Wednesday 6th & Thursday 7th May

6th May, open rehearsal

7th May, performances at 6pm and 8.30pm

As part of UK/Brazil Season of Culture 2026, Round Chapel is proud to host the UK premiere of the Baroque chamber opera Auto da Catingueira (1969) by Brazilian composer Elomar Figueira Mello (b. 1937, Bahia).

Designed to strengthen the relationship between the UK and Brazil through cultural exchange, the initiative is a collaboration between the British Council and Instituto Guimarães Rosa (IGR), the Brazilian government’s organisation for cultural diplomacy.

Elomar is known for work that mixes traditional Brazilian folk music with classical influences. The show is conceived and designed by Rio de Janeiro director André Heller-Lopes. With orchestrations by Henrique Gomide, Auto da Catingueira is performed in original Portuguese by four Brazilian singers: Gabriela Pace, Vinicius Atik, Giovanni Tristacci and Geilson Santos, and the Amsterdam based Apollo Ensemble.

Tickets are free and soon to be announced. Details and updates can be found on the British Council website