A Selection Box of Opera

Get ready for Opera in a Box's Autumn 2026 project -- A Selection Box of Opera, a thrilling four-night celebration that's a bit like choosing chocolates from a selection box: every evening offers a different pair of delectable operatic treats! Performed in the intimate, welcoming space of Bristol's Alma Tavern, this series lets you savour four one-act masterpieces in up-close reinventions by a host of imaginative directors and musical directors. Across the week you'll encounter a range of stories and styles: • In Menotti's The Medium, unsettling supernatural undertones and emotional tension swirl around a fraudulent psychic whose illusions start to feel all too real. • Bartók's Bluebeard's Castle delves into eerie mystery as the newly-wed Judith insists on opening the forbidden doors of her husband's castle, revealing both wonder and dread. • Purcell's Dido & Aeneas tells of the heart-breaking love and loss between Queen Dido and the Trojan hero Aeneas. • And Puccini's Gianni Schicchi serves up comic chaos when relatives collide over an inheritance, with wit, folly and soaring music abound. Audiences repeatedly applaud Opera in a Box's engaging performances and imaginative staging, remarking on the clarity of singing and the immediacy of the experience in intimate venues. Whether you're seeking a new favourite opera or want to savour familiar gems in a fresh way, A Selection Box of Opera is a rare opportunity.