Cavalleria Rusticana & The King's New Clothes

Heber Opera are bringing two contrasting works to the Church of the Good Shepherd on Saturday 10 October, with the curtain going up at 19:30. It's a double bill that pairs a well-known classic with a brand new piece, and both are sung in English, so you won't need to keep an eye on the subtitles to follow the story.

On one side is Mascagni's Cavalleria Rusticana, a dramatic, moving piece that's a staple of the repertoire. Beside it, Heber Opera is staging the world premiere of The King's New Clothes by Ian Gledhill, an allegorical opera. The two couldn't be more different in tone, and that's the point of the pairing: you get a heavy, emotional classic and a new, symbolic work in the same evening.

There are a couple of things that set this apart from a standard opera night. First, both are performed in the round, so rather than watching from a distance, you're wrapped around the action. Second, they're accompanied by a chamber orchestra rather than a full pit, which keeps the sound tight and focused. Between the two pieces, you'll hear the established drama of Mascagni and the first-ever performance of Gledhill's new work.

Tickets are £22 for a standard seat, and the whole thing runs on Saturday 10 October at the Church of the Good Shepherd, 272 Dyke Road, BN1 5AE. With the performance starting at 19:30, it's an evening that takes you from a familiar classic to a world premiere without leaving the room.