McCabe signs up for Mozart comic opera at Buxton

Published: 11 May 2025
Reporter: Steve Orme

“Icing on the cake”: Richard McCabe will play The Impresario

Richard McCabe will take the title role in Mozart's comic opera The Impresario at Buxton International Festival.

McCabe won an Olivier Award for playing Harold Wilson in Peter Morgan’s The Audience at the Gielgud Theatre in 2013. He also won a Tony Award when the play transferred to Broadway.

An associate artist of the Royal Shakespeare Company, McCabe has played many roles from Puck in A Midsummer Night’s Dream to Iago in Othello.

The Impresario was composed in 1786 as Viennese court entertainment. Director Christopher Gillett will reimagine it with a modern twist at Buxton. Gillett also provides the English spoken text. The production features the Buxton International Festival Orchestra conducted by Jane Glover and Iwan Davies.

Gillett said, “the production blends sharp comedy with Mozart’s brilliant music. The addition of Richard McCabe in the title role is the icing on the cake for this showstopper.”

Other cast members include soprano Jane Burnell as Mademoiselle Silberklang, tenor Conor Prendiville as Monsieur, baritone Dan D’Souza as Buff, baritone Owain Rowlands as John, mezzo-soprano Inguna Morozova as Evie and tenor Jamie MacDougall as Dan.

The Impresario will be at Buxton Opera House on Thursday 17, Monday 21, Thursday 24 and Saturday 26 July 2025.

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