Concert Hall, Brighton Dome, Wednesday May 12

English National Opera (ENO) makes its first ever visit to Brighton for a specially-created concert performance of acts from three of the world's most popular operas.

Forsaking its home at the London Coliseum, the company will perform scenes from La Traviata, Rigoletto and La Boheme.

What you will hear is the end of Act One of La Traviata, the Gilda duets from Rigoletto, written by Guiseppe Verdi, and an abridged Act One and the whole of Act Four from La Boheme, written by Puccini.

Conducted by ENO regular Mark Shanahan with the English National Opera Orchestra, it will be sung in English by some of the company's principals, including Linda Richardson, Alan Opie, Clare Weston and David Kempster - all of whom have performed at Glyndebourne and elsewhere.

This promises to be an exciting evening of romantic Italian opera from a major British company well versed in the popular opera repertoire and at the cutting edge of new works.

La Traviata is Verdi's tale of a courtesan who falls in love with a member of the bourgeoisie but is forced to give him up to save the family from scandal.

Rigoletto is another Verdi tale involving a grand duke who seduces his jester's beloved daughter, an act that brings Rigoletto's wrath with unfortunate consequences.

Puccini's La Boheme tells of love and death among the artists and poets of Paris.

Supported by Brighton Festival Friends and Business Friends
Wednesday May 12, 8pm. Tickets £10 to £30.