Welsh National Opera brings The Marriage of Figaro and Peter Grimes to Milton Keynes Theatre

The Marriage of Figaro – Thursday 15th May

Tobias Richter’s vibrant staging of Mozart’s The Marriage of Figaro comes to Milton Keynes on Thursday 15th May. Originally performed earlier this year, this production is directed by Max Hoehn and conducted by former WNO Associate Conductor Kerem Hasan.

Soprano Chen Reiss reprises her role as Countess Almaviva, performing alongside a stellar cast including Michael Mofidian, Christina Gansch, Harriet Eyley, Giorgio Caoduro, Wyn Pencarreg, Jeffrey Lloyd-Roberts, WNO Associate Artist Eiry Price, Monika Sawa and Julian Boyce.

The Marriage of Figaro Cwta | In Short – Friday 16th May

WNO’s innovative Cwta | In Short initiative returns in 2025 with a condensed version of The Marriage of Figaro. Following a successful pilot season, this abridged performance is designed to make opera more accessible for new audiences.

Free performances will be available exclusively for school and music service groups in Milton Keynes on Friday 16 May. For bookings, contact the ATG Group Booking team on 0207 206 1174 or visit ATGTICKETS.COM/Groups

Peter Grimes – Saturday 17th May

Following the success of its recent production of Death in Venice, WNO presents a brand-new staging of Britten’s Peter Grimes, directed by Melly Still in her WNO debut and conducted by WNO Music Director Tomáš Hanus – his first Britten opera.

A haunting tale of isolation, suspicion and tragedy, Peter Grimes follows a fisherman whose mental state unravels as he becomes the target of a hostile coastal community following a devastating incident at sea.

Tenor Nicky Spence makes his debut in the title role, returning to WNO after The Makropulos Affair in 2022. He is joined by an acclaimed cast including Dame Sarah Connolly as Auntie, Sally Matthews (in her WNO debut) as Ellen Orford, Oliver Johnston as Bob Boles, Dominic Sedgwick as Ned Keene, and Catherine Wyn-Rogers as Mrs Sedley. The production also features a host of celebrated Welsh talent including David Kempster, Fflur Wyn, Jeffrey Lloyd-Roberts and Sion Goronwy.

Director Melly Still shares:

"I keep pinching myself: yes, I am working on Peter Grimes with Nicky Spence of all remarkable people... We’re working with a cast to die for – a powerful mix of Grimes newcomers and seasoned performers, all of them extraordinary actors and singers. The production also features exceptional local theatre and dance artists, as well as the full force of WNO’s phenomenal Chorus. Leading us through Britten’s intensely emotional score is the brilliant Tomáš Hanus."

Peter Grimes will be performed at Milton Keynes Theatre on Saturday 17th May.