Singer

Composed in a staggering twenty-four days Messiah was first performed in Dublin in 1742 where it received a rapturous welcome. Not so the following year when it premiered in London to a distinctly hostile reception. It wasn’t until Messiah began to be presented in charity performances at the Foundling Hospital in London that the public started to embrace the work we now regard as Handel’s greatest composition.

Handel’s Messiah: London

St Martin-in-the-Fields

In a frenetic world where there never seems time 'to stop and stare', this evening of song celebrates the art of contemplation and what it means to be alive. Drawing inspiration from the poetry of the Romantics to the present day the programme will reflect 'On Man, On Nature and On Human Life'.

EPSG:4326

Samling Artists

Wigmore Hall

Join us for the grand finale of the Waterperry Opera Festival with "Last Night at the Opera" on August 18th, starting at 7:00pm on the Waterperry Main Stage. This one-night-only event promises an unforgettable evening under the stars, featuring our exceptional Festival orchestra. Led by the internationally acclaimed conductor, Bertie Baigent, and hosted by Guy Verrall-Withers, the evening will showcase a gala concert filled with operatic favorites, enchanting duets, and the mesmerizing harmonies of composers like Mozart and Tchaikovsky.

Set against the picturesque backdrop of Waterperry House and Gardens, the concert will run until 9:15pm, including a 30-minute interval to enjoy the surroundings. This open-air classical concert is designed to captivate both the opera aficionados and newcomers alike, offering an elegant yet casual setting for families, children, and music lovers of all ages.

The gala concert will feature performances in English by a talented cast, including soprano Jessica Cale, mezzo Samantha Price, tenor Xavier Hetherington, and baritone Jerome Knox. This is a unique opportunity to experience the power of live opera and the beauty of classical music in an accessible and welcoming environment.

General booking opens on April 11, with priority booking available for festival supporters. Don't miss your chance to be part of this magical summer evening at the Waterperry Opera Festival.

Last Night at the Opera

Waterperry House

The sentiments expressed in the soprano’s opening aria – “Prepare the paths… Messiah approaches!”- will be quite familiar to British audiences in the Christmas period as it draws from the same biblical passage as the opening numbers of Handel’s Messiah. Bereitet die Wege, bereitet die Bahn! is a beautifully reflective piece designed to ready the faithful for the seasonal celebrations.

Bach, the Universe & Everything: December 2025

Kings Place

Last performed at London Handel Festival (LHF) over 30 years ago, Saul is without question one of Handel’s most dramatic and moving works. With themes of jealousy, love, loss, and betrayal, this oratorio represents Handel at his most emotionally engaging and musically thrilling.

Saul

Smith Square Hall

After the success of last year’s concert featuring past Garsington Opera award winners, we are delighted to welcome back pianist Anna Tilbrook to curate a programme of highlights from the Garsington season and operatic favourites. To sing, we welcome back countertenor Hugh Cutting after his memorable performance in Handel’s Rodelinda as well as former Alvarez Emerging Artists, soprano Jessica Cale and tenor James Micklethwaite.

Award Winners' Concert

Wormsley

Emily Akkermans, Curator of Time at Royal Museums Greenwich (including the Royal Observatory), introduces us to the life and work of John Harrison. In the week that marks the 250th anniversary of his death on 24 March 1776, we will get an insight into the story of Harrison’s remarkable quest over several decades to solve the problem of telling the time at sea, considered the most important scientific challenge of the 18th Century.

Bach, the Universe & Everything: March 2026

Following their acclaimed production of Orfeo in 2022, we welcome back the same creative team to perform the second of Monteverdi’s opera trilogy. John Caird will direct and Laurence Cummings will conduct The English Concert on the stage, with a stellar cast lead by Cecelia Hall and Ed Lyon.

In the last five fruitful years of his life, Monteverdi wrote this opera for the carnival season of 1640, a time for music, dance and masquerading. His musical style, so astonishingly bold and innovative when he wrote Orfeo more than thirty years earlier, has developed yet further, with arias and duets that give full life and humanity to his characters.

Soprano

Jessica Cale

Events

Upcoming events

Dec 14, 2025

Bach, the Universe & Everything: December 2025 · Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment

Feb 18, 2026

Saul · Sinfonia Smith Square

Mar 4, 2026

Award Winners' Concert · Garsington Opera

Mar 22, 2026

Bach, the Universe & Everything: March 2026 · Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment

Jun 12 - Jul 25, 2026

Il ritorno d'Ulisse · Garsington Opera

Past events

Dec 6, 2024

Handel’s Messiah: London · The Sixteen

Nov 7, 2024

Samling Artists · Wigmore Hall

Future and recently performed repertoire

Singer in Rodelinda by Handel

Garsington Opera

Michal in Saul by Handel

Sinfonia Smith Square

Singer in In allen meinen Taten by Bach

Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment

Singer in Bereitet die Wege, bereitet die Bahn! by Bach

Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment

Singer in Ave Maria by Papa

Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment

Singer in Ecce quo bonum by Papa

Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment

Giunone/la Fortuna in Il ritorno d'Ulisse by Monteverdi

Garsington Opera

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