We are delighted to be hosting Opera Cameratina in February 2026 with:
Love & Liberty:
America’s Musical Journey
Cameratina returns to Opera in Oborne to explore the rich repertoire of North America
14th and 15th February 2026
A little about the weekend
The 250th Anniversary of the Declaration of Independence falls in 2026 and this allows Cameratina to take as our theme the unique and extensive contribution that American and American-based composers and librettists are currently making to opera.
As well as the many contemporary political and cultural topics that these writers are highlighting, the unique impact of other musical genres, notably jazz and blues, is changing what is expected of opera.
Cameratina’s weekends are designed to provide wonderful, out of the ordinary music. The small scale allows the audience to enjoy performances that bring an intimacy and immediacy not possible in larger venues.
Equally as important, the weekend allows six emerging stars of the UK opera scene the chance to polish their skills before a group of positive and enthusiastic supporters. In this case, there is also the advantage for them of working directly with two of the country’s most respected mentors, Susanna Stranders and Gweneth Ann Rand.
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In September 2001—just one day before the 9/11 attacks on the Twin Towers—I arrived in Cincinnati, Ohio. Despite that harrowing beginning, my three years in the United States became some of the most formative of my career. I was fortunate to work with outstanding coaches, conductors, and singers, but some of my most lasting inspiration came from discovering, hearing, and performing works by American composers.
In Houston, I was privileged to meet and collaborate with Jake Heggie on the world premiere of his opera The End of the Affair, based on the novel by Graham Greene. Jake has remained a close friend ever since. I was delighted to join him for the UK premiere of Dead Man Walking at the Barbican in 2018, a new production of which has achieved great critical success at ENO. I am especially excited to present one of his works, the monodrama At the Statue of Venus, as part of our upcoming weekend together. Surely a work about a woman on a blind date is fitting for St Valentine’s Day?!
Alongside the Heggie, highlights will also include Kurt Weill’s The Seven Deadly Sins (in English), Samuel Barber’s A Hand of Bridge, and Aaron Copland’s Old American Songs, along with many other treasures from across the Atlantic.
Joining me at Oborne will be our next cohort of brilliant young stars (and stripes!), selected from auditions in November, and my dear friend, the celebrated soprano Gweneth Ann Rand—an artist with deep experience in American repertoire and a gifted mentor for emerging singers. I’m thrilled that Cameratina will bring us together once again—and I very much hope you will join us too.
Susanna Stranders, Musical Director of Opera Cameratina, October 2025
Gweneth Ann Rand
Renowned for the emotional depth and vocal brilliance of her performances, Gwen has appeared with major companies around the world. Her wide-ranging repertoire embraces both the European canon and American opera. Most recently she has been seen in the ENO’s critically acclaimed production of Dead Man Walking.
As an Associate Artist at the Wigmore, she is known for her recital programming and storytelling She is especially celebrated for her interpretations of Messiaen's Harawi and his soprano repertoire, which showcase her artistry at its most expressive and profound.
Our normal August 2026 programme isn't yet finalised, you can read about what we did in 2025 below.
Puccini's TOSCA
6, 8 & 9 August 2025, 7.30pm
£45
Giacomo Puccini's "Tosca" is a passionate and tragic opera set in Rome during the Napoleonic Wars, centered around the tempestuous love affair between opera singer Floria Tosca and painter Mario Cavaradossi. The story revolves around their relationship, the political intrigue, and the manipulative machinations of the corrupt chief of police, Baron Scarpia.
Bernstein's TROUBLE IN TAHITI
Saturday August 9 2025, 3pm
£20
Trouble in Tahiti," a one-act opera by Leonard Bernstein, is a portrait of a troubled marriage in 1950s suburban America. It follows the day-to-day lives of Sam and Dinah, who, despite seeming to have a comfortable life, are unhappy and disconnected from each other. The opera explores themes of marital discontent, consumerism, and the search for happiness.
OPERA IN THE PARK
Sunday August 10, 2025, 3pm
£20 (children free)
Join us for the gala concert, fabulous singing in the open air. Bring your picnic to Oborne and enjoy a concert of arias and show tunes performed by Opera in Oborne’s brightest and best, accompanied by John Cuthbert on the piano. All washed down with a glass on Pimms – this has all the hallmarks of a splendid afternoon in the country.
SILENT MOVIE
Thursday August 7th, 7.30 pm
Visit the movies as the first cinema-goers would over a hundred years ago. A silent movie with live piano accompaniment by John Cuthbert.
This silent movie from 1923 is considered to be one of the classics. Safety Last is best known for its iconic image of comedian Harold Lloyd hanging from a clock atop a skyscraper. Lloyd played an unnamed young man who poses as a department-store manager to impress his girlfriend.
This is our third year of this event; the first two were hugely successful and very warmly received by the audience.
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