Summer 2026

Our 2026 production is a semi-staging of Grétry’s Zemira and Azor, a late 18th-century gem based on the fairytale story of Beauty and the Beast.  Expect a joyful collision of magic, monsters and true love, all to enchanting and captivating music.  Andrew Griffiths conducts, Jeremy Gray directs and, as always, it will be sung in our own English translation.  Casting is currently under way – always an exciting time for us!

This summer takes us to a new venue – Cokethorpe School, just south of Witney and only 6 miles from the Deanery garden, which it replaces.  It is a splendid place, with lovely and extensive grounds for picnics, an excellent indoors acoustic space for the performances, and plenty of easy parking.  We’re also experimenting slightly with the way we present a production, taking advantage of the indoor space to trial a semi-staging with scenic video projections that will add an extra dimension to the production.  It is an exciting move, one that has been chosen very much with the audience experience in mind – so do book early to ensure you don’t miss the experience!  Performances will also be at Westonbirt and Smith Square London, as usual. 

The changes are unavoidable but may not be permanent.  One reason for the move is the increasing challenge of performing outdoors, but be assured that the production will be as delightful and enthralling as ever. 

Ticket prices remain at £45 for Bampton and Westonbirt and booking is now open. Opera is an expensive undertaking, and we are one of only a few small companies which always performs with orchestra – please consider adding an extra donation if you are able.

In related news, Jeremy is presenting a talk in Bampton Village Hall on Sunday 22 March at 3pm: ‘Once upon a Time: Beauty and the Beast in stories, art and music’.  The talk is run by the Friends of St Mary’s, which raises all-important funds for the fabric of Bampton’s splendid medieval church.  It’s not specifically a talk about the Grétry opera, although that will come into it, but an enjoyable exploration of this amazingly varied and thought-provoking fairytale.  Who knows, even Disney may get a mention!

Another important piece of news is that we have a new Administrator.  After nearly 20 years of wonderful commitment, Anthony Hall is retiring… we are enormously grateful for everything he’s done for us over the years and we will very much miss him and all his expertise.  The good news is that a recent new resident to Bampton, Joy Besse, will be taking over.  Joy will be running our box office and can be contacted at joy@bamptonopera.org and 07968 801047.  We much look forward to working with her.

Support us

We have a growing group of Friends of Bampton Classical Opera - through membership you can not only support our work but also meet like-minded people at convivial events, including our annual Friends reception.  There are several tiers of membership, each with associated benefits, and we are particularly grateful to our Corinthian Friends, but every single membership makes a difference.  Please do consider joining the big Bampton family!

Other support

If you would like to support without becoming a Friend, you can do so in a number of ways.
We always welcome practical help, especially at summer opera time, and we are especially looking for people who can help with the work associated with get-in and get-out at all three of our venues.  It’s an opportunity to do something different and to work as part of a friendly community. If it appeals, please contact Joy Besse for further details.

Otherwise, you could consider:

• Making a donation (see above)
• Company support – become a Corporate Friend
• Advertising your business in our programme
• Helping in kind – accommodate a singer, help with cast catering or with event organisation
• Spreading the word!