News and Press Releases

All news items and press notices

Hampstead Garden Opera return with Bellini’s La sonnambula in November

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Hampstead Garden Opera presents Bellini’s La sonnambula

6–15 November 2026 – performances at 7pm
Sunday 8 and Sunday 15 November at 4pm
At Jacksons Lane Theatre, London, N6 5AA

Hampstead Garden Opera returns to Jacksons Lane this November with Bellini’s enchanting bel canto masterpiece La sonnambula. As always with HGO, the production is double cast, with both ensembles enjoying equal status and each appearing in four of the eight performances. The two opening nights are 6 and 7 November.

For more information click here.

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Patrick Lange is Opera North’s Music Director designate

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Opera North announces Two Key Leadership Appointments

Patrick Lange

Patrick Lange appointed Music Director designate
Merran McRae appointed Chair of the Board of Trustees

Opera North announces two significant appointments as it continues to ensure opera remains a vital part of the cultural offering in Leeds and further afield. For more information click here.

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Northern Ireland Opera’s stages Carmen for the first time in September 2026

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Northern Ireland Opera presents George Bizet’s Carmen Directed by Cameron Menzies Music Director – Greg Arrowsmith Featuring the Northern Ireland Opera Chorus and the Orchestra of Northern Ireland Opera 12, 15, 17, 19 September 2026 – for more information and booking click here Artistic Milestone: This striking new production marks Northern Ireland Opera’s first-ever staging … Read more

Oxford Opera Company stage Mozart’s The Marriage of Figaro at Oxford Playhouse in October

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Oxford Opera Company’s The Marriage of Figaro at Oxford Playhouse on 9 and 19 October.

Oxford Playhouse is excited to announce a brand-new production of Mozart’s classic opera The Marriage of Figaro, presented by award-winning Oxford Opera Company.

Following the sell-out success of their 2025 production of Tosca, the company return to The Playhouse stage on Friday 9 and Saturday 10 October with an exciting new take on one of Mozart’s most popular operas. The production will be sung in English in a new translation by George Robarts, commissioned exclusively for the company.

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Sir Bryn Terfel CBE named as Artistic Director of Oxford International Opera and stars as Scarpia

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The launch of the UK’s newest international opera company

The Oxford Philharmonic Orchestra is delighted to announce its exciting new opera venture: Oxford International Opera.

Helmed by Oxford Philharmonic Orchestra founder, Marios Papadopoulos and Artistic Director, bass-baritone Sir Bryn Terfel CBE, the debut production from the UK’s newest international opera company will be Puccini’s Tosca on 24th and 26th September 2026 at the New Theatre, Oxford.

To book tickets click here.

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Sir Mark Elder approaches his 80th birthday next June with landmark 2026-27 performances

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Sir Mark Elder – a conductor’s legacy 

Conductor’s UK schedule includes the British premiere of Bizet’s incidental music to L’Arlésienne in its original theatrical context 

Engagements include the Manchester premiere of Sir James MacMillan’s Christmas Oratorio and celebratory birthday concerts with the Hallé 

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Between intimacy and scale: four days at the Verbier Festival 2026

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A look back at four Verbier Festival 2026 days

27–30.7.2026 – Bruce Liu; Thomas Quasthoff and Kirill Gerstein; Evgeny Kissin and András Schiff; Mikhaïl Pletnev, Dmitry Shishkin, Daniel Lozakovich and the Verbier Festival Chamber Orchestra; Alexandre Kantorow; Mikhaïl Pletnev, Gianandrea Noseda and the Verbier Festival Orchestra. Église de Verbier and Salle des Combins, Verbier. (DN)

Gianandrea Noseda speaks with moderator Julian Sykes during a Verbier Festival talk at the Pavillon des Combins on 27 July 2026 © Diana Nikolova

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