Opera

• Directed by: James Burton (cond)
• Written by: Mozart

Paul Higgins directs a new period production of Mozart's comedy of innocence and experience. With Laura Mitchell, Paula Sides, Kitty Whately. Conducted by James Burton

The story of the Papin Sisters has been haunting Western culture ever since the night in 1933 when these two shy housemaids brutally murdered their employer and her daughter; Genet's The Maids is only the most famous of the plays, books and articles about or inspired by the Papin sisters' crime. Composer David Knotts and…

Imprisoned and tortured for threatening to expose the barbarity of a brutal regime, political prisoner Florestan has little hope left. Only a daring feat of heroism by his loyal wife Leonore can offer him a chance of escape – and of justice. Beethoven’s only opera is a cry of defiance against oppression and an ode to…

• Written by: Richard Strauss

This season WNO presents three operas as part of its Eternal Light series from Italy and Germany and the Company aims to show how rich, varied and entertaining the work from these two countries can be. The three works are Beethoven's only opera, Fidelio, Strauss' Ariadne auf Naxos and Mozart's The Magic Flute. Fidelio…

• Written by: W S Gilbert

Members of the local G&S society perform the comic-opera on their 40th anniversary. Donald Stephenson plays The Mikado and Rachel Warren sings the part of Yum-Yum.

• Written by: Rossini

This English translation of Gioachino Rossini's comic, two-act opera in which Count Almaviva enlists the help of local fixer Figaro to gain access to his beloved Rosina, who is guarded by the over-protective Dr. Bartolo.

• Written by: Gilbert And Sullivan

A performance of Gilbert and Sullivan's Far Eastern tale of love and bumbling bureaucrats.

Strathaven Choral Society, opened by Glasgow Symphony Orchestra.

• Directed by: Nicholas Hytner
• Written by: Verdi

Nicholas Hytner directs Verdi's story of love and arranged marriage where Don Carlos falls in love with Elizabeth, daughter of Henry II of France, but his father, King Philip II of Spain, intends to marry her himself to secure a peace treaty. Starring Jonas Kaufmann (May 4, 8, 11, 15 and 18) and Roberto Aronica (May 21…

• Directed by: Antonio Pappano (cond)
• Written by: Verdi

Antonio Pappano conducts Verdi's opera about a corsair who becomes the Doge of Genoa. With Thomas Hampson in the title role and Hibla Gerzmava as Amelia. Directed by Elijah Moshinsky. Sung in Italian with English surtitles.

A free, hour-long peek backstage at the inner workings, characters, scenes and high points of The Pirates of Penzance.

This year the arts and craft open studio festival tacks on a fringe event, encompassing everything from chocolate making workshops to a performance of Carmen to an art tour of Drumlanrig Castle.

Donizetti's comedy about an old bachelor's quest to find a young wife. Sung in English.

• Directed by: Antony McDonald (dir)
• Written by: Wagner

Lothar Koenigs conducts Wagner's opera of love and redemption. Starring Peter Wedd in the title role and Emma Bell as Elsa. Directed by Antony McDonald. Sung in German with surtitles in English (and Welsh in Cardiff).

• Directed by: David Mosey
• Written by: Seymour Barab

A performance of two operas featuring Purcell's tragic story of two lovers and Seymour Barab's satire on Italian opera.

• Directed by: Richard Egarr (dir)
• Written by: Monteverdi

Richard Egarr directs a concert performance Monteverdi's opera, based on the Greek myth of Orpheus travelling to the Underworld to reclaim his beloved wife, Euridice.

• Directed by: Paul Jackson (cond)
• Written by: Carl Orff

Paul Jackson conducts Carl Orff's secular cantata, portraying a tale which celebrates the fickleness of fortune and wealth. Directed by Simon Bell.

• Directed by: Christopher Monks
• Written by: George Frideric Handel

The group performs a comic take on a tale of two lovers, set to Baroque music by Handel and others and featuring music from Xerxes, Giulio Cesare, Rindaldo and Orlando. Directed by Emma Rivlin. Sung in English.

Vincenzo Bellini: I Capuleti ed i Montecchi - opera in 2 acts Bellini's sixth opera was written for La Fenice in Venice in 1830, immediately before La sonnambula. It was not based directly on Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet but on its Italian precursors. A distinctive coloration is provided by the older tradition of…

• Written by: Domenico Cimarosa

A performance of Benjamin Britten's first opera, about the founding of America by a motley band of pioneers, and Domenico Cimarosa's The Secret Marriage, a tale of class rivalries, marriageable sisters and a pompous English Count.

Highlights include: Georges Bizet: Les Toréadors from Carmen Giuseppe Verdi: Ehi! paggio! from Falstaff Giuseppe Verdi: Ella giammai m'amò from Don Carlos Richard Wagner: O du, mein holder Abendstern (Song to the evening star) from Tannhäuser, Act 3 Interval The acclaimed and award-winning operatic…

Martin Handley conducts Puccini's classic East meets West tragedy about a young geisha girl and her American lover. Directed by Jacopo Spirei. Sung in Italian.

A performance of Gilbert and Sullivan's tale of love and bumbling bureaucrats.

• Directed by: David Manifold
• Written by: Gilbert

Gilbert and Sullivan's comic opera about the Mugatroyd family's curse and its consequences. Stage direction by Simon Moss and musical director David Manifold.