Nevill Holt Opera’s Artistic Director Nicholas Chalmers will conduct Puccini’s La bohéme this June. The director is Mathilda du Tillieul McNicol who was the Assistant Director of NHO’s La traviata in 2021, and the designer will be Linbury Prize winner Basia Bińkowska. Manchester Camerata will bring the score to life.

The role of Mimì will be performed by Nigerian-American soprano Francesca Chiejina, a graduate of the Jette Parker Young Artists Programme; Peter Scott Drackley takes the role of Rodolfo; Alexandra Oomens, a Harewood Artist with English National Opera, is Musetta; Frank Spedding Leider Prize-winning Christopher Nairne is Marcello; Jette Parker Young Artist Dominic Sedgwick is Schaunard; and Colline is played by Dingle Yandell, who returns after performing in NHO’s 2021 Don Giovanni.

Rossini’s comedy Il barbiere di Siviglia will be conducted by Dinis Souza – leading the Royal Northern Sinfonia, of which he is Principal Conductor – and directed by Anna Morrissey, who directed NHO’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream in 2019. The designer is Alex Berry who designed NHO’s 5-star outdoor production of Don Giovanni in 2021.

The role of Rosina will be taken by renowned mezzo-soprano Katie Bray; Dr Bartolo will be played by Grant Doyle ; Samling Artist and Bicentenary Scholar at Royal Academy Opera Liam Bonthrone will perform the role of Count Almaviva; Michel de Souza returns to NHO as Figaro after his performances in 2021’s La traviata; Icelandic bass-baritone and ENO Harewood Artist Andri Björn Róbertsson is Basilio; Berta will be performed by Janis Kelly; and former NHO Young Artist Malachy Frame completes the cast as Fiorello.

June 8, 9, 11, 12, 14 La Boheme

June 23, 25, 26, 28, 29 Il barbiere di Siviglia

The operas form part of Nevill Holt’s diverse summer events. For full details of the festival, and booking details, visit https://www.nevillholtopera.co.uk

Nevill Holt Opera is based at Nevill Holt Hall near Market Harborough, Leicesetrshire.