Graeae, the UK’s leading disabled led theatre company, have announced a second national tour for Spring 2022: the newly commissioned chamber opera, The Paradis Files.

The production will preview at Curve, Leicester from 8-9 April, before its world premiere in the Southbank Centre’s Queen Elizabeth Hall, London, on 13 & 14 April. It will then tour to The Stables, Milton Keynes (20-21 April), Mercury Theatre, Colchester (23 April), Hull Truck & Abermarle Centre (26 April), Horsecross Perth (28-29 April), Richard Burton Theatre, Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama (5-6 May) and Crucible Sheffield (11-12 May). 

This new chamber opera is composed by Errollyn Wallen CBE, with Nicola Werenowska as librettist and Selina Mills as co-librettist, as well as creator of the original idea. It will be directed by Jenny Sealey, musical director Andrea Brown will also conduct, and Bernadette Roberts and Emma Chapman are designer and lighting designer, respectively.

An extraordinary blind musician. A family hell-bent on a cure.

In the glittering salons of 18th-century Vienna, Maria-Theresia von Paradis is a star. Pianist, composer, touring musician; this pupil of Salieri and friend (and alleged lover) of Mozart has captivated Europe with her own sensational talent. They call her The Blind Enchantress.

Yet behind this dazzling success story there are darker forces at work. Some of those closest to Maria-Theresia are looking to profit from her blindness. Others are looking to ‘cure’ her – whatever it takes.

In this newly commissioned chamber opera, this extraordinary woman is finally drawn out of the shadows to reclaim her place in the spotlight of music history.

Graeae Artistic Director Jenny Sealey said: “It is happening! In 2019, a moment of serendipity happened when Selina Mills told me the story of Maria-Theresia and her dream to make it into an opera. Days later Monica Ferguson, Artistic Director of The Stables, asked if I would be interested in doing an opera for the festival and so the two ideas came together. Now, years in development, working with a force of nature creative team of Selina Mills, Errollyn Wallen, Nicky Werenowska, Andrea Brown and Bernadette Roberts, we are finally doing our opera – bringing to life the extraordinary but forgotten story of Maria-Theresia von Paradis, who was known as the blind enchantress. I’m beyond delighted that we can now share it with audiences up and down the country, including the Southbank Centre in London which I’m thrilled we are returning to after 10 years. Thanks as always to our producing partner, Leicester Curve, the BBC Concert Orchestra, to all our funders and supporters and most of all to The Stables who commissioned the project in the first place.”