Hampstead Garden Opera
Launching Opera Careers
La sonnambula
An opera full of love, jealousy, misunderstandings and peril — and, unusually, nobody dies!
6th - 15th November 2026
Jacksons Lane Theatre
Highgate N6 5AA
Bellini’s La sonnambula is one of opera’s most enchanting works: a tender, luminous story of love and reconciliation, carried by some of the most beautiful writing of the bel canto repertoire.
Our new production, directed by John Wilkie, and conducted by Stefano Boccacci, brings fresh theatrical and musical perspectives to Bellini’s extraordinary score. And, once again, we have amazing casts!
Praise for La sonnambula
"A stellar cast of rising stars and an intelligently conceived interpretation” thespyinthestalls.com
“HGO prides itself on championing emerging operatic talent and, on this evidence, the future is in safe hands... Dazzling young cast shines in an intimate production of Bellini’s opera” The Stage
Zoë Soleil Vallée as Amina “Zoë Soleil Vallée is simply sublime as Amina, the eponymous sonnambula. Every night is fireworks night when she is onstage – the tone, the agility of her coloratura, the clarity of her upper register and the sensitive control of her softer passages are exhilarating. Yet her vocal virtuosity never feels trivial, or detracts from Amina’s innocence and vulnerability.” The Stage
“The operas of Bellini are extremely high-risk, mainly because of the composer’s extortionate demands on the singers. Hampstead Garden Opera’s production of his La Sonnambula triumphantly meets them with some sensational singing that enables Bellini’s jaw-droppingly beautiful music to work its wonderful enchantment.” thereviewshub.com
“Once again, Hampstead Garden Opera punches well above its weight... A stellar cast of rising stars and an intelligently conceived interpretation” thespyinthestalls.com
Eyra Norman as Amina “At its centre is Eyra Norman’s spellbinding Amina, with thrilling range and technique, and remarkable emotional depth. Every note gives me chills. Norman is truly a major new opera star in the making.” thespyinthestalls.com
"Daring to go where few companies do, HGO's version of La sonnambula is brought to life by a glorious account of the title role alongside a finely supportive cast and John Wilkie's highly intelligent chamber production." Planethugill.com
“Where the production truly excels is detailed storytelling, with nuanced reactions and character development resonating powerfully in this intimate space.” thespyinthestalls.com
What Makes Us Different
Advancing Young Singers
Twice a year, HGO stages a fully produced opera in London, with a live orchestra and a young cast on their way to the world’s greatest stages. The standard matches any major opera house, yet the venue holds only a few hundred people, and every one of them can meet the singer’s gaze.
You sit close enough to see every expression and hear every breath.
The repertoire runs from the Baroque to the present day. From Handel to Puccini, Holst to Dove, we have presented them all on our stage, led by young directors and conductors. Even the major houses can’t match what happens in a room of this size. We’ve won an Offie Opera Award three times and been a finalist every year since 2013.
La sonnambula
Meet the Cast
Before the lights go down and the curtain rises, find out who you’ll be hearing. Read about the voices for La sonnambula, what they’ve sung so far and where they might be heading.
Eyra Norman
Bethan Terry
Tobias Campos Santinaque
Ted Day
Where are they now?
HGO Alumni
The singers below started out with HGO. Between them, they have since performed at Glynedbourne, the Royal Opera and Scottish Opera. Take a look through the cast list for our next production. You may be reading a name you’ll know well in a few years’ time.
Esme Bronwen Smith
Sang Cherubino with HGO in 2021. First Prize, Kathleen Ferrier Awards, 2022
Monwabisi Lindi
Made his Rodolfo debut with HGO. Joined the National Opera Studio as a young artist in 2021/22
Stephanie Wake Edwards
Sang in The Enchanted Pig. Finalist in the BBC Cardiff Singer of the World, 2021
Kali Hardwick
Sang the title role in Partenope in 2019. Joined the OperAvenir Studio in Basel, where she is now a member of their ensemble cast.
Reviews
La Cenerentola
This splendid production of Rossini’s operatic version of ‘Cinderella’ displays all the strengths that make HGO such an invaluable part of London’s opera community … this was a night to remember.”
Yehuda Shapiro — Opera Magazine
The Rape of Lucretia
Illuminating characterisation… Olivia Rose Tringham a highly dramatic and forceful Female Chorus with a bright and clear top line… Daniel Gray Bell (Male Chorus) with a lyrical tenor line… Nikki Nartin’s Lucia and Mia Serracino’s Bianca come into their own in Act 2…
Alexander Hall — Opera Today
L’Incoronazione di Poppea
HGO’s superb production of Claudio Monteverdi’s masterpiece demonstrates why this company has earned back-to-back Offie Awards.
These are real talents at the start of promising careers, delivering performances fit to grace any opera house.
Elizabeth Botsford — The Spy in the Stalls
Our Productions
Help Hampstead Garden Opera
Ways to help us
Give a young singer their first big stage.
A young singer can train for years and still wait for a lead role. Esme Bronwen Smith sang the title role in Savitri with HGO in 2020. Two years later, she won First Prize at the Kathleen Ferrier Awards.
Your gift puts the next singer on that stage, with a live orchestra and a director who pushes them to deliver their best performance.
You heard Esme here first. Now help someone else be heard.
“Honestly, I don’t think I could have achieved what I have without their continued support.”
Esme Brownwen Smith – mezzo-soprano