return to this month

Orlando Gough     Dead head
this première of a newly commissioned work will bring the BREMF 2010 festival to a close.  The piece will  take a witty look at contemporary attitudes to death and dying.

and at The Capitol, North Street, Horsham
tickets:  01403 750220 (box office)
or use Event search on the theatre's website to book on-line

Donizetti     Don Pasquale
a live performance of the opera relayed in high-definition direct from one of the world's greatest opera houses.  Otto Schenk’s production was first seen in 2006, when the New York Times called it “brilliant” and “wonderful.”   Now Anna Netrebko revives her role in this sophisticated bel canto comedy, playing opposite Matthew Polenzani, and Mariusz Kwiecien, with John Del Carlo in the title role. Music Director James Levine conducts.

Thursday 18 November at 7.30 pm The Stag Theatre, London Road, Sevenoaks tickets: 01732 450175

Sunday 21 November at 3 pm
Devonshire Park Theatre, Eastbourne
tickets: 01323 412000

Wednesday 24 November at 7.30 pm
Cadogan Hall, Sloane Terrace, London SW1
tickets: 020 7730 4500

next performance Thursday 25 November in Worthing

Vaughan Williams     Hugh the Drover
described as a "romantic ballad opera", the story takes place in a Cotswolds town 1812 during the uncertainties of the Napoleonic wars.  The local constable wants his daughter Mary to marry John the Butcher, whom she does not love. Young Hugh the Drover, a driver of animals, appears and tells her of his life on the open road. A travelling showman sets up a prizefight, inviting all the men to challenge John. Hugh agrees to box, with the prize now Mary herself. Although he wins he is then accused of being a French spy. There are more twists and turns to the plot before Hugh and Mary can finally be together.

Thursday 25 November at 7.30 pm Connaught Theatre, Union Place, Worthing tickets: 01903 206206

Sunday 28 November at 7 pm
The Town Hall, Lewes
book in person at Octave, 18 High Street, Lewes
ticket and postal booking information: 01273 471851 / 476432

Vaughan Williams     Hugh the Drover
described as a "romantic ballad opera", the story takes place in a Cotswolds town 1812 during the uncertainties of the Napoleonic wars.  The local constable wants his daughter Mary to marry John the Butcher, whom she does not love. Young Hugh the Drover, a driver of animals, appears and tells her of his life on the open road. A travelling showman sets up a prizefight, inviting all the men to challenge John. Hugh agrees to box, with the prize now Mary herself. Although he wins he is then accused of being a French spy. There are more twists and turns to the plot before Hugh and Mary can finally be together.

and Saturday 4 December at 7.30 pm
St Bartholomew's Church, Ann Street, Brighton
tickets: 01273 709709 (Dome box office)

Russian Songs and romances
Vassily Savenko graduated from the Moscow Conservatory and has sung principal roles for the Bolshoi Opera and Moscow and Kiev Opera.  He is recognised as a leading interpreter of Russian art song.

Charity concert
selected highlights from Handel's Messiah along with other music for Advent and Christmas.  Proceeds go towards the 25th anniversary of the St Catherine's Hospice Appeal.

St Mary's traditional Christmas cracker
a grand celebration of Christmas in words and music with some surprises chosen from Peter Thorogood's archive of poetry and prose, performed in the panelled rooms of 15th century St Mary's, with log fire and traditional Christmas tree.

Verdi     Don Carlo
a live performance of the opera relayed in high-definition direct from one of the world's greatest opera houses. 

and at The Capitol, North Street, Horsham
tickets:  01403 750220 (box office)
or use Event search on the theatre's website to book on-line

Puccini     La Fanciulla del West
a live performance of the opera relayed in high-definition direct from one of the world's greatest opera houses.  It was in 1910 that Puccini’s wild-west opera had its world première at the Met. Now, on the occasion of its centenary, Deborah Voigt sings the title role of the “girl of the golden west,” opposite Marcello Giordani.

and at The Capitol, North Street, Horsham
tickets:  01403 750220 (box office)
or use Event search on the theatre's website to book on-line

Gluck     Iphigenie en Tauride
a live performance of the opera relayed in high-definition direct from one of the world's greatest opera houses.  Susan Graham and Plácido Domingo reprise their starring roles in Gluck’s elegant dramatisation of the primal Greek myth. Stephen Wadsworth’s insightful production was first seen in 2007.

and at The Capitol, North Street, Horsham
tickets:  01403 750220 (box office)
or use Event search on the theatre's website to book on-line

Donizetti     Lucia di Lammermoor
a live performance of the opera relayed in high-definition direct from one of the world's greatest opera houses.  Natalie Dessay returns to the role of an innocent young woman driven to madness, opposite Joseph Calleja, who sings her lover Edgardo.  Mary Zimmerman’s production was first seen in the 2007–08 Met season.

Brahms     Requiem

and at The Capitol, North Street, Horsham
tickets:  01403 750220 (box office)
or use Event search on the theatre's website to book on-line

Rossini     Le Comte Ory
a live performance of the opera relayed in high-definition direct from one of the world's greatest opera houses.  Juan Diego Flórez in the title role of Rossini’s wicked comedy vies with mezzo-soprano Joyce DiDonato, in the trouser role of Isolier, for the love of the lonely Countess Adèle, sung by soprano Diana Damrau. Bartlett Sher, director of the Met production, describes the world of the opera as “a place where love is dangerous. People get hurt. That can be very funny and very painful. Rossini captures both – with the most beautiful love music Rossini ever wrote.”

and at The Capitol, North Street, Horsham
tickets:  01403 750220 (box office)
or use Event search on the theatre's website to book on-line

Rossini     Le Comte Ory
a live performance of the opera relayed in high-definition direct from one of the world's greatest opera houses.  Renée Fleming stars in Richard Strauss’s wise and worldly meditation on art and life, in which the composer also explores the essence of opera itself. Matthew Polenzani and Sarah Connolly also join the cast, and Andrew Davis conducts.

and at The Capitol, North Street, Horsham
tickets:  01403 750220 (box office)
or use Event search on the theatre's website to book on-line

Verdi     Il Trovatore
a live performance of the opera relayed in high-definition direct from one of the world's greatest opera houses.  A revival David McVicar’s stirring production of Verdi’s intense drama from the 2008–09 Met season. In one of the composer’s most melodically rich scores Sondra Radvanovsky, Dolora Zajick, Marcelo Álvarez and Dmitriy Hvorostovskiy lead the cast.

and at The Capitol, North Street, Horsham
tickets:  01403 750220 (box office)
or use Event search on the theatre's website to book on-line

Wagner     Die Walküre
a live performance of the opera relayed in high-definition direct from one of the world's greatest opera houses.  This is the second instalment of Robert Lepage’s new production of Wagner's Ring cycle, conducted by James Levine. Bryn Terfel is Wotan, lord of the Gods. Deborah Voigt sings the part of Brünnhilde. The twins Siegmund and Sieglinde are played by Jonas Kaufmann and Eva-Maria Westbroek. Stephanie Blythe sings the part of Fricka.

Mahler      Symphony no.8

organisers may find it useful to review the event pattern for the whole year 2009

you can also see the archive of events
in 2008,  2007,  2006 or 2005

(NB: these archives are long files - 500+ kb each)