The 2025 Buxton International Festival has announced “Shorts,” a collection of four new opera commissions.

“Shorts” consists of four 20-minutes opera composed by Francesca Amewudah-Rivers, Jasper Dommett, Martin Green, Carmel Smickersgill and Yshani Perinpanayagam, with librettos by Zodwa Nyoni, Josh Overton and Jessica Walker. Directors include Marcus Desando and Rebecca Meltzer, with designer Elliott Squire and repetiteur Paul McKenzie. “Shorts” will be premiered at Buxton’s Pavilion Arts Centre this summer, in addition to four full- scale festival operas.

“Residency Sharings” will be the culmination of two days’ rehearsal. The press is invited to see snippets of the works in progress, plus meet the artists and creatives on Nov. 27 and 29, 2024.

In a press release, Adrian Kelly the festival’s artistic director said, “Shorts is all about the future of opera. While opera remains a captivating experience for those who have already discovered it, there is no question that audiences need a boost. All. companies that produce opera have a responsibility to look to the future. At the heart of this mission is our desire to bring opera to new audiences and we are also excited to introduce fresh visionary forces. Our creatives come with a diverse range of styles and inspirations as well as an impressive line-up of credits between 2 them, including an Ivor Novello Award, a Sunday Times Best Playwright Award, as well as Netflix, BBC and Channel 4 writing credits.”

Also taking place at the festival is Ambroise Thomas’ “Hamlet,” a double bill of Leonard Bernstein’s “Trouble in
Taihiti” and Francis Poulenc’s “La Voix Humaine,” at Buxton Opera House, and” Mozart’s The Impresario,” a production by Opera Zuid. In addition, Vache Baroque brings “La Descente d’Orphée aux Enfers” to the Pavilion Arts Centre.

The Buxton International Festival runs July 10-27, 2025.