Puccini's lusciously melodic opera stars Kate Ladner as Magda de Civry (the 'Swallow' of the title) who gives up her fiancé in order to protect his family honour. Her fellow cast members include Seán Ruane (Ruggero), Hye Youn Lee (Lisette), Hal Cazalet (Prunier), Nicholas Todorovic (Rambaldo) and Henry Grant Kerswell (Perichaud). Tom Hawkes directs this new production while Peter Selwyn conducts the score that, in recent years, has become a huge hit, largely as a result of the popularity of the aria 'Chi il bel sogno di Doretta' and the breathtaking chorus in Act ll, 'Bevo al tuo fresco sorriso'.
