Opera Comique, Aldwych, London
The casting presented many problems as the singers were required to act and the actors to sing, and both in English. The custom at the time of singers using Italian pseudonyms meant that the tenor engaged to create the role of Alexis was forced to shed his title of Signor Benthamo and revert to Mr Bentham.
Neither Gilbert nor Sullivan wanted star names. They wanted performers who were prepared to rehearse at length and work together as a team. They wanted a company, an ensemble, not a heterogenous collection of overpaid stars and underpaid chorus.
Our 2025 co-production with Scottish Opera and Opera Holland Park
Learn MoreThe 150th Anniversary co-production of Trial by Jury, in a double bill with a new commission, A Matter of Misconduct by Emma Jenkins and Toby Hession
Learn MoreIn 2025, we will collaborate with Scottish Opera for a fourth time. We are co-producing a brand new production of The Merry Widow by Franz Lehár and, to celebrate our sesquicentennial, a new production of Trial by Jury.
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