Dorset Opera Festival

Dorset Opera Festival Internationally renowned soloists, full chorus and orchestra.

๐ŸŒŸCelebrating 52 years - and 21 years at Bryanston ๐ŸŒŸ
International opera festival featuring the UK's foremost residential opera summer school set in 400 acres of glorious Dorset countryside.

๐Ÿงบ๐Ÿฅ‚๐ŸŒณโ˜€๏ธ๐—ฃ๐—ถ๐—ฐ๐—ป๐—ถ๐—ฐ๐—ธ๐—ถ๐—ป๐—ด ๐—ฎ๐˜ ๐——๐—ผ๐—ฟ๐˜€๐—ฒ๐˜ ๐—ข๐—ฝ๐—ฒ๐—ฟ๐—ฎ ๐—™๐—ฒ๐˜€๐˜๐—ถ๐˜ƒ๐—ฎ๐—น ๐Ÿ’›One of the great pleasures of Dorset Opera Festival is arriving early and enjo...
15/07/2026

๐Ÿงบ๐Ÿฅ‚๐ŸŒณโ˜€๏ธ๐—ฃ๐—ถ๐—ฐ๐—ป๐—ถ๐—ฐ๐—ธ๐—ถ๐—ป๐—ด ๐—ฎ๐˜ ๐——๐—ผ๐—ฟ๐˜€๐—ฒ๐˜ ๐—ข๐—ฝ๐—ฒ๐—ฟ๐—ฎ ๐—™๐—ฒ๐˜€๐˜๐—ถ๐˜ƒ๐—ฎ๐—น ๐Ÿ’›
One of the great pleasures of Dorset Opera Festival is arriving early and enjoying the beautiful Bryanston estate before the curtain rises.

Bring your own picnic, or let us do the hard work for you. Pre-order one of our delicious Grazing platter boxes or Afternoon Tea hampers, and it will be waiting for you when you arrive. Simply collect it from the marquee and relax before the performance.

Whether you choose a picnic on the lawns, a table in the marquee, a private picnic cabana or simply a stroll with a glass of something chilled from the bar, it's all part of the Dorset Opera experience.

๐Ÿฅ‚ ๐—•๐—ฟ๐—ผ๐˜„๐˜€๐—ฒ ๐—ฝ๐—ถ๐—ฐ๐—ป๐—ถ๐—ฐ ๐—บ๐—ฒ๐—ป๐˜‚๐˜€:
Grazing platter boxes & Afternoon Tea hampers https://www.dorsetopera.com/picnics/

๐Ÿงบ ๐—ฃ๐—ฟ๐—ฒ๐—ผ๐—ฟ๐—ฑ๐—ฒ๐—ฟ ๐˜†๐—ผ๐˜‚๐—ฟ ๐—ฝ๐—ถ๐—ฐ๐—ป๐—ถ๐—ฐ ๐—ต๐—ฒ๐—ฟ๐—ฒ (up to 72 hours before your performance):
https://tickets.dorsetopera.com/sales/events/dorset-opera-festival-2026/festival-picnics--dining/picnics

We can't wait to welcome you to Bryanston next week!

Today is the birthday of Sir Mark Elder โ€” Bryanston old boy, one of the world's most distinguished conductors and, we're...
02/06/2026

Today is the birthday of Sir Mark Elder โ€” Bryanston old boy, one of the world's most distinguished conductors and, we're very proud to say, President of Dorset Opera Festival.

Much loved by audiences and musicians alike, Sir Mark has inspired generations through his extraordinary musicianship, leadership and generosity of spirit.

Happy Birthday, Mark! ๐ŸŽ‚๐ŸŽถ

Camille Saint-Saรซnsโ€™ ๐‘บ๐’‚๐’Ž๐’”๐’๐’ ๐’†๐’• ๐‘ซ๐’‚๐’๐’Š๐’๐’‚โค๏ธโ€๐Ÿ”ฅ Passion. Seduction. Betrayal. Power.We are delighted to announce the cast for ...
30/05/2026

Camille Saint-Saรซnsโ€™ ๐‘บ๐’‚๐’Ž๐’”๐’๐’ ๐’†๐’• ๐‘ซ๐’‚๐’๐’Š๐’๐’‚

โค๏ธโ€๐Ÿ”ฅ Passion. Seduction. Betrayal. Power.

