In summer 2026, The English Concert continues its residency at Garsington Opera on the Wormsley Estate.

TEC made their Garsington debut in 2019 with Monteverdi’s Vespers, and will once again perform work by the Italian: this time, Il ritorno d’Ulisse in patria.

Translating as ‘the return of Ulysses to his homeland’, this early opera was inspired by Homer’s Oddyssey and stages the confusion and chaos of Ulysses’ arrival back in Ithaca, ten years after the Trojan War.

John Caird will direct the opera, and Laurence Cummings returns as music director, marking a reunion of the creative team for Garsington Opera’s acclaimed Orfeo in 2022.

Cast

Penelope: Cecelia Hall
Ulisse: Ed Lyon
Telemaco: Dafydd Jones
Ericlea: Fiona Kimm
Eumete: James Gilchrist
Iro: Stuart Jackson
Melanto: Rowan Pierce
Eurimaco: Innocent Masuku
Minerva / Amore: Claire Lees
Giunone / La Fortuna: Jessica Cale
Pisandro / L’Humana fragilità: Alberto Miguélez Rouco
Giove / Anfinomo: Benjamin Hulett
Nettuno / Antinoo: James Creswell

Creative Team

Conductor: Laurence Cummings
Director: John Caird
Designer: Robert Jones
Lighting Designer: Paul Pyant
Choreographer: Arielle Smith
Orchestra: The English Concert