July 19, 2026
An Evening of Opera
Beautiful gardens, delicious picnics, sublime opera: the perfect summer evening comes to Berkeley Castle.
Enjoy a beautiful summer evening in the gardens with picnics, drinks and some of the best-loved music ever written. Director Guido Martin-Brandis has crafted a fresh narrative using favourite arias and scenes from operas by Handel, Mozart, Puccini and Rossini, alongside songs from classic musicals by Rodgers and Hammerstein, Bernstein and Noel Coward. Semi-staged and performed by four outstanding singers accompanied by a world-class string quintet, the story unfolds over 75 minutes of spellbinding music. Follow our cast of characters through a drama filled with intrigue, jealousy, comedy, idealism, and, ultimately, true love. Highlights include The Flower Duet from Lakmé by Delibes, Overture to William Tell by Rossini, Ombra mai fu by Handel, I Feel Pretty from West Side Story, Anything You Can Do, I Can Do Better from Annie Get your Gun, On the Street Where You Live from My Fair Lady and many more.
A sparkling and mischievous summer treat!
You are welcome to arrive from 5pm to set up your picnic on the lawn and open the bubbly. bring whatever you need to make yourselves comfortable – picnic rugs, tables, chairs and hampers are all welcome.
Please note that the performance area is accessed via 52 steps.
The performance will start at 6pm and there will be an hours picnic interval. The show will be finished at 8:30pm or very shortly thereafter.
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- Ticketed event FROM £15.00
Enjoy unforgettable events with HeritageXplore Club
- Special rates on HX events
- Member pricing on historic house visits & stays
- Priority booking - 48 hours early
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MORE ABOUT THIS LOCATION
BERKELEY CASTLE
Home to the same family for over eight and a half centuries, Berkeley Castle is one of Britain's oldest continuously inhabited castles.
Berkeley Castle
Berkeley Castle is one of Britain's most remarkable medieval fortresses - continuously lived in by the same family for over 850 years. This extraordinary sense of historical continuity makes Berkeley utterly unique: a working family home where the past is still very much present.
Sitting above the Vale of Berkeley, the castle's Norman towers and fortified walls tell a story of architectural evolution spanning nine centuries. From its 12th-century origins through medieval and Tudor additions, the building today reflects the changing needs of a family adapting throughout the centuries.
Berkeley is woven into the fabric of national history. It was here that King Edward II was imprisoned and met his tragic death in 1327 - a pivotal moment that still resonates today. The Great Hall, private rooms, and original medieval kitchens reveal both the defensive power and domestic warmth of a fortress that has functioned continuously through centuries of political and social upheaval.
Set within beautiful terraced gardens overlooking the Gloucestershire countryside, Berkeley offers visitors richly furnished rooms filled with extraordinary collections of art, family portraits, heirlooms and artefacts that span generations. The castle archives contain records documenting hundreds of years of both family and regional history, making this a living repository of England's story.
The grounds complement the castle's historic character perfectly. Terraced lawns, formal planting and woodland areas create a harmonious balance of cultivated elegance and natural beauty, offering seasonal interest and sweeping views across the surrounding landscape.
Berkeley's timeless appeal has made it a sought-after location for film and television, with its atmospheric rooms and grounds featuring in productions including The Other Boleyn Girl, Poldark and Wolf Hall.
Today, Berkeley Castle remains what it has always been: a family residence, occupied and maintained by the Berkeley family as a living estate. Here, the continuity of family life and generations of careful stewardship make history tangible. Visitors experience the ongoing legacy of one of England's longest-established families - a place where the past and present exist in perfect harmony.
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