Opera at New College: La Vera Constanza

Wednesday 3 July, 2024

3 July 17:00
The Warden’s Garden at New College
garden opera shot jpg

You are cordially invited to a performance of La Vera Costanza, which is being held in aid of The Friends’ Paths Appeal. 

The Appeal is raising money to help us complete a comprehensive accessible series of paths at Harcourt Arboretum. These paths will benefit people with mobility difficulties, wheelchairs or baby buggies as well as the Curator and his staff as they extend and manage the Arboretum’s unique collection: there are still parts of the site that are difficult for them to access with the plant and equipment.

The opera’s plot is one of comic entanglement. Central to it is the five-year secret marriage between Count Errico and fisherwoman Rosina, Errico having abandoned Rosina and their young son. Needless to say complications, romantic and otherwise, ensue which involve the rest of the dramatis personae, notably Errico’s aunt. All does, however, end well with the entire cast singing in praise of constancy and virtue.

The opera will be performed in the Warden’s delightful secluded garden (or in the chapel if it is wet). The performance starts at 18:30 and the garden will be open from 18:00.

At 17:00 there will be a pre-performance talk by Professor Michael Burden, Director of the New Chamber Opera.

The New College cloisters will be open from 17:00 where you will be offered a complimentary glass of fizzy.

There will be a 75-minute interval half way through the performance for you to enjoy your picnic in the candle-lit cloisters. Please bring your own picnic, cutlery, glasses and plates.

SCHEDULE

  • 17:00 Pre-Performance talk by Professor Michael Burden, Director of New Chamber Opera
  • 18:30 Opera performance in the Warden’s Garden (open from 18:00)

TICKETS

  • Tickets £44 to include a welcoming glass of sparkling wine
  • £3 for the pre-performance talk
 

The Friends have undertaken to raise funds to improve the path network at Harcourt Arboretum, both restoring the existing paths and putting in new ones to improve access to areas of the site hitherto inaccessible to many people, such as the bluebell woods, the outdoor barn and the composting lavatories.

We are aiming to raise £750,000. All profits from the sale of opera tickets will be applied to this fundraising appeal. If you would like to make a further contribution please follow this link: Giving to the Botanic Garden (ox.ac.uk)

All contributions will be most welcome, and we hope that you will feel able to help us reach this ambitious target.