Singer

Ruggero is young and wealthy, with his whole life before him. Magda is beautiful, worldly and wise – surely too wise to fall in love all over again? But amid the delights of belle-époque Paris, romance can be as intoxicating as champagne – and the heart, as they say, has its own reasons. In Puccini’s opera La rondine, they’ve never sounded sweeter.

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Puccini's 'La rondine'

Barbican Centre

Ermonela Jaho stars in Puccini’s bittersweet romance, his opera La rondine, incorporating music that has not been heard this century. 

Ruggero is young and wealthy, with his whole life before him. Magda is beautiful, worldly and wise – surely too wise to fall in love all over again? But amid the delights of belle-époque Paris, romance can be as intoxicating as champagne – and the heart, as they say, has its own reasons. In Puccini’s opera La rondine, they’ve never sounded sweeter.

Inspired by Viennese operetta, La rondine is a bittersweet love story, set to some of the most romantic melodies that even Puccini ever wrote. But it’s also portrait of a world waltzing on the edge; a deeply moving study of innocence and (tender) experience. This one-off concert performance from the BBC Symphony Orchestra and Opera Rara stars Ermonela Jaho as Magda, and uses the newly restored final 1921 version of the score, incorporating music which is completely unknown today. Prepare to be seduced.

Puccini’s La rondine

Gareth Malone will be conducting a unique performance of Handel’s Messiah at the world-famous Llandaff Cathedral in Cardiff. Performing this will be the BBC National Orchestra and Chorus of Wales alongside some of Britain’s best professional soloists. Alongside the National Chorus will be eight complete newcomers to the world of classical choral singing: cast from the area in and around Cardiff, Gareth will be training these talented new recruits to sing Messiah in the two months prior to the performance.

Handel’s Messiah with Gareth Malone

Llandaff Cathedral

The evening will also highlight compositions by Morfydd Llwyn Owen (1891 – 1918), a pioneering Welsh composer, continuing Opera Rara’s exploration of songs by women in the 19th and early 20th centuries. The night begins with a welcome drink at 7:00 PM followed by the performance at 7:30 PM and post-concert reception with the artists.

Soprano

Jessica Robinson

Events

Past events

Dec 5, 2025

Puccini's 'La rondine' · BBC Symphony Orchestra

Dec 5, 2025

Puccini's 'La rondine' · Barbican Centre

Future and recently performed repertoire

Yvette in La rondine by Puccini

BBC Symphony Orchestra

Yvette/ Georgette / Fleury in La rondine by Puccini

Barbican Centre

Singer in Messiah by Handel

BBC National Orchestra of Wales

About

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