UK Opera

All opera reviews from UK sources

Opera Holland Park’s Un ballo in maschera revival: what a memorable evening this was

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United KingdomUnited Kingdom Opera Holland Park 2026 – Verdi (arr. Burke), Un ballo in maschera: Soloists, Opera Holland Park Chorus, City of London Sinfonia / Michael Papadopoulos (conductor). Opera Holland Park, London, 25.8.2026. (CC)

Dame Rosalind Plowright (Madame Arvidson) © Craig Fuller

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Pelly’s so-so Glyndebourne Ariadne auf Naxos production is, musically, a terrific evening

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United KingdomUnited Kingdom R. Strauss, Ariadne auf Naxos: Soloists, London Philharmonic Orchestra / Robin Ticciati (conductor). Glyndebourne Opera House, 19.7.2026. (CC)

Four comedians (Liam Bonthrone, Caspar Singh, Liam James Karai and Mikhail Timoshenko), Music Master (Michael Kraus), Dancing Master (Ru Charlesworth), Zerbinetta (Alina Wunderlin), Prima Donna (Rachel Willis-Sørensen) and Composer (Samantha Hankey) © GPLtd/Tristram Kenton

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Zemira e Azor is Bampton Classical Opera’s current success story and cannot fail to gladden the hearts.

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United KingdomUnited Kingdom Bampton Classical Opera Summer 2026 – Grétry, Zemira e Azor: Soloists, The Orchestra of Bampton Classical Opera / Andrew Griffiths (conductor). Cokethorpe School, Witney, Oxfordshire, 17.7.2026. (CP)

Andrew Irwin (Ali) and Ffion Edwards (Zemira) © Bampton Classical Opera

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Clay Hilley’s singing and acting was the highlight of Pappano’s excellent Tristan und Isolde with his LSO

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United KingdomUnited Kingdom Wagner, Tristan und Isolde: Soloists, London Symphony Chorus (director: Mariana Rosas), London Symphony Orchestra / Sir Antonio Pappano (conductor). Barbican Hall, London, 12.7.2026. (JPr)

Gyula Orendt as Kurwenal and Clay Hilley as Tristan (1 July performance) © Mark Allan

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Oscar Wilde’s bubbling comedy becomes a surreal hard-hitting farce in Barry’s adaptation at Garsington

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United KingdomUnited Kingdom Garsington Opera 2026 [4] – Gerald Barry, The Importance of Being Earnest: Soloists, Philharmonia Orchestra / Douglas Boyd (conductor). Garsington Opera at Wormsley, 10.7.2026. (CR)

Garsington Opera’s The Importance of Being Earnest © Richard Hubert-Smith

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Compelling revival of Billy Budd at Glyndebourne

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United KingdomUnited Kingdom Britten, Billy Budd: Soloists, Children’s Chorus (chorus master: Nicholas Mulroy), The Glyndebourne Chorus (chorus director: Aidan Oliver), London Philharmonic Orchestra / Nicholas Carter (conductor). Glyndebourne Festival Opera, Lewes, East Sussex, 5.7.2026. (JR)

Captain Vere (Allan Clayton) © GFO/Tristram Kenton

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