Tchaikovsky: Eugene Onegin
One performance remaining on 18 September
Tchaikovsky’s stunning exploration of life, death, love, and pride in pre-revolutionary Russia – realising Pushkin’s story with breathtaking passion and lyricism. Dominic Dromgoole directs a stellar cast led by Galina Averina and Timothy Nelson, alongside a world-class chamber orchestra.
Excellent - goes straight to the heart. This is what opera should be
**** The Times 2025
Donizetti: The Elixir of Love
2 performances remaining
Donizetti's sun-kissed comedy in our hit production by Guido Martin-Brandis. With a fabulous cast led by Galina Averina, a mischievous new translation from Joseph Morris, and a sparkling new orchestration specially made for the fine chamber musicians of the Wild Arts Ensemble.
A joy beyond all expectation - sassily delivered and outstandingly well sung.
Michael White
An Evening of Opera at...
3 performances remaining
An evening of operatic and musical hits, semi-staged by director James Hurley, and woven into a sparkling new narrative. Performed by four fabulous singers and a world-class string quintet, follow our characters as they travel through 75 minutes of music, from Handel and Puccini to Cole Porter and Stephen Sondheim.
Spectacular doesn’t even begin to do it justice! Wow. ★★★★★
25th Anniversary Celebration – September 2025
The Roman River Festival 2025
Join us for an unmissable celebration of a quarter of a century of memorable chamber music, surprising spaces, beautiful visual art and ceramics, breath-taking performers, street dance, poetry, and more...
Triple and Titan at Saffron Hall: Beethoven Triple Concerto & Mahler Symphony No 1
Friday 3 October 2025, 7.30pm
Saffron Hall, Saffron Walden, Essex
Following the finale of the Roman River Festival in Coggeshall on 27 September, the Wild Arts Ensemble bring two of the classical canons' greatest works to Saffron Hall – Beethoven's Triple Concerto in C major (with leading soloists Tom Poster, Elena Urioste, and Laura Van der Heijden) and Mahler’s Symphony No. 1.
Winter 2025 and Future Programme
Messiah & Beyond
Our Messiah returns this December to venues including Layer Marney Tower, Smith Square Hall in London, Chichester Cathedral, and more. Semi-staged by director Tom Morris (War Horse), with singers performing from memory and a chamber orchestra of period instruments.
2026 and beyond
From seasonal chamber music and opera projects to new commissions, recording projects, and symphonic arrangements. Including Mahler's Das Lied von der Erde (with Xavier Hetherington and Marta Fontanals-Simmons) in Spring 2026, The Marriage of Figaro next Summer, and a dramatisation of Bach's St John Passion.
Headline Summer Festivals 2026
Layer Marney Tower 2026
Layer Marney Tower 2026
Layer Marney Tower 2026
Friday 5 June – Sunday 7 June 2026
The Marriage of Figaro
Our 5th season at the magnificent Tudor red-brick mansion Layer Marney Tower, overlooking the Blackwater River.
Picnic in the gardens and grounds and enjoy the opera in the beautifully renovated Opera Barn.
Opera at Kelvedon Hall
Layer Marney Tower 2026
Layer Marney Tower 2026
June 2026 The Marriage of Figaro
A return to this fantastic venue where Henry 'Chips' Channon wrote his famous diaries. You will be seated under cover in the beautiful Rose Garden amphitheatre, an intimate space with grass embankments and perfect acoustics for live music. Set up your picnics in the beautiful gardens.
Opera at Forde Abbey
Layer Marney Tower 2026
Opera at Forde Abbey
Wed 22 & Thurs 23 July 206
The Marriage of Figaro
Forde Abbey is a truly stunning house on the idyllic Dorset / Somerset borders, with extensive and magnificent gardens.
We're delighted to return for a fourth year.
Picnic in the beautiful gardens and enjoy the performance in the impressive Great Hall.
Fast selling shows
Our Onegin at Holland Park is sold out, so the only chance of seeing it is at the Charterhouse in the City of London on 18 September.
There are a few tickets available for our Elixir of Love at Opera Holland Park and Thorington Theatre in Suffolk, for our Opera Evening at Barn Drift in Norfolk, and for our Messiah at Layer Marney Tower in Essex in December.
You can now book tickets for our dramatised Messiah at Smith Square Hall in London and other venues around the country.