A second showing of Colin Matthews and William Boyd's first opera, based on an intriguing Chekhov short story.

A Visit to Friends is an opera about love. Or, more accurately, about love’s frustrations. Drawing on Anton Chekhov’s short story and William Boyd’s Chekhovian play Longing, Colin Matthews’ opera (with libretto written by William Boyd) is, beguilingly, an opera within an opera, with music strongly influenced by Scriabin.

Four main characters are rehearsing for the first performance of a recently discovered opera with a libretto written by Chekhov. Two women are both in love with a man who cannot commit himself, and during rehearsals their relationships begin to mirror the characters they are playing...

Sung in English with English surtitles.

Lotte Betts-Dean Varia, Vanessa
Susanna Hurrell Nadia, Natalie
Marcus Farnsworth Marcus, Misha
Edward Hawkins Gregor
Gary Matthewman Chris

Colin Matthews composer
William Boyd libretto

Rachael Hewer director
Leanne Vandenbussche designer
Jaz Manville assistant director

Jessica Cottis conductor
William Cole assistant conductor
Berrak Dyer repetiteur
Aurora Orchestra

Corey Bennett production manager