Everybody loves a wedding; add upstairs downstairs intrigue, farce, mistaken identity and a happy ending and we have the world’s most perfect opera, Mozart’s Marriage of Figaro. An exciting new collaboration will culminate in a fully staged production of this opera at St Mary in the Castle on Saturday and Sunday 9th and 10th April.

Marcio da Silva Music Director of Woodhouse Opera (and Hastings Philharmonic Choir) has joined with Jenny Miller, founder of Barefoot Opera, to produce this ‘day of madness’ opera by Mozart, using Marcio’s orchestra, Ensemble OrQuesta, and the students of the 2016 Opera Academy, the divas of tomorrow.

Marcio is now going into his fourth year as Woodhouse Opera’s Music Director. Woodhouse Opera (http://www.woodhousesounds.com/) stages several operas a year in the beautiful arts and crafts house and Gertrude Jekyll gardens of Woodhouse Copse near Leith Hill, Surrey. Marcio moved to St Leonards with his wife and young family late last year and promises to enrich Hastings’ musical life with his boundless energy.

Jenny Miller is well known in Hastings for her innovative and imaginative stagings of great opera at St Mary in the Castle over the last five years where she makes full use of the unique surroundings. Her ensemble work and physical theatre techniques create a close emotional and physical connection between performers and audience and Barefoot Opera productions (http://barefootoperacompany.tumblr.com/about) have gone on to tour various locations including participation in the Longborough Festival Opera. As  a National Opera Studio graduate,    Jenny Miller has a lifetime of experience in opera. (http://barefootoperacompany.tumblr.com/jenny).

May this be the start of a beautiful artistic partnership!

Marriage of Figaro at St Mary in the Castle, 7 Pelham Cres, Hastings TN34 3AF 9 April at 7pm and 10 April at 5pm, Tickets Stalls £20/£18 concs. and Gallery £17/£15 concs. available at Hastings Tourist Information Centre Aquila House, Breeds Place, Hastings TN34 3UY  01424 451111,  at door and at https://www.musicglue.com/stmaryinthecastle/events/10-apr-16-marriage-of-figaro-st-mary-in-the-castle/

PLEASE NOTE THE CORRECT START TIMES ARE 7PM ON SATURDAY 9TH APRIL AND 5PM ON SUNDAY 10TH APRIL