Classical Opera's 2014/15 London season

Mozart figures highly in Ian Page and Classical Opera's forthcoming season in London. There is his Requiem with soloists Sophie Bevan, Sarah Connolly, John Mark Ainsley and Darren Jeffrey at the Barbican (8/10), soprano Miah Persson singing Mozart and Haydn at the Wigmore Hall (26/11) and a survey of music from the year 1765, including works by Mozart (his first symphony), Gluck and JC Bach (22/1/2015). This latter concert is part of the celebrations for the 250th anniversary of Mozart's childhood visit to London. There is an entire weekend of celebrations including five concerts looking both Mozart's music and the music of the era (20-22/2/2015 at Milton Court).

Moving away from Mozart there is an opera by a composer Mozart much admired and was influenced by. J.C Bach's Adriano in Siria is being staged at the Britten Theatre, directed by Thomas Guthrie with a cast including Kitty Whately, Rhys Jarman and Katharine Williams. The opera was premiered in 1765 at the King's Theatre in London, and sets a libretto by Metastasio. In fact the nine year old Mozart would have heard a performance whilst he was in London. The first performance in modern times was given in 1982, conducted by Charles Mackerras at the Camden Festival. but Classical Opera's performances will represent the works first staging in modern times. (14,16,18/4/2014 at the Britten Theatre)

And then on 6 May 2015 at the Wigmore Hall,  tenor Allan Clayton joins Ian Page and the orchestra to celebrate the 300th anniversary of John Beard, the tenor for whom Handel wrote so many great roles. Clayton will be singing arias from Alcina, Berenice, Semele and Jephtha plus music by Boyce, J.C.Smith and Arne.

Further information from the Classical Opera website.