Soraya Mafi

A witty, modern digital adaptation of Gian Carlo Menotti’s 1947 one-act romantic comedy opera, relocated from its original Manhattan setting to the bar of the King’s Theatre in Edinburgh. Earnestly lovable Ben attempts to propose marriage to Lucy before catching a train at Waverley Station, but his stuttering efforts are constantly frustrated by her complete obsession with her mobile phone. Commissioned by the Edinburgh International Festival for the 'My Light Shines On' lockdown project.

As a young child, Frederic had been apprenticed to a pirate by mistake when he should have been apprenticed to a pilot. Now, having reached his 21st year, Frederic's indentures are at last over and he happily leaves the service of the pirates. When Frederic meets the beautiful Mabel, one of the many daughters (or wards in Chancery) of Major-General Stanley, they fall in love and decide to marry. However, complications arise when the pirates decide to marry the rest of the Major-General's daughters, themselves - and Frederic's birthdate turns out to be not all it seems. English National Opera staging directed by Mike Leigh.

The lecherous Falstaff, with his infamous roving eye, finally meets his match when his underhand plans to solve money troubles have the three merry wives of Windsor conspiring to teach him a lesson. After Macbeth and Otello, Verdi breathes life into Shakespeare’s great comic character in this, his spectacular final opera. Conductor Richard Farnes makes his Garsington Opera debut in this new production directed by Prix de la critique Claude Rostand winner Bruno Ravella.

Franz Lehár’s laugh-out-loud operetta, The Merry Widow, is a work of pure theatrical pleasure: a cocktail of ravishing music, touching romance and madcap comedy. Glyndebourne’s lavish new staging from award-winning West End director Cal McCrystal boasts all the opulence of classic Hollywood and stars Danielle de Niese as the glamorous, wealthy widow Hanna on a search for true love.