THE MOZART CLARINET QUINTET 2pm The Opera Barn

Jernej Albreht clarinet
Sijie Chen & Will McGahon violins
Christine Anderson viola
Leo Popplewell cello

Prior to The Magic Flute at 5pm, we showcase the world-class musicianship of the Wild Arts Ensemble who play the orchestral score of the opera. Members of the ensemble, made up of some of the UK's leading solo and chamber musicians, will perform Mozart's wonderful clarinet quintet plus complementary repertoire. The performance will last 45 minutes.

Doors will open at 1.30pm, and Clarinet Quintet ticket-holders will have first access to the Layer Marney gardens prior to opening at 3pm for The Magic Flute.

During the last two years of his life, Mozart's music seemed to free itself from all human and earthly constraints and enter into a realm of beauty and emotion at which we can only gaze in wonder. One element of the circumstances which made all this possible was that Mozart fell in love with a brand new instrument with a mellifluous tone and astonishingly large range - the clarinet. It inspired a beauty of composition which is otherworldly, and of the clarinet masterworks that he left us, this quintet is probably the best of them all.

The score of the Magic Flute (written in Mozart's last year) is suffused with the beautiful sounds of the clarinet, and in particular the basset horn, an early variation of the instrument which we're delighted to be showcasing in the opera ensemble. Orlando Jopling's orchestration, created specially for this production, has at its centre both a clarinet and a basset horn, complemented and supported by the warm tones of the oboe, horn, bassoon and string quintet.

£15

THE MAGIC FLUTE, 5pm (waiting list)

In a fairytale land, Prince Tamino falls in love with Pamina, the kidnapped daughter of the mysterious Queen of the Night, and embarks on a mission to rescue her. His fantastical journey transforms everything he thought he knew ....

A fully staged production in costume, sung in in English by a cast of 12 exceptional singers, with Mozart's incomparable score played by a chamber orchestra of 10 fine chamber musicians.

Conductor Orlando Jopling | Director James Hurley | Designer Sophie Lincoln

A joy beyond all expectation – sassily delivered and outstandingly well-sung.
★★★★★ Michael White's review of our 2023 production

You are welcome to arrive from 3.30pm to enjoy the gardens and set up your picnic. The performance will start at 5pm in the Opera Barn with a 90-minute interval, finishing at approximately 8.30pm. 

Polished, sophisticated, engaging and delightfully inventive.
A wonderfully enjoyable and engaging performance that really punched above its weight.
Robert Hugill's review of our 2023 production

£45 / £55 Banked seating (excellent view and sound)
Boxes, £125 Stalls front rows, £75 Stalls and Stalls Circle sold out


We will be organising a free transfer in a vintage Routemaster bus from Witham train station to Layer Marney Tower. The bus will leave Witham at 3pm. 

A fine young cast excel, with engaging energy and superb singing. A knowing, cheeky sense of humour, while never detracting from Mozart’s delectable score. ★★★★ The Guardian on our 2022 production

Jernej Albreht

Hailing from Slovenia, clarinettist Jernej Albreht studied at the Royal Academy of Music, where he was supported by the Leverhulme Trust and the Countess of Munster Musical Trust. His main interest lies in orchestral music. Jernej has performed regularly with Aurora Orchestra, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Britten Sinfonia Academy, and Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, and held trials with London Symphony Orchestra, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Royal Northern Sinfonia, Hallé Orchestra, Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, Royal Scottish National Orchestra, BBC Symphony Orchestra and Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra. Outside his orchestral work, Jernej is a member of Tritium Trio, a chamber group which he co-founded with Lydia Hillerudh (cello) and Joseph Havlat (piano).

Sijie Chen - Leader of the Wild Arts Ensemble

Violinist Sijie ‘Susie’ Chen moved to the UK when she was five years old. While studying in the UK, US and Germany, she was a string finalist in the BBC Young Musician of the Year Competition. She now enjoys a varied career playing modern and period violins. Sijie’s chamber collaborations have included performances with Nicola Benedetti, Roderick Williams and many other wonderful musicians and friends; at the Edinburgh International Festival, Prussia Cove Open Chamber Music, Roman River and other festivals worldwide. She leads the Bloomsbury Players and Wild Arts ensembles, and is the Founder and Artistic Director of Vermeer Chamber Concerts. As an orchestral player, Sijie is the co-leader of the London Mozart Players, tours with the Academy of St. Martin in the Fields and was previously a member of the Scottish Chamber Orchestra. On period instruments she plays with the Academy of Ancient Music, the English Concert and the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment.

We look forward to welcoming you to Layer Marney Tower for the third Essex Summer Opera Festival.

Nicholas & Sheila Charrington, Layer Marney Tower
Aki, Orlando, Max and the Wild Arts team

The opera barn, picnic lawn and loos at Layer Marney Tower are fully accessible. The seating in the opera barn is flexible and we can accommodate wheelchairs easily. The boxes and rear stall seats are on a raised area in the barn with two steps. We will reserve parking places for blue badge holders by the entrance through to the opera courtyard. Please email us at info@wildarts.org.uk for any access or seating questions and we'd be very happy to help.

wildarts.org.uk