A Spotlight on Summer Opera Festivals 2024

It’s July - the summer opera season is well and truly underway.
Ever wonder what our fabulous singers are getting up to? Where can you catch them in their element?
Keep reading to find out!

---

DEBUT regular - baritone Thomas Chenhall has been singing the role of Cesare’s assistant Curio in Handel’s Giulio Cesare at Glyndebourne.

Also in this production is countertenor Kieron-Connor Valentine (making his debut with us at our 11th July secret concert!) - singing the role of Nireno.

This has already received 5* reviews from multiple sources including OperaNow. There are shows left throughout July & August - but it’s almost sold out (get your tickets quickly!!).

Photography: Richard Hubert Smith

---

Photography: Lucy J Toms

You may remember soprano Natasha Page from our 2023 secret concert series. Natasha is one busy woman!

She is currently singing the role of Panima in the Magic Flute with Wild Arts. This a touring production and has a whole load of dates left in various cities.

And then, in September Natasha will then be joining Vache Baroque singing Megacle in their production of L’Olimpaide. Shafali Jalota, DEBUT Horizon artist and soloist from our February 2024 secret concert is also in this production!

Pergolesi’s L’Olimpaide is a great opera to catch if you’ve not seen it before - and this production will be using a newly-created English script. Read more about the thrilling plot here.

---

It would be a crime not to mention what’s going on an Opera Holland Park this summer - and luckily for us it includes another familiar face, soprano Natasha Agarwal!

Nastasha is in the ensemble and is covering Galatea in Handel’s Acis & Galatea from 19th July to 2nd August. To completely contrast - she then goes on to sing the role of Kate in Gilbert & Sullivans The Yeoman of The Guard from 7th-10th August.

But before this - Natasha is busy performing in Medea Gosperia at the Cockpit Theatre, with Thee Black Swan. Running until the 20th July, this is a new dramatic and provocative show - where Greek tragedy meets gospel opera.

’Fusing the complexities of the female experience with the rich heritage of the Caribbean culture and featuring a Greek chorus and gospel choir, Medea Gosperia takes us on an epic, emotional journey you won’t want to miss’.

Photography: Darien Charles

---

Photography: Charles Smith

Let’s talk about superstar mezzo-soprano Meriel Cunningham (returning to us in September!) Meriel is super busy, and there are two fabulous productions you can catch her in.

Currently: she is on a UK tour with Charles Court Opera, singing Constance in Gilbert & Sullivan’s The Sorcerer - which Time Out Critics’ Choice has awarded 5*s!

Coming Up: she will be dancing a Chachucha in The Gondoliers, as Tessa - at the Buxton Opera House with the National G&S Company.

Grab tickets to see Merial at one of our September secret concerts here.

---

Other picks from team DEBUT:
Our friends over at Garsington Opera have a production Benjamin Britten’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream - running until 19th July!
For those of you who enjoy the lighter side of Opera, Glyndebourne has Lehár’s sparkling rom-com The Merry Widow.

---

And finally… for our West-Country readers, Somerset Opera are putting on a production of Dido & Aeneas at the Museum of Somerset from 10th-12th July!

Mezzo-soprano Leila Zanette (singing with us in August) is singing the lead role of Dido, and she is joined by DEBUT old timer, baritone Kieran Rayner - singing Aeneas!

In September, Leila will then be heading to Italy to sing the role of Dorabella in Così fan tutte at Da Ponte Opera Festival with MusicaLink, held at the Teatro Da Ponte in Vittorio Veneto.

Grab tickets to come see Leila Zanette at our secret concert on 8th August - here.

We hope you have enjoyed our whistle-stop tour of the summer season - if we have missed anything that we NEED to know about, drop us a message so we can spread the word!

---