About

After the "jaw-droppingly stupendous" (Musical Opinion) Dragon of Wantley, New Sussex Opera returns to Blackheath Halls with another exciting discovery. NSO's same team has created the UK première production of The Silver Bell (Le Timbre d'argent) by Camille Saint-Saëns, in a newly commissioned English translation.

A poor, tormented artist, consumed with passion and ambition, is given a silver bell that will provide all his heart desires. But in this story from the librettists behind Faust and The Tales of Hoffmann things could never be so simple. It is a fantastical and compelling tale, illuminated by a sumptuous and sensual score: NSO presents an unmissable first chance to discover this masterpiece by Saint-Saëns, one of the greatest composers of his time.

This is the sixth UK première which NSO has presented since it was founded in 1978 – the others being of works by Weill, Tchaikovsky, von Einem, Offenbach and Puccini. Our production of Weill’s Lost in the Stars was named the Best Event in the Brighton Festival. The production of C V Stanford’s The Travelling Companion was nominated in the Rediscovered Work category of the International Opera Awards.

New Sussex Opera Chorus is joined by St Paul’s Sinfonia, with conductor Toby Purser, director Paul Higgins, designer Mollie Cheek and dramaturg Ben Poore. The international cast includes Anthony Flaum (NSO’ Paris and Tremolini) as Conrad, Australian soprano Sky Ingram as Hélène, Armenian baritone Arshak Kuzikyan as Spiridion, Lucy Farrimond as Rosa, Harun Tekin as Bénédict and the central role of Circé / Fiametta is danced by Namiko Gahier-Ogawa.