Madeleine

In the mid 1850’s a true story of lies, deceit and death had the British public in its thrall; all eyes were on the most likely culprit, Madeleine Hamilton Smith. The burning question on everyone’s lips was – did she poison her clandestine lover, Emile L’Angelier, and was a seed sown by a night at the opera?

It seems extraordinary that this oh-so-Victorian melodrama has never been retold on the operatic stage. But to celebrate its 50 glorious years, Surrey Opera is now staging the World Première of Madeleine. With much of Jonathan Butcher’s libretto drawn from Madeleine and Emile’s poems and love letters, and with thrilling atmospheric music by composer David Hackbridge Johnson, Surrey Opera will bring to life this gripping tragedy, with its own unique and captivating night at the opera.