Since its inception in 1993 Opera a la Carte has established itself as one of the UK’s most exciting and original chamber opera companies.

Its founder and director, Nicholas Heath, has used his extensive musical and performing experience as well as his knowledge of the established talents and rising stars at Covent Garden and ENO to create a flexible company equally at home with cabaret and full scale opera seria.

Always entirely faithful to the spirit of opera and each work, the musical and artistic directors distil the score working closely with the singers and other instrumentalists; an accordion for the tango Barber of Seville which was awarded 5 star critic choice in the Times, wind quartet for Mozart, string quartet for Verdi, and organ and percussion for Puccini.   Equally at home performing at corporate, public or intimate private occasions, the company prides itself on its personal style, flexibility and ability to appeal to an ever expanding audience.

Their flair and enthusiasm has provoked great critical acclaim … ‘Dare we say, better than Glyndebourne…’

2010 Public Performances

Tosca

Just as much a thriller as a tragedy. The opera, based on Victorien Sardou's play La Tosca, with its twisting plotline contains many key elements of Film Noir: blackmail, attempted rape, murder, execution, torture and suicide. We have the shady police chief Scarpia rubbing shoulders with the femme fatale Tosca whose lover Cavaradossi becomes a hapless victim of politics. Add a generous dose art and religion and librettists Giuseppe Giacosa and Luigi Illica can surely be regarded as the precursors of 20th Century pulp fiction writers.