THE MAGIC FLUTE at 3pm (details below) is sold out. Please sign up to the waiting list for returns.

BACH GOLDBERG VARIATIONS     11am, Layer Marney Church

Sijie Chen Violin
Christine Anderson Viola
Leo Popplewell Cello

Transcription by Dmitry Sitkovetsky

Prior to The Magic Flute at 3pm, the wonderful musicianship of the Wild Arts Ensemble, who are such a vital part of the opera performance, will be showcased in Bach's great masterpiece in the magical atmosphere of Layer Marney Church. 

The Goldberg Variations are a truly breathtaking feat of compositional mastery, taking us through an emotional journey in a dramatically perfect 45 minutes. It is a mystery how and why Bach poured such incredible talent and thought into a strangely prosaic commission - the piece was said to have been initially composed to ease the insomnia of the Russian ambassador to the electoral court of Saxony, Count Kaiserling, as he lay restless in Leipzig with his clavier player, Johann Goldberg, by his side.

The Church is on the same site as Layer Marney Tower, the gardens and the Opera Barn. It is worth a visit in its own right; a haven of beauty and peace, with striking 13th century sculpture and 15th century frescoes.

£15 - all profits will be split between the performers and the Friends of Layer Marney Church

YOUNG ARTIST SHOWCASE, 12 noon

A free performance by Wild Arts' Young Artists will be held in the Opera Barn. The show will start at noon, and end before 1pm to give you time to enjoy a leisurely picnic lunch in the gardens before the opera at 3pm. While attendance is free, we'd appreciate booking in advance simply to help us keep track of our audience.

THE MAGIC FLUTE, 3pm

In a magical 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 12.30pm to enjoy the gardens and set up your picnic. The performance will start at 3pm in the Opera Barn with a 30-minute interval, finishing at approximately 5.30pm.

Thank you, and 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

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

We will be organising a free transfer in a vintage Routemaster bus from Witham train station to Layer Marney Tower (and back again after the show). The bus will leave Witham at 12pm.

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.

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

wildarts.org.uk