(Credits: Opera Online website / Paul Foster-Williams / Gerard Collett)

The Grange Festival has announced its 2021 edition which will feature several opera productions headline by opera’s greatest stars.

Here is the breakdown of what’s in store for 2021.

Britten’s operatic masterpiece “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” will open the festival. The opera will feature Alexander Chance in the role of Oberon, Samantha Clarke as Tytania, Roberto Lorenzi in the role of Theseus, Angharad Lyddon as Hippolyta, Peter Kirk as Lysander, Dominic Sedgwick in the role of Demetrius, Angela Simkin as Hermia, Eleanor Dennis in the role of Helena, Jonathan Lemalu as Bottom, Graeme Danby as Quince, Ben Jonhson as Flute, Sion Goronwy as Snug, Gwilym Bowen in the role of Snout, and Johnny Herford as Starveling. Chris Darmanin will play Puck.

Anthony Kraus will conduct the production by Paul Curran.

Performance dates: June 11 – 24, 2021

Rossini’s “La Cenerentola” will spotlight Nico Darmanin as Don Ramiro, Josè Maria Lo Monaco in the role of Angelina, Christian Senn as Dandini, Luciano di Pasquale in the role of Don Magnifico, Carolina Lippo as Clorinda, Maria Ostroukhova as Tisbe, and Robert Lorenzi as Alidoro.

David Parry will conduct the production by Stephen Barlow.

Performance dates: June 12 – 30, 2021

Puccini’s “Manon Lescaut” will showcase Nicholas Lester as Lescaut, Samuel Sakker as Des Grieux, Stephen Richardson as Geronte, Kamil Bien in the roles of Edmondo, Dancing Master and Lamplighter, Angharad Lyddon as the Musician, and Elin Pritchard in the title role.

Francesco Cilluffo will conduct the production by Stephen Lawless.

Performance dates: June 27, 2021 – July 9, 2021

Loewe’s musical “My Fair Lady” will be presented as a staged concert. Alfonso Casado Trigo will conduct the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra. The musical will also feature the Grange Festival Chorus.

Performance dates: July 8 – 18, 2021

Finally,  “King Lear” will star Sir Thomas Allen as Gloucester, Peter Coleman Wright in the role of Kent, Kim Begley as Fool, Oskar McCarthy in the role of Edmund, Susan Bullock as Goneril, Emma Bell as Regan, Louise Alder in the role of Cordelia, Richard Berkeley Steele as Albany, Darren Clarke as Cornwall, Christopher Gillett in the role of Oswald, Henry Waddington as Burgundy, John Graham Hall as Old Gentleman, and Sir John Tomlinson in the title role.

Keith Warner direct the Shakespeare play with incidental music by Nigel Osborne.

Performance dates: July 14 – 17, 2021