Win tickets to the opera!

PUBLISHED: 15:25 14 July 2016 | UPDATED: 15:25 14 July 2016

Sarah Sturt

Lilly Papaioannou as Carmen and Cameron Rolls as Don Jose

Lightbody Studio 1971 - 2015©

Opera Brava returns to Hever Castle’s open-air Festival Theatre this August with a passionate performance of Carmen and a wonderful evening of Mozart’s sublime opera The Marriage of Figaro.

Opera Brava has assembled a fabulous cast of exciting young singers as well as international artists who have performed in major opera houses all over the world, including Covent Garden and English National Opera.

Historic Hever and its award-winning gardens is the perfect backdrop for a sensational evening of opera with top artists from the classical music world. And in the Festival Theatre’s stunning open-air location, most seats are under the brand-new seating canopies, so the audience can still take pleasure the beautiful location and wonderful performance, whatever the English summer weather.

On 5 August Opera Brava will perform Carmen. Set in Spain, Carmen is one of the world’s most famous and most popular operas and includes perennial favourites such as the stirring Toreador Song and the enticing Habanera.

Lilly Papaioannou is Carmen

Carmen follows the story of a young army corporal who is drawn into a maelstrom of lust, duty and betrayal by his desire for an intoxicating, impulsive gypsy girl, with deadly consequences. The cast is led by rising star Lilly Papaioannou as the charismatic heroine and Cameron Rolls as Don Jose.

On 6 August, Mozart’s masterpiece, The Marriage of Figaro, will be performed by a star-studded cast, two of whom have played the same roles at the Royal Opera House. Probably the most perfect opera, all the action takes place over one day in the life of Figaro at the court of Count Almaviva.

The Marriage of Figaro is a joyful farce in which we witness the foibles and intrigues used to reveal the indiscretions of philandering nobleman, Count Almaviva. Hearts are won and lost, disguises are put on and off and kisses are stolen, all to great comic effect.

Ian Beadle sings the eponymous hero with Stephanie Bodsworth as his betrothed, Susanna, with Nicholas Morris and Elinor Rolfe Johnson as the Count and Countess.

Opera Brava is Britain’s leading professional outdoor touring opera company. Now in its 28th year, the company presents a packed programme of classic productions at beautiful locations every year. Formed by former English National Opera singers, Opera Brava has won acclaim and given pleasure to countless opera fans.

Reader competition

To win a pair of tickets for either Carmen or The Marriage of Figaro, just answer this question:

Q: In which country is Carmen set?

A Italy B Portugal C Spain

Jot your answer down on a postcard (with your choice of Carmen or Figaro) and send it to: Opera Brava competition, Kent Life, Kent House, 81 Station Road, Ashford TN23 1PP. Alternatively, email your answer to editor@kent-life.co.uk, with Opera Brava Competition in the subject line. Don’t forget to include your name, address and a contact telephone number with every entry.

Closing date: 22 July 2016

The editor’s decision is final. Any entries received after the closing date will not be eligible for entry. Normal Archant competition rules apply (www.kent-life.co.uk)

Find out more

Tickets can also be bought at www.heverfestival-tickets.co.uk or call 01732 866114; for more details, see also www.operabrava.com