“For idle hearts and hands and minds the Devil finds work to do”. Igor Stravinsky saw William Hogarth’s set of eight 18th century paintings and engravings of London life and created a groundbreaking opera on them. WH Auden’s poetic English libretto resonates with the speech and danger of those London streets. The Rake’s Progress is a devastating morality play, packed with wit, satire, high comedy, and tragedy. It dances on a pin of laughter and ridicule. Stravinsky’s score is a modern Mozart opera, infused with delicious parody and celebration of the earlier genius’ music. This new production will be created by the celebrated prize-winning director/designer Antony McDonald. Tom Primrose, our 2023 chorus master, conducts. The cast is a roll-call of British stars. Emerging tenor Adam Temple Smith and Alexandra Oomens, critically praised as Euridice and Belinda in our 2023 Double Bill, sing the young lovers Tom Rakewell and Anne Trulove. Scottish/Iranian bass-baritone Michael Mofidian is Nick Shadow; Rosie Aldridge Baba the Turk, Catherine Wyn-Rogers Mother Goose and John Graham Hall the Auctioneer, Sellem. Tears of laughter and sadness will flow in equal measure.

The Rake’s Progress

The Grange at Northington

A French Salon showcases the spectacular artistry of multi-award-winning US jazz musicians - singer Cécile McLorin Salvant and pianist Dan Tepfer - as they explore their French heritage over two unforgettable nights at The Grange Festival. Produced by 23Arts for the Festival, the show will also feature special guest pianist Thomas Enhco and the much-loved Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra conducted by Gavin Sutherland.

A French Salon

Tosca pulsates with dramatic tension like few other operas. Puccini’s score curdles the blood. Italian soprano Francesca Tiburzi has thrilled audiences worldwide with her eulogised portrayal of the central role: she sings the role for the first time in the UK at The Grange. We heard the wonderful young Uruguayan tenor Andrés Presno as Malcolm in Verdi’s Macbeth in 2022. He returns here as Cavaradossi. Music to pin you to the back of the theatre and drama to keep you on the edge of your seat. The Grange Festival are delighted to welcome back the team who gave us Verdi’s Falstaff in 2019 for Puccini’s searing masterpiece: conductor Francesco Cilluffo, director Christopher Luscombe and designer Simon Higlett.

Tosca

Love conquers all in ancient Rome. The baddies win, the goodies are banished or killed. Social advancement and power politics govern Monteverdi’s soap opera: the first great work of baroque musical theatre. A stellar international cast includes the return of Italian star Anna Bonitatibus (Il ritorno d’Ulisse and Agrippina) as the rejected empress Ottavia. Another Grange Festival favourite, Kitty Whately is Poppea, paired with 'lyric tenor going places' and finalist in our 2018 International Singing Competition, Sam Furness as Nerone. And we welcome acclaimed American counter-tenor Christopher Lowrey as Ottone, New Zealand Bass-baritone Jonathan Lemalu as Seneca and the popular German soprano Vanessa Waldhart as Drusilla. The groundbreaking instrumental ensemble La Nuova Musica is led by David Bates. Our new production, in partnership with Oper Halle, will be created by director Walter Sutcliffe and designer Jon Bausor, the team whose brilliant Agrippina at The Grange Festival in 2018 caused such a stir.

L'incoronazione di Poppea

Artistic Director, Mario Radačovský, has curated ‘Oktetto’ especially for this unique performance at The Grange on Thursday 6 June. A wide range of ballet forms will be danced, from jewels from the treasury of the classical ballet heritage, through the neoclassical choreographies of the artistic director, to contemporary ballet created by Nacho Duato.

Dance at The Grange 2024

A brand new production of La traviata opens the Festival and will be directed by Maxine Braham and designed by Jamie Vartan, who makes his Festival debut, with lighting design by Johanna Town. The Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra is conducted by renowned exponent of Verdi (including Falstaff at the Met, and Simon Boccanegra and Il trovatore at the Royal Opera) Richard Farnes - another Festival debut. The cast includes Samantha Clarke as Violetta - a role she was recently critically acclaimed for with Opera Australia, Nico Darmanin as Alfredo and a Festival debut from Dario Solari as Giorgio Germont.

Experience Verdi’s masterpiece of love and heartbreak in this beautiful new period production.

