’s La Sonnambula (The Sleepwalker) from Thursday 21 to Saturday 23 February at Bath’s fabulous new venue, the Roper Theatre.
Some of our past productions have included Kurt Weill’s Street Scene, Britten’s Peter Grimes, Verdi’s Macbeth and Janáček’s Jenufa.
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 productions will be 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.
