Britten Sinfonia – Gerald Barry: Alice’s Adventures Under Ground

Barbara Hannigan AliceAllison Cook Red Queen, Queen of Hearts, Duchess, Mock TurtleHilary Summers White Queen, Dormouse, Tiger Lily, Mock Turtle, CookAllan Clayton White King, White Rabbit, Mad Hatter, Tweedledum, Frog Footman, FawnPeter Tantsits March Hare, Tweedledee, Mock Turtle, Fish FootmanMark Stone White Knight, Cheshire Cat, Mock Turtle, SoldierJoshua Bloom Humpty Dumpty, King of Hearts, Red Knight, Mock TurtleThomas Adès conductor

Gerald Barry Alice’s Adventures Under Ground (European premiere – concert performance)

The surreal imagination of Carroll collides with the off-the-wall humour of the composer in what’ll surely be the most entertaining operatic premiere of the year. Nothing’s as it seems: apart from a knockout cast conducted by Thomas Adès.

The inimitable Barbara Hannigan sings the role of Alice – and if you saw her in Barry’s The Importance of Being Earnest, you definitely won’t want to miss her in this: Barry has described it as ’the next logical step‘. The Daily Telegraph, meanwhile, described Barry’s last opera as ’completely bonkers‘ – which is probably nearer the mark. Only a Mad Hatter would miss Alice.Co-commissioned by the Barbican, Britten Sinfonia and Los Angeles Philharmonic Association.Produced by Britten Sinfonia and the Barbican

Image: Barbara Hannigan (c) Elmer de Haas