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Opera on Location The Prodigal Son

Much-loved opera company returns for a summer performance at Kelham Island Museum.

On Sunday 15 August, Opera on Location makes a long-awaited return to live performances with a modern adaptation of Debussy's award-winning one-act opera, The Prodigal Son. Audiences can look forward to enjoying the opera in the historic surroundings of The Courtyard at Kelham Island Museum.

It is a hot summer's day and whilst preparing to celebrate her 50th birthday, Lia laments the breakdown of her family. She reflects on the rift between her husband, Siméon, and her son Azaël, who left home after his parents rejected him when he came out. However, at this special milestone in his mother's life, Azaël has decided it is time to return and confront his parents. Whilst Lia is overjoyed to have her son back home, both she and Azaël are worried that Siméon will not be as welcoming.

After winning the composition competition the Prix de Rome in 1884, The Prodigal Son was re-orchestrated before receiving its world premiere as part of the Sheffield Music Festival in 1908, conducted by Sir Henry Wood. Opera on Location are working with Sheffield-based orchestrator and arranger George Morton to create a new orchestration, and the production will be accompanied by a 10-piece ensemble.

Co-artistic Director Gareth Lloyd said: “We are absolutely delighted to have secured funding to enable us to return to live performance for the first time since the pandemic started and can’t wait to share this production with audiences in a safe way. We have missed creating new productions hugely, but Kathryn (Gasic, co-founder) and I have continued to work during the pandemic to ensure the organisation is more robust than ever before, including gaining charitable status in June 2020.”

Performances are approximately 1 hour long, and there will be four performances on the day.

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