We are delighted to announce the cast for Saint-Saรซns' magnificent ๐‘บ๐’‚๐’Ž๐’”๐’๐’ ๐’†๐’• ๐‘ซ๐’‚๐’๐’Š๐’๐’‚, coming to Dorset Opera Festival from 21โ€“25 July 2026.

Leading the cast as Samson is Korean tenor Won Whi Choi, making his UK stage debut with Dorset Opera Festival.

An internationally acclaimed artist, Won Whi made his Metropolitan Opera debut as Alfredo in ๐˜“๐˜ข ๐˜ต๐˜ณ๐˜ข๐˜ท๐˜ช๐˜ข๐˜ต๐˜ข and has since appeared with leading opera companies around the world in roles including Don Josรฉ (๐˜Š๐˜ข๐˜ณ๐˜ฎ๐˜ฆ๐˜ฏ), Rodolfo (๐˜“๐˜ข ๐˜ฃ๐˜ฐ๐˜ฉรจ๐˜ฎ๐˜ฆ), Romรฉo (๐˜™๐˜ฐ๐˜ฎรฉ๐˜ฐ ๐˜ฆ๐˜ต ๐˜‘๐˜ถ๐˜ญ๐˜ช๐˜ฆ๐˜ต๐˜ต๐˜ฆ) and the Duke of Mantua (๐˜™๐˜ช๐˜จ๐˜ฐ๐˜ญ๐˜ฆ๐˜ต๐˜ต๐˜ฐ). Praised for his lustrous tenor voice, elegant musicianship and remarkable vocal power, he now brings his artistry to one of opera's most demanding and compelling roles.

Alongside him, mezzo-soprano Mae Heydorn takes on the role of Dalila, the alluring and complex heroine at the centre of Saint-Saรซns' masterpiece. A graduate of the Guildhall School of Music & Drama, Mae made her operatic debut at Glyndebourne Festival Opera and is a winner of the Swedish Wagner Award. Acclaimed for performances ranging from Wagner's Erda to contemporary opera and Britten, she now makes her Dorset Opera Festival debut as Dalila.

They are joined by an outstanding cast:

โœจ Won Whi Choi
โœจ Mae Heydorn
โœจ Alexey Gusev
โœจ Anthony Flaum
โœจ Aidan Smith
โœจ Sam Weakley
โœจ Jamie Formoy

Featuring some of the most glorious music in all opera โ€” including Dalila's celebrated aria ๐˜”๐˜ฐ๐˜ฏ ๐˜ค๐˜ฐ๐˜ฆ๐˜ถ๐˜ณ ๐˜ด'๐˜ฐ๐˜ถ๐˜ท๐˜ณ๐˜ฆ ร  ๐˜ต๐˜ข ๐˜ท๐˜ฐ๐˜ช๐˜น and the thrilling Bacchanale โ€” ๐‘บ๐’‚๐’Ž๐’”๐’๐’ ๐’†๐’• ๐‘ซ๐’‚๐’๐’Š๐’๐’‚ promises an unforgettable theatrical experience.

๐Ÿ“ Coade Theatre, Bryanston School, Dorset
๐Ÿ“… 22, 23 & 25 July 2026

๐ŸŽŸ Tickets and information:
https://www.dorsetopera.com/sales/

๐ŸŽŸ๏ธ ยฃ10 student tickets for Dorset Opera Festival 21-25 July 2026Dorsetopera.com Thanks to the generosity of supporters w...
14/05/2026

๐ŸŽŸ๏ธ ยฃ10 student tickets for Dorset Opera Festival 21-25 July 2026

Dorsetopera.com

Thanks to the generosity of supporters who are passionate about welcoming younger audiences to opera, a limited number of ยฃ10 student tickets are available for all performances at Dorset Opera Festival 2026.

If you are 26 or under and in full-time education, you can experience world-class opera this summer for just ยฃ10.

โœจ Donizettiโ€™s Lโ€™elisir dโ€™amore
โœจ Saint-Saรซnsโ€™ Samson et Dalila
โœจ Full chorus and orchestra
โœจ Five unforgettable days of opera in glorious Dorset

๐Ÿ“ž These tickets are not available online.
To book, please call the Box Office on 07570 366186 or email [email protected]

Subject to availability. Proof of age and full-time education status required on collection.

