Haydn’s Le Pescatrici (The Fisher Girls) at New College, Oxford
5 Jul | 6pm | New College Oxford
Join us for a special performance of Haydn’s first full-length opera Le Pescatrici (The Fisher Girls) in a lively English translation by Gilly French and Jeremy Gray. Directed musically by Steven Devine and produced by Michael Burden, this rarely staged comic‑romantic gem combines wit, mistaken identities, and a joyful finale.
The story follows Prince Lindoro in his search for the lost Princess of Benevento. In the bustling fishing village of Taranto, two fisher girls, Nerina and Lesbina, each pretend to be the missing princess in hopes of winning the Prince’s favour—much to the dismay of their abandoned lovers. The truth is eventually revealed through a dramatic discovery of a jeweled dagger, uncovering Eurilda as the true princess.
Premiered in 1770 at the Esterháza palace, the opera survives today only in reconstruction due to a fire that destroyed the original performance materials—making modern stagings especially rare.
Evening Schedule
- 6.00pm – Drinks in the Cloisters
- 6.30pm – Le Pescatrici, Act I
- 7.45pm – Picnic interval (bring your own)
- 9.00pm – Act II
- 10.30pm – Curtain down
For further details, please consult the FAQs on the ticket booking page.
