English Touring Opera returns to the Coronation Hall in Ulverston with two new shows this autumn. Handel’s Alcina and Verdi’s Falstaff opened in London to rave reviews, and are coming to Ulverston to conclude their 11-venue national tour.

ETO performs Verdi’s Falstaff at the Coronation Hall on Friday 2 December. For this hilarious ensemble piece ETO has assembled a stellar cast whose musicianship is matched by their comic timing. The ageing but undaunted Falstaff is played by Andrew Slater, who The Times called “a singer you would travel miles to see”. Julie Unwin is Alice Ford, a merry wife of Windsor who is none too pleased when she discovers that Falstaff has sent identical love letters to her AND her best friend Meg. Meg is sung by Wendy Dawn Thompson, who was recently the only singer to reach the final of both the main prize and the song prize in the BBC Cardiff Singer of the World competition, with her performances broadcast live on television.

Handel’s ravishing Alcina is at the Coronation Hall on Saturday 3 December. It is the story of a sorceress who delights in ensnaring men through her magical charms, before transforming them into trees and rocks when she loses interest. Her power is eventually broken when she falls in love herself. ETO’s new production was awarded 5 stars in The Independent, which called it “worth moving heaven and earth to see”. In the title role, Amanda Echalaz looks as good as she sounds, and conveys Alcina’s staggering range of emotions and stunning arias with “a many-coloured voice that can both rage and melt” (The Times). The production also stars Tamsin Coombs as Alcina’s sister Morgana. Tamsin will be familiar to some local audience members for her moving portrayal of Mimi in ETO’s La Bohème at the Kendal Leisure Centre last autumn.

Both Alcina and Falstaff are accompanied by full orchestra, with the musicians playing on baroque instruments for Alcina. Falstaff has an Elizabethan setting with modern twists, while Alcina features beautiful 17th century costumes and set. Both are designed by Joanna Parker.

Our Chief Arts Correspondent Michael Nunn adds:

As Lancaster doesn't see as much live opera as it might, an excursion round the Bay is justified to catch these two wonderful pieces. As I could only make one, I went for the rarely-done Alcina, one of Handel's last operas from c1735.

I have seen English Touring Opera many times over the last twenty years, and have never been disappointed. You've seen Messiah - now see how one of Britain's best-loved composers [yes, I know he was German] handles opera. You are in for a thrill.