Opera in the Warden's Garden, Saturday 5 July 2025

In July 2025, the New Chamber Opera will perform its annual summer event at New College.

The opera will be:

The School for Jealousy (1778)
by Antonio Salieri


Tickets:

Tickets are £50.00 per person to include a pre-performance glass of Prosecco. Dress code is smart casual. You can purchase your tickets via the secure University of Oxford Online Store payment facility.

We ask that you collect your tickets from the New College Cloisters on arrival on your chosen opera night. A member of the New College Developmnet Office will be on hand to pass you them.

Or if you prefer, you can download and print the booking form and post it back to the New College Development Offfce.

There will an interval supper lasting approximately 75 minutes which we will be held in the New College Cloisters. Please bring your own picnic. Chairs and Tables will be provided and they will be marked up with your party name e.g. 'Table for J Smith'. It may be possible to park your car in College whilst attending the opera, but if demandis high, the New College Porters' may ask you to park at the Sports Ground, a short walk away. If you intend to come by car, please let us know by answering the relevant question on the booking form. Priority will be given to those with mobility problems. This is a charity fundraiser event for New College.

Characters:

Blasio, a grain merchant

Carlotta, a chambermaid

Lumaca, servant to Blasio

Ernestina, married to Blasio

Countess Bandiera

Count Bandiera

Tenente, Blasio's cousin and friend to the Count

Synopsis:

Salieri's opera of jealous derring-do tells the story of the merchant Blasio's jealous love for this wife Ernestina; of the Count of Baniera's love for Ernestina; of the Countess's supposed love for the Lieutenant; and Blasio's love for Lisetta (who we never see in the opera). All are reconciled in the finale which takes place in the woods. The plot has been understood as a set of dangerous (but
unrealised entanglements, in which the aristocracy, the bourgeosie, and the servant class come close to establishing social norms.

First performed in Venice on 27 December  1778, the work was soon being seen in Vienna, and London, and it was much admisted. Goesthe's well-known letter recounts: 'Yesterday's opera was charming, and well executted, it was the Scuola de Gelosi, Music by Salieri, opera favourite of the public, and the public is right. There is an astonishing richness, variety, and everything is treated with a very delicate taste,. My heat was moved by every tune, especially the finales and quintets which are admirable'. And so they are!

Alternative performances:

If you are not able to make this performance, there is another Development Office-run night on Friday 11 July 2025.

If you are not able to make either of the performances on Saturday 5th July and Friday 11 July 2025, please visit the New Chamber Opera website for alternative nights. The New Chamber Opera page has the detail on how to book in.

We look forward to welcoming you in July.