In 1776 Gluck drastically revised his Italian ‘reform’ opera of 1767, based by Calzabigi on the tragedy by Euripides, with much new music for performance in Paris in this French version, now more usually heard. The original objectives of nobility and clarity were enhanced with greater fluidity and humanity.

The performance will be conducted by Nicolas Collon. Details of the cast will be announced later.

Information about the composer and the opera can be found in Wikipedia by clicking Gluck or Alceste.

There will be a free pre-performance talk for ticket holders at 6pm in the auditorium.

Booking at Cadogan Hall has already started and you can buy tickets here. For full details about Cadogan Hall, including how to book tickets, visit their website here.

"As for Elizabeth Woods, it is hard to provide a technical commentary to her nigh-on-perfect performance." (Mariana Romani reviewing Simon Boccanegra at MusicalCriticism.com). To see the Elizabeth Woods in Come in quest`ora bruna click here.

"This is an opera which needs performing with care and with love; Chelsea Opera Group gave it both and the results paid immense dividends."
(Robert Hugill reviewing COG's performance of Cendrillon, at Music & Vision.)

"This was a performance of which any opera company would have been proud." (Robert Hugill reviewing COG's performance of I puritani, at Music & Vision.)

"Opera simply does not come much better than this: the Chelsea Opera Group’s concert performance of Verdi’s Macbeth was an unqualified triumph in musical and dramatic terms." (Evan Dickerson at Seen and Heard)

"I have seen several expensively staged productions of this work but I have never been as gripped by the COG performance last week". (Clare Colvin in the Sunday Express).

For links to complete reviews of recent performances please click here.