Cambridge Philharmonic to perform at Saffron Hall next month

The concert will take place at 4pm on Saturday, July 13, with tickets available for £16 from https://cambridgephilharmonic.com/whats-on/turandot/.

The orchestra and chorus will perform Puccini's final opera, Turandot, which features the aria Nessun Dorma - made famous when Pavarotti's 1972 recording was used as the theme song for the BBC's coverage of the 1990 FIFA World Cup.

In the opera, which is set in China, Prince Calaf falls in love with Princess Turandot, but must solve three riddles in order to win her hand in marriage - with a wrong answer resulting in his execution.

Calaf passes the test, but Turandot refuses to marry him. He offers her a way out: if she is able to guess his name before dawn the next day, he will accept death.

Led by conductor Harry Sever, the concert will include a full orchestra, chorus and and seven internationally recognised soloists.

The soloists are sopranos Rachel Nicholls and Hye-Youn Lee, bass Jihoon Kim, baritone Toki Hamano and tenors Adam Gilbert, Satriya Krisna and John-Colyn Gyeanty.

A spokesperson for Cambridge Philharmonic said: "Following a series of highly praised, sell-out concerts this season, Cambridge Philharmonic hopes to take Saffron Hall by storm.

"With plentiful parking at Saffron Hall and a free shuttle bus from Audley End train station its easy to enjoy a 'night out at the opera' without travelling to London, and with the concert at 4pm there’s time for a spot of dinner afterwards!"

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Cambridge Philharmonic was founded in 1887, and performs a varied repertoire as part of its annual concert series, including an opera, family concert, classical and contemporary works.

Conductor Harry Sever has been named as a 'rising star' by BBC Music Magazine, and has worked as an assistant conductor and member of music staff with Scottish Opera, English National Opera, the Royal Danish Opera and more.

He has also worked as a composer for stage and screen, with shows including James and the Giant Peach and Mr Men & Little Miss.