6pm venue opens to audience for bring-your-own supper
8pm recital

What’s So Great About Opera?

Join Hilary Summers and Andrew West for a hilarious romp through the highs and lows of Opera. The evening will feature songs especially composed by the duo, including An introduction to Baroque Opera and I’m a Puccini heroine addict as well as performances of beloved arias from the operatic canon.

Absurd plots, gender fluidity, modern music and voice categorisation will all come under scrutiny, and the performance culminates in Summers/West Productions’ Essential Magic Flute – a one-woman, 25-minute reduction of Mozart’s masterpiece.

Hilary Summers is one of Britain’s leading contraltos and performs regularly around the world. She was a soloist on two occasions at the 2019 BBC Proms.

Guests are welcome to bring their own food and dine at the tables from 6pm, when there will also be a cash bar available.

Sponsored by The Hon Mrs B Gilmour, Gillian, Lady Howard de Walden and Dr Stephen Golding

By kind permission of Mr and Mrs Jason Russell

Performers

Hilary Summers  contralto
Andrew West  piano