Waterperry Opera is set to take a revival of its 2018 production of Jonathan Dove’s two-act chamber opera Mansfield Park (2011) on tour over the summer.
The libretto, written by British opera librettist and playwright Alasdair Middleton, is based on the much-loved 1814 novel of the same name by Jane Austen. It tells the story of poor relation Fanny Price, sent at age 10 to live with her rich uncle, Sir Thomas Bertram, at his family estate, Mansfield Park.
Directed by Rebecca Meltzer, the production received widespread critical acclaim following its series of sold-out runs at Waterperry in 2018 and 2019. Accompanied on the piano, 10 singers perform as an ensemble of well-known characters from Austen’s novel. This period opera brings Jane Austen’s world to life with charming wit and beautiful music.
The tour begins in May, with a performance on 1st at Dorset’s Sherborne Abbey Festival, before heading to Berkshire for a performance at Newbury Spring Festival on 11th. This is followed by a show on 9 July at Oundle Festival of Music & Drama, Northamptonshire. The tour then goes to Derbyshire for a series of dates at Buxton International Festival on 12, 14, 18 and 21 July.
The tour culminates in a run of performances at this summer’s Waterperry Opera Festival on 12, 13, 14 and 16 August. Each show takes place at 2pm in the stunning Waterperry House Ballroom. The full summer festival runs from 12-20 August at Waterperry House in Oxfordshire. Details of all other productions will be revealed shortly.
The box office for the Waterperry shows opens on 11 April; see the festival website for details. See the individual event websites for tickets for all other performances.
“We are very much looking forward to bringing Jane Austen’s world to life once again, with an ensemble of loveable characters pulling at our heartstrings and making us laugh out loud,” Waterperry Opera Festival said in a statement. “This intimate and charming production brings audiences right into the centre of the action. Perfect for Austen and music lovers alike, be prepared to be whisked away.”
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Waterperry Opera’s production of Jonathan Dove’s Austen-inspired Mansfield Park will embark on a national tour this summer.