Bampton Classical Opera 2026
André Grétry Zemira e Azor (‘Magnificence and the Beast’) (1771/1776)
Performances:
Cokethorpe Faculty, Witney, Oxfordshire: Friday 17, Saturday 18 July
Westonbirt Faculty, Gloucestershire: Monday 31 August
Smith Sq. Corridor, London: Friday 18 September
Libretto: Mattia Verazzi, after Jean-François Marmontel
English Translation: Gilly French
Director: Jeremy Grey
Conductor: Andrew Griffiths
Orchestra of Bampton Classical Opera (Cokethorpe, Westonbirt)
CHROMA (London)
Bampton Classical Opera is delighted to announce their 2026 summer season manufacturing will likely be André Grétry’s glowing fairy-tale opera Zemira e Azor, to be carried out in a uncommon model primarily based on the 1776 Italian version, with extra music by Ignaz Holzbauer and Niccolò Jommelli, not heard within the UK for the reason that late eighteenth century. It is going to be sung in a brand new English translation by Gilly French as ‘Magnificence and the Beast’, performed by Andrew Griffiths and directed by Jeremy Grey. Bampton Classical Opera carried out Grétry’s L’amant jaloux in 2012, additionally performed by Andrew Griffiths.
The manufacturing will likely be semi-staged and costumed, with opening performances going down for the primary time in a pleasant setting at Cokethorpe Faculty, Witney, Oxfordshire.
Zemira e Azor is a fascinating model of the well-loved fairy-tale ‘Magnificence and the Beast’. Initially set in a fantasised Persia, reflecting the Orientalism widespread within the eighteenth century, it’s bursting with wit, romance and melodic appeal. The unique librettist Marmontel tailored the plot from La Belle et la Bête (‘Magnificence and the Beast’) by Jeanne-Marie Leprince de Beaumont and it additionally attracts upon Amour pour amour by Pierre-Claude Nivelle de La Chaussée.
A form and delightful younger lady, Zemira, takes her father’s place as a prisoner within the magical citadel of the monstrous Azor, in beastly type because of a spell solid by a malevolent fairy. She is horrified when she first encounters Azor however quickly sees previous his hideous exterior to his internal dignity and the Aristocracy, finally falling in love. When she lastly declares her emotions for him the fairy’s spell is damaged and Azor is revealed in his true type as a good-looking prince.
Grétry’s opera was immensely widespread, resulting in a number of translations and variant editions – it was the primary French opéra-comique to be carried out exterior France and there have been productions throughout Europe and in America. Mozart owned a rating of the Grétry and made his personal copies of elements of it; some commentators liken Grétry’s function of the servant Ali to Mozart’s Papageno. When it was carried out in London in 1776 the audiences and critics praised Grétry’s ‘tasteful and chic melody’ and the orchestration and lyrical model had been thought-about ‘pleasingly tender’. The opera was a particular favorite of Sir Thomas Beecham and was the final opera he carried out (and recorded), in 1955.
Additional particulars of Bampton Classical Opera’s manufacturing together with casting will likely be introduced in the end. Reserving will open on 7 March.
Bampton Classical Opera phases productions in rural venues in Oxfordshire and Gloucestershire in addition to frequently in London at Smith Sq. Corridor. Different vital venues and festivals have included Wigmore Corridor and Purcell Room, Buxton Competition, Cheltenham Competition and Theatre Royal Bathtub. Eschewing acquainted repertoire, Bampton concentrates as a substitute on rarities from the late eighteenth century, sung in energetic new English translations, and has given many enterprising performances of forgotten operas. Amongst these have been UK premières of Bertoni Orfeo, Marcos Portugal The Marriage of Figaro, Paer Leonora, Benda Romeo and Juliet, Gluck Il Parnaso confuso, Philemon and Baucis and Salieri Falstaff and La fiera di Venezia.
Bampton Classical Opera was a finalist within the Rediscovered Opera class of the 2020 Worldwide Opera Awards for Stephen Storace Gli sposi malcontenti (Bride and Gloom), and its latest manufacturing of Salieri La fiera di Venezia (On the Venice Honest) was shortlisted for the 2023 Awards.
Bampton Classical Opera web site right here.
