Aquarian Opera return to The Barn Theatre Oxted in November with the ever popular comic operetta Die Fledermaus by Johan Strauss II.
This is a fully staged, three act production in English, set in 1930's Vienna with an 10 piece chamber orchestra, led by our effervescent musical director, Guy Middlemiss. The last two years were grand opera productions with Marriage of Figaro and La Bohème, so artistic director Melanie Vinall wanted to present a lighter note and, as usual, extract every ounce of comedy.
Aquarian Opera exists to provide lead roles to outstanding emerging young professional soloists to sing alongside a local amateur chorus and we are fortunate to have some incredible individuals this year, both new and returning.
The incomparable Tom Lidgley returns in the role of Alfred, the jailed tenor, having been sublime as Rudolfo in our La Bohème last year and completed his Opera Masters at the Royal Academy of Music this summer. Heather Caddick returns as Rosalinda, having received rapturous applause for Mimi in our La Bohème. Heather has since moved to Milan to further her opera career but returns to grace the Barn stage just for you.
We have extraordinary newcomers in lead roles in the shape of Simon Ashmead, Nick Beever and Isobelle Hughes. Oxted singing couple Julia McCullough and Peter Snowdon return, as does Richard Milnes as Eisenstein and comic genius, Vicki Hodges as Adele. Aquarian Opera Chairman, Andrew Claringball puts on his joker hat again as Frosch, the insatiably thirsty jailer.
Our chorus has been boosted this year with incredible talent new to Aquarian Opera and we are very grateful for their added skill, patience and volume!
Die Fledermaus is full of exquisite music that most people will recognise, it's extremely funny and will be beautifully sung and staged.
At £25 a ticket, you’ll get a true spectacle for ten percent of the price of Covent Garden. This is a good first experience if you have never seen opera before and a beautiful and hilarious presentation if you have.
Matt Sofianos said in his County Chronicle review last year that "the audience are always in for a top tier evening when (Aquarian) play".
David Wickham of Chart News said he was "thrilled from the very first note" and "a terrific evening all round, and well worth watching, except that it was in Oxted for only three days!"
Die Fledermaus is at the Barn Theatre Oxted from Thursday 20th, Friday 21st and Saturday 22nd of November, starting at 7:30pm.
This will be funny and fun!
Merry Widow Chorus