CLASSICAL & OPERA

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Broomhill Opera presents Rossini's Il Turco in Italia at Christ's Hospital Theatre, Horsham on 10, 12, 14, 16, 19, 21 and 23 Aug at 7pm

Broomhill Opera has been temporarily (or maybe even permanently) deprived of its customary alluring operations base at David Salonen's Science Theatre at Broomhill House in Kent. It was there, over the last four seasons, that the company established a glowing reputation for strong, challenging and invigorating performances of a wide-ranging repertoire. "Country House Opera with attitude", in the words of the Independent on Sunday's Michael White.

That attitude has certainly not deserted the company now, as they head for pastures new. "We never were a mini-Glyndebourne," comments musical director, Charles Hazlewood. "This summer we're even less of one. The Christ's Hospital Theatre is an exciting new venue for us - a compact but marvellously equipped 500-seater auditorium. People can still picnic in the grounds before the show, if they like, but what I'm far more concerned about is the opening up of the Broomhill Opera ethos, founded on young performers, community work and accessibility. In fact, another dynamic new initiative this year means that our Rossini is a co-production with Tyne Theatre & Opera House and so we open there for five more performances in late August and September."

Accessibility should surely also be the key feature in Broomhill's first- ever staging of a Rossini opera. Audiences at the time found the young Rossini's comedy to be a mere inversion of its immediate predecessor, The Italian Girl in Algiers. "Yet, Il Turco is just as good," asserts Hazlewood, "if not better." This zany and high-spirited comedy shows Rossini at his comic best, in which he responds to the buffoonery of the plot with an inspired and equally amusing score. What's more, Il Turco is largely an ensemble opera, with an abundance of farcical madcap motion. Director Simon Callow should inject the pre-requisite high degree of theatricality into proceedings. Meanwhile, Charles Peebles conducts the no less accomplished and animated chamber orchestra, EOS.

EYE ON THE NEW

The Bath International Guitar Festival enters Week 2. Tonight, the Brunel Ensemble, conducted by Christopher Austin, gives UK premieres of Double Concerti by Harald Genzmar and Christian Jost, with Dale Kavanagh and Thomas Kirchhoff, the Amadeus Duo.

Assembly Rooms, Bath, 8pm (01225 463362)