La traviata

Marking 50 years of Queen’s legendary album, A Night at the Opera, which introduced the world to Bohemian Rhapsody, Queen at the Opera is a one-of-a-kind concert that celebrates the connections between opera and the music of Queen and Freddie Mercury. Freddie Mercury had a lifelong passion for opera which fuelled his music, including his collaboration with acclaimed soprano Montserrat Caballé on the album Barcelona.

Queen at the Opera

This year we welcome one of Europe’s top big bands, the Jazz Orchestra of the Concertgebouw. Together with Dutch jazz superstar Fay Claassen they will perform hits from the Great American Songbook.

This golden age of music (1920–1950) was shaped by composers like Irving Berlin, George Gershwin, Cole Porter and Jerome Kern and their impressive collection of classics which have truly stood the test of time. Guaranteed to get your toes tapping and your hearts singing.

Summertime Swing

Renowned Bass Brindley Sherratt has brought together a star-studded line up for a special gala performance in aid of The Meath Epilepsy Charity.

Featuring performances from opera luminaries such as Louise Alder, Wynne Evans, Gerald Finley, Sally Matthews, Alexandra Oomens, Huw Montague Rendall, Christine Rice, Nicky Spence, Sir John Tomlinson, Catherine Wyn-Rogers, David Junghoon Kim, and of course Brindley Sherratt accompanied by the distinguished pianists Julius Drake and Matthew Fletcher. The event will be hosted by Chris Addison.

The Meath Gala

Arguably the greatest operetta of all time, Die Fledermaus gets the royal treatment with gorgeous 1920s designs, an all-star ensemble cast, and a witty English translation. This new production, sparkling with melody, mischief, and masquerade, will be directed by Paul Curran and designed by Gary McCann, with lighting design by Johanna Town. Paul Daniel conducts the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra.

Die Fledermaus

From the vibrant rhythms of West Side Story to the thrilling musicality and wit of Candide and On the Town, Leonard Bernstein’s revolutionary impact on musical theatre is undeniable.

Bernstein on Broadway brings together acclaimed West End and opera performers with the Welsh National Opera Orchestra, led by Karen Kamensek.

This musical celebration showcases unforgettable moments, and some rare gems, from one of the most iconic composers in history.

Bernstein on Broadway

A new staging of Rameau’s Les Indes galantes combines exquisite 18th century music with the expressive potency of contemporary street dance styles in a one-of-a-kind exploration of identity, culture and expression. Co-conceived by director-choreographer and French hip hop pioneer Bintou Dembélé and conductor Leonardo García-Alarcón, the performance features their respective ensembles: the dancers of Structure Rualité, Namur Chamber Choir, and period orchestra Cappella Mediterranea, all making their UK opera debuts. Cappella Mediterranea is one of the most in-demand period ensembles in the world, having recently completed a Monteverdi cycle for the Festival d’Aix-en-Provence, as well as engagements at the Opéra national de Paris, Salzburg Easter Festival, La Monnaie (Brussels), and Staatsoper Unter den Linden (Berlin). The production will also feature leading Baroque soloists Gwendoline Blondeel, Ana Quintans, Antonin Rondepierre and Andreas Wolf.

One of the most beautiful baroque opera-ballets ever composed, this is a rare chance to see Rameau’s musical masterpiece, in a carefully crafted new version which will also be performed at Teatro Real (Madrid) and Teatro alla Scala (Milan) among others. Be prepared to be swept away by powerful storytelling as this ornate period score fuses with the emotive physicality of street dance and hip hop styles, with electrifying and deeply moving results.

Les Indes galantes

2025 sees the return of Cassa Pancho's acclaimed Ballet Black - a company that has transformed the landscape of British ballet, creating a prominent platform for dancers and artists of Black and Asian descent, as well as establishing a new canon of ballet repertoire that resonates with audiences around the world.

Ballet Black will perform a double bill of work by leading choreographers. Award-winning choreographer, Chanel DaSilva explores what it means to be human in her new work which focuses on using the power of the arts to inspire change, in the dance world and beyond. Franco-British artist, and Choreographer in Residence at Scottish Ballet, Sophie Laplane explores triumph over adversity in If At First, inspired by the art of Jean-Michel Basquiat.

The Grange Festival

5 - 8 Jun, 2025

Queen at the Opera

12 - 13 Jun, 2025

Summertime Swing

Jun 15, 2025

The Meath Gala

Jun 20 - Jul 5, 2025

Die Fledermaus

26 - 29 Jun, 2025

Bernstein on Broadway

Jul 6, 2024

The Rake’s Progress

28 - 29 Jun, 2024

A French Salon

The Grange Festival