Magic Flute’s sweet sounds

English Touring Opera will be setting up stage at the venue later this month.

They will perform three operas; Mozart’s The Magic Flute, Britten’s Paul Bunyan and Tippett’s King Priam.

Probably the world’s favourite opera, The Magic Flute tells the enchanting story of a young prince and princess on a dreamlike journey in pursuit of love.

Great comedy, spectacular costumes and memorable tunes mean this is the opera to charm children and captivate anyone going to the opera for the first time.

Britten’s musically charming and dreamlike Paul Bunyan is a cross between an opera and a musical, which re-creates the great myth of the American frontier. It is peopled by a giant, singing geese and cats, dancing Swedes, lumberjacks, and good and bad cooks.

The score is brilliantly inventive, mixing elements of blues, folk songs and hymns in a witty and irreverent response to the American Dream.

In Tippett’s King Priam Troy is under siege. In the city, the old king recounts the events leading up to the war, waiting for his own death.

All the familiar characters and stories – Hector and Achilles, Paris, Helen and the gods – are brought to life in this memorable meditation on the futility of war.

English Touring Opera are a world renowned company who have toured more than any other opera company in the UK.

They recently won an Olivier Award for Outstanding Achievement in Opera.

Catch King Priam on Tuesday, May 27 at 7.30pm.

Paul Bunyan is at the same time the following day.

Performances of The Magic Flute are each evening from Thursday, May 29 to Saturday, May 31 at 7.30pm.

Tickets for each performance cost from £20 plus a £2.50 booking fee. Call the box office on 01223 503333.