The Goose of Cairo (L’Oca del Cairo) tells the story of a Spanish Marquis (Don Pippo), an avid collector of rarities, who keeps his only daughter (Celidora) locked up in a tower, and the attempts by her true love (Biondello) to stop her being given away to the man who can offer her father the fabled golden goose of Cleopatra. Rumoured as the oldest bird in the world, the golden goose of Cleopatra was a fantastical talking creature – a prized wedding gift that Don Pippo would have delighted in adding to his collection of rarities.

Whilst the original libretto written by Varesco features Biondello dressed as a golden goose (in an attempt to fool Don Pippo and win the hand of Celidora), Stephen Oliver’s version doesn’t feature the fabled goose until the last act of the opera – and there isn’t a goose costume in sight! The London Mozart Players will be joined on stage for The Goose of Cairo by a giant golden goose suspended above the stage at St John’s Smith Square.

Measuring 1.5m x 1m, this enormous golden creature will be taking flight and making its way to St John’s Smith Square for the British premiere of Stephen Oliver’s completion of Mozart’s opera The Goose of Cairo on Thursday 14th April, 2016.

To keep up to date with all the latest news on the production of The Goose of Cairo, visit our dedicated webpage.