John Frederick Lampe’s The Dragon of Wantley was a smashing success at its 1737 premiere at the Haymarket Theater in London. It ran for a record 69 performances and held the stage for another 45 years. The absurd story is a send-up of Handel's serious Italian operas (such as Serse and Ariodante), but the music is utterly charming. Don’t miss this rare opportunity to hear Lampe’s pièce de résistance.

Like Handel, Lampe was a German composer who settled in England. He performed as a bassoonist in London’s busy opera orchestras. As a composer he partnered with English poets who sought to develop a viable alternative to the Italian opera seria. Eventually he found that his true métier was musical satire.

The story: The Dragon of Wantley has been terrorizing the countryside of Yorkshire, eating its children like bonbons. The country people beg the local hero, Moore of Moore Hall, to slay it. He assents and asks for the hand of Margery, a fair maid of sixteen. This arouses the jealousy of Mauxalinda, his cast-off mistress. Will Moore ambush the Dragon or will the wrath of Mauxalinda be his end?

Performances:
Sunday, October 27 at 5:30pm
Tuesday, October 29 at 7:30pm

*Join us for a pre-opera lecture by Jesse Rosenberg beginning 60 minutes prior to each performance in the Studebaker Theater.

Studebaker Theater
410 S Michigan Ave
Chicago, IL 60605

Tickets: $30 - $95

*Student Tickets will be available at the door for $10.

*Please note that the balcony seating is not handicap accessible