A unique guest engagement by one of the world’s most renowned Baroque opera companies in
The Dragon of Wantley
Opera by John Frederick Lampe (1703–1751)
August 20–22, 2025
A fire-breathing dragon is terrorizing the Yorkshire countryside, and only the local squire, Moore of Moore Hall can save the day. If only he can be bothered to put down his beer.
Monty Python meets Handel in this production from the GRAMMY-winning Boston Early Music Festival Chamber Opera Series. John Frederick Lampe’s The Dragon of Wantley, the most popular operatic production of the entire 18th century in England, enjoyed a 45-year run. Lampe deftly lampoons the excesses of Handelian opera in this hilarious farce of 1737.
For the very first time, the Boston Early Music Festival (BEMF) takes the stage in Sweden – at the historic Confidencen Ulriksdal Palace Theatre! This exciting production is led by BEMF’s GRAMMY-winning Musical Directors Paul O’Dette and Stephen Stubbs, acclaimed Stage Director Gilbert Blin, and concertmaster Robert Mealy. The stellar cast includes GRAMMY nominee Teresa Wakim as Margery, Hannah De Priest as Mauxalinda, GRAMMY winner Aaron Sheehan as Moore, John Taylor Ward as The Dragon, and Douglas Ray Williams as Gubbins. These all-star singers, together with period-inspired staging, Baroque dance, and lavish costumes, bring this rollicking masterpiece to life in a must-see operatic event!
Artistic team
Musical directors: Paul O’Dette & Stephen Stubbs
Stage director: Gilbert Blin
Concertmaster: Robert Mealy
Choreographer: Melinda Sullivan
Costume designer: Seth Bodie
Lighting designer: Kelly Martin
Assistent stage director: Jason McStoots
Executive producer: Kathleen Fay
Cast
Margery: Teresa Wakim
Mauxalinda: Hannah De Priest
Moore: Aaron Sheehan
Gubbins: Douglas Williams
Dragon: John Taylor Ward
Boston Early Music Festival Chamber Ensemble
Boston Early Music Festival Dance Ensemble
Running time: 2 hours & 30 minutes, including one intermission
Pre-opera talk
One hour before the performance
The musical scene of early 18th century London was dominated by Handel and his famous Italian divas. English composers wanted to establish a true English Opera. Satire turned out to be the way to break through. Lampe’s lampooning of the overblown singing and acting of the Italians created the most popular opera of the entire century! Please join Boston Early Music Festival Musical Co-Directors Paul O’Dette and Stephen Stubbs, for an enlightening pre-opera talk one hour prior to the performances of The Dragon of Wantley.