York Opera

Dido and Aeneas by Purcell

The Choral Dances from Gloriana by Britten

Excerpts from Merrie England by German

The Magic Flute (Die Zauberflöte) was Mozart's last opera and is often hailed as his greatest. Performed more than one hundred times in its first year alone, the opera gathered ever-increasing public acclaim, but lost its composer, who died barely a month after the première in December 1791.

Influenced by the ideals of humanity put forward by Freemasonry, Mozart and his librettist, Emanuel Schikaneder - both members of the Brotherhood - created a witty, intriguing and spectacular tale, which tells of the Prince Tamino's endeavor for victory over the powers of darkness and evil. Only with the protection of the magic flute and bells, can Tamino and the delightful Birdcatcher, Papageno, conquer the trials and perils of the journey before them...

Director: John Soper
Musical Director: Alasdair Jamieson

The first and most famous of ballad operas, The Beggar's Opera is a lively satire of eighteenth century political life, in which beggars, thieves, fences, lawyers, prostitutes and gaolers clash and squabble, in their attempt to worm money out of all and sundry (and each other!).

First performed in 1728, the piece pokes fun at operatic convention by being based on low-life characters - the hero is an amoral highwayman who marries for convenience, pretends to marry two wives simultaneously and is betrayed by his 'so-called' friends.

Written by John Gay, The Beggar's Opera uses songs culled from contemporary songbooks, from other composers and from the traditional folk area. York Opera are using the Frederick Austin score, and the show will be directed by Clive Marshall and musically directed by Steve Griffiths.