Donizettiโ€™s ๐‘ณ'๐’†๐’๐’Š๐’”๐’Š๐’“ ๐’…'๐’‚๐’Ž๐’๐’“๐’†Dorset Opera Festival โ€” July 21โ€“25 2026Fall under the spell of the elixir of love ๐Ÿ’–Meet the ...
11/05/2026

Donizettiโ€™s ๐‘ณ'๐’†๐’๐’Š๐’”๐’Š๐’“ ๐’…'๐’‚๐’Ž๐’๐’“๐’†
Dorset Opera Festival โ€” July 21โ€“25 2026

Fall under the spell of the elixir of love ๐Ÿ’–

Meet the soloists who will bring this enchanting story to lifeโ€ฆ

โœจAdina โ€” Haeran Hong
โœจNemorino โ€” Jay Broadhurst
โœจBelcore โ€” Jonathan Eyers
โœจDulcamara โ€” Aidan Smith
โœจGianetta - Daisy Lapworth

Internationally acclaimed soprano Haeran Hong takes the role of Adina in Dorset Opera Festivalโ€™s 2026 production of ๐˜“'๐˜ฆ๐˜ญ๐˜ช๐˜ด๐˜ช๐˜ณ ๐˜ฅ'๐˜ข๐˜ฎ๐˜ฐ๐˜ณ๐˜ฆ, bringing glamour, brilliance and star quality to Donizettiโ€™s beloved romantic comedy.

Alongside her, rising British tenor Jay Broadhurst sings Nemorino โ€” a role perfectly suited to one of the most exciting young voices to emerge in recent years.

Daisy Lapworth is known to Dorset Opera Festival audiences as she rose through our international summer school. She brings warmth and sparkle to Gianetta, the village beauty at the heart of the gossip and fun.

A baritone from New Zealand having performed widely in the UK and Europe and now based in London, much-praised Jonathan Eyers sings the swaggering Sergeant Belcore, Nemorinoโ€™s confident romantic rival.
Celebrated for his comic flair and stage presence, bass-baritone Aidan Smith takes the role of the irrepressible Dr Dulcamara, the travelling quack whose mysterious โ€œelixirโ€ changes everythingโ€ฆ

A sparkling cast, full chorus and orchestra, picnics on the lawns, bring (alongside our second opera of the season, Saint-Saรซnsโ€™ ๐‘บ๐’‚๐’Ž๐’”๐’๐’ ๐’†๐’• ๐‘ซ๐’‚๐’๐’Š๐’๐’‚) five unforgettable days of opera in glorious Dorset.

Book tickets: https://tickets.dorsetopera.com/sales/

Age 40 or under? Enjoy opera for less than half price.Join us for Donizettiโ€™s ๐‘ณ'๐’†๐’๐’Š๐’”๐’Š๐’“ ๐’…'๐’‚๐’Ž๐’๐’“๐’† on Friday 24 July at 7pm ...
30/04/2026

Age 40 or under? Enjoy opera for less than half price.

Join us for Donizettiโ€™s ๐‘ณ'๐’†๐’๐’Š๐’”๐’Š๐’“ ๐’…'๐’‚๐’Ž๐’๐’“๐’† on Friday 24 July at 7pm โ€” a sparkling, romantic comedy with a wonderfully happy ending, performed in the theatre at Bryanston.

Begin your evening with picnics on the lawns before moving indoors for a wonderful night of opera.

Just 100 ยฃ40 tickets available.

๐Ÿ‘‰ https://www.dorsetopera.com

Our Music Director Jeremy and Orchestral Assistant Seymour have been up and down the country this week auditioning stude...
20/03/2026

Our Music Director Jeremy and Orchestral Assistant Seymour have been up and down the country this week auditioning students at and for the orchestral academy scheme. They are suitably impressed with what these students have to offer! We look forward to seeing some of them in the orchestra for this summerโ€™s festival!

Was anyone else completely thrilled to see the opening and closing ceremonies of the Olympics being a wonderful celebrat...
22/02/2026

Was anyone else completely thrilled to see the opening and closing ceremonies of the Olympics being a wonderful celebration of opera, too? Did anyone have any favourite bits? Well done Italy! ๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡น โค๏ธ

With Robert Picardo โ€“ we just got recognised as one of his top fans! ๐ŸŽ‰ Look at us boldy going!
19/01/2026

With Robert Picardo โ€“ we just got recognised as one of his top fans! ๐ŸŽ‰ Look at us boldy going!

Address

Bryanston
Blandford Forum
DT119LH

Telephone

+441258840000

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Dorset Opera Festival posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Shortcuts

Share

Category