(Credit: Patrick Allen)

Grange Park Opera, Surrey has announced its 2021 season, comprised of fan-favorite works, renowned artists, and more. The season will also see the world premiere of Anthony Bolton’s new work “The Life & Death of Alexander Litvinenko,” which was originally scheduled to premiere this year.

Verdi’s “Falstaff” will open featuring Bryn Terfel, Natalya Romaniw, Janis Kelly, and Sara Fulgoni. The production by Stephen Medcalf first premiered in 2011 at the Farnese theatre in Parma, Italy.

Performance Dates: June 10 – July 18, 2021.

Rimsky Korsakov’s “Ivan the Terrible,” which is also known as “The Maid of Pskov,” will be directed by David Pountney. The cast includes Evelina Dobracheva, Liubov Sokolova, Carl Tanner, and Clive Bailey.

Performance Dates: June 19 – July 14, 2021.

Anthony Bolton’s “The Life & Death of Alexander Litvinenko” will make its world premiere. The new work follows the real-life story of former FSB officer Alexander Litvinenko, who after speaking out on his superiors’ corruption and refusing to assassinate Boris Berezovsky, finds himself exiled in London. A few short months after legislature passes that permits the killing of Russian traitors abroad, Litvinenko is found poisoned to death by radioactive polonium-210.

The production will feature a full chorus, a 52-piece orchestra, and will utilize historic film footage. Bolton’s music is said to draw from opera as well as real life, using an army march song, a Moscow football anthem, and the Chechen national anthem. The cast includes Andrew Watts, Andrew Slater, Adrian Dwyer, and Rebecca Bottone.

Performance Dates: July 15, 17, 2021.

The final opera of the season will be Puccini’s “La Boheme” starring Luis Chapa as Rodolfo, Ailish Tynan as Mimi, William Dazeley as Marcello, and Hye-Youn Lee as Musetta.

Performance Dates: June 12 – July 8, 2021.