King for a Day by Verdi, From (2024/2024), Directed by Christopher Alden, Conductor Tobias Ringborg, Chris Hopkins, Garsington Opera, Buckinghamshire, United Kingdom

The first of Verdi’s two comedic operas finally takes its rightful place on the Garsington stage having been part of the cancelled 2020 Season. This light-hearted comedy features an impressive virtuosic vocal score sung by an international cast and large chorus of our renowned Young Artists. A tale of thwarted love and mistaken and assumed identities, this comedy revolves around an ordinary man becoming “King for a Day”. The use of his new power to disentangle some unhappy betrothals results in a maelstrom of madness and delusional behaviour filling the story with twists and turns. Despite Verdi’s youth, his dramatic skills in portraying characters that vividly come to life shines through, along with his mastery of rhythmic vitality, feeling for light and shade and glorious use of the voice. Conducting the Philharmonia Orchestra will be Tobias Ringborg, last seen at Garsington Opera conducting Così fan tutte (2022). Acclaimed director Christopher Alden makes his Garsington Opera debut.