Hampstead Garden Opera

Hampstead Garden Opera (HGO) brings live opera, fully staged with orchestra, at reasonable prices to the people of north London and offers performance opportunity and training to young singers. We have been recognised by critics as one of the finest of small opera companies. We have won, and on other occasions been nominated for, the Offie for best opera production – an award for the best production outside the West End.

We stage our operas twice a year, May and November, in the excellent theatre at the Jacksons Lane centre in Archway Road, a vibrant performance venue. On this website you can see reviews of past productions, learn of upcoming operas and concerts, buy tickets – and even sign up as a Friend of HGO.

However wonderful may be the performances of stars in the great opera houses, there is a special value in the experience of opera in the intimacy of a small theatre, the sense of being personally absorbed into the performance. And at an HGO performance, you might be enjoying the brilliant early sparkle of a great star of the future. And that sparkle will be set within the glow of our orchestra, not the piano accompaniment of most small companies. Come once and you will come again. See photos of previous productions.

Though we are heavily dependent on ticket income, and though we do stage some well-known favourites, we pride ourselves on our variety of exciting works from all ages – from Monteverdi to Jonathan Dove.

Save for some minor roles, all our operas are double cast with five performances for each cast. All roles are won by audition. Those reading from that perspective should note that principals with small roles will normally be expected to join the chorus on their performing nights. As a training company that charges no fee to singers, we do look for some help in the promoting of ticket sales.

HGO is the performing arm of Hampstead Garden Opera Trust Ltd, registered charity no. 1168484.

We are fortunate to have as our president, Penny Mackay. The directors of the company, also its charity trustees, are:

Roger Sainsbury – Chairman

Alastair Macgeorge – Chairman Emeritus

Martin Musgrave – Deputy Chairman

Patricia Cabredo Hofherr

Linda Hirst

João Rufino

Oliver John Ruthven

Secretary: Gilly Wesley

The HGO April 2009 production was Carlisle Floyd's - "Susannah". Reviews for Susannah included David Karlin for Bachtrack and Michael White for the Ham and High

The HGO November 2009 production was a double bill of Purcell's "Dido and Aeneas", and Blow's "Venus and Adonis". Reviews for the production included Edmund Gordon for The Buzz

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