Organization

Admin

Buxton International Festival

Direttore d'orchestra

Direttore d'orchestra (+4)

Adrian Kelly

Orchestra

Orchestra of Opera North

Regia

Regia (+1)

Jack Furness

Luci

Luci (+1)

Jake Wiltshire

Maestro ripassatore

Erika Gudensent

Buxton Opera House

Baritono (+1)

Gregory Feldmann

Hamlet

Basso (+4)

Alastair Miles

Claudius

Soprano

Yewon Han

Ophélie

Basso-baritono (+2)

Richard Woodall

Polonius

Mezzosoprano (+2)

Allison Cook

La Reine Gertrude

Tenore

Joshua Baxter

Laërte

Tylor Lamani

Marcellus

Baritono (+2)

Dan D'Souza

Horatio

Basso (+2)

Per Bach Nissen

Le Spectre

John Ieuan Jones

1. Fossoyeur

Tenore (+2)

James Liu

2. Fossoyeur

Scenografia

Samie Fendall

Violinista (+2)

Katie Stillman

Violin

Violinista

Byron Parish

Tamsin Symons

Claire Osborne

Brian Reilly

Violinista (+1)

Susannah Simmons

Catherine Landen

Katherine New

Oliver Baily

Ian Bone

Alison Dixon

Jacqueline Cima

Helen Greig

Violista

David Aspin

Viola

Lourenço Macedo Sampaio

Anne Trygstad

Clare Gardiner

Katie Jarvis

Vince Parsonage

Violoncellista

Jessica Burroughs

Cello

Daniel Bull

Lydia Dobson

Damion Browne

Contrabbassista

Claire Sadler

Double Bass

Flautista

Luke O’Toole

Flute

Fiona Colville

Oboista

Richard Hewitt

Oboe

Oboista (+1)

Catherine Lowe

English Horn

Clarinettista (+1)

Oliver Casanovas Nuevo

Clarinet

Clarinettista

Andrew Mason

Fagottista

Adam Mackenzie

Bassoon

Fagottista (+1)

David Baker

Cornista

John Pratt

Horn

Alexander Hamilton

Sam Yates

Trombettista

David Hooper

Trumpet

Trombonista

Blair Sinclair

Trombone

Tom Berry

Trombonista (+1)

Christian Jones

Timpanista

Mark Wagstaff

Timpani

Arpista

Céline Saout

Harp

A Buxton International Festival production, featuring the Orchestra of Opera North

Ambroise Thomas’ Hamlet epitomises the Grand Opera tradition that was popular in 19-century France, a genre that celebrates breath-taking spectacle, dramatic storytelling, large casts and choruses and lush orchestration. Thomas was one of the country’s most acclaimed composers of his day, with Hamlet and Mignon among his best-known works. Hamlet was a sensation, performed 276 times during his lifetime, before fading from the repertoire—until now.

Inspired by Shakespeare’s iconic play, this opera tells a tale of vengeance, madness, and doomed love. It follows the young Danish prince as he encounters his father’s ghost and embarks on a quest for justice and revenge. Thomas’ score intensifies the psychological drama of the tragedy, while giving special prominence to Ophelia, whose role captivated audiences of the era.

‘The music has a bit of everything, wonderful melodies as well as incredible virtuosic scenes and chorus numbers. Hamlet’s rousing drinking song and Ophelia’s mad scene are the best known arias, which singers often use to showcase their voices.  It’s an unforgettable work that’s rarely performed and deserves re-visiting.” Adrian Kelly, BIF’s Artistic Director

Buxton International Festival returns to its roots with this production, having performed Hamlet once before in 1980.  The then fledgling Festival (it was in its second year) put together an extraordinary cast led by Sir Thomas Allen in the title role, with Christine Barbaux as Ophelia and Donald Maxwell as Hamlet’s ghostly father.

Music by A Thomas, libretto by M Carré and J Barbier, based on an adaptation of Shakespeare’s Hamlet.

Hamlet (Amleto), Thomas

Cast