THE OPERA LOCOS
Sadler’s Wells Theatre
★★★
“a breezy showcase of real vocal firepower”
Whoever said ‘opera is for the masses’ should catch ‘The Opera Locos’ – a bonkers cabaret blending Saint-Saëns and Mozart with Sinatra and Michael Jackson. It delivers some dazzling renditions of opera’s toughest arias, even if the loose comedy and structure leave me wanting more. Still, it’s an entertaining, accessible and impressive showcase of vocal mastery.
Five superb singers take the stage: Alfredo (Jesús Álvarez), a once glorious tenor past his prime; Enrique (Enrique Sánchez-Ramos), a brawny baritone with a sweet streak; Franelli (Michaël Koné), a camp counter-tenor who loves Céline as fiercely as Callas; Maria (María Rey-Joly), a starry eyed soprano chasing her own operatic fairytale; and Carmen (Mayca Teba), a self possessed mezzo with unapologetic allure. Come celebrate love, loss and above all – opera!
Conceived by YLLANA and Rami Eldar, the show repurposes opera classics, stringing them into a loose, mostly upbeat, narrative. Throwaway Act 1 jokes return smartly in Act 2, and the somewhat thinly drawn characters become more charming as they go. There’s also a welcome queer love story, flashes of dark humour, and some entertaining audience participation. Though several sketches feel thin. And while it’s billed as a show for everyone, it definitely helps if you know the repertoire, with long sung through stretches and an extended audience singalong section which assumes you know the words.
YLLANA’s commedia dell’arte infused direction bursts with colourful costumes, mask like makeup, and plenty of physical comedy. The nonsense sing speak – a babble of faux French, Spanish, and Italian, with occasional English for emphasis – is embellished with virtuoso ornamentation that turns sighs and screams into pitch perfect musical moments. Act 2 is a step up from Act 1, with bigger hits, bigger ideas, sharper comedy and more acting – though it’s debatable whether a 90 minute show really needs an interval.
Musical directors Marc Álvarez and Manuel Coves shape an easy to love playlist, mixing classical staples with pop crowd pleasers to appeal to a broad audience and keep the energy high. The score cleverly highlights how closely the two worlds overlap – or rather, how many pop tunes are quietly borrowed from classics. The way the lush pre recorded orchestra – performed by Orquesta Sinfónica VERUM, conducted by Coves – fades into rehearsal piano smartly moves the narrative forward. The final medley is a crowd pleaser, kicking off with ‘Time to Say Goodbye’ before weaving in spot on pop cues for each character.
The cast is vocally outstanding with crisp delivery, vibrant coloratura, and gorgeously rich tones across the board. Rey Joly’s sparkling soprano tears through the toughest bars of Mozart’s ‘Queen of the Night’ aria while seated, pairing virtuosity with effortless, whimsical charm. Teba’s sumptuous mezzo floods the room, and her magnetic presence makes every audience interaction sizzle. Álvarez shifts from tragic Alfredo to triumphant ‘Nessun dorma’, also delivering a deeply moving ‘Vesti la giubba’. Sánchez Ramos’ velvety baritone unexpectedly flips into falsetto as machismo melts, and expertly coaches the audience through the extended singalong. Michaël Koné’s soaring countertenor floats above it all, while charming us with camp sincerity that Enrique can’t help but fall for.
The design is beautiful. Set design (Tatiana De Sarabia, David Ottone, Yeray González) immediately sets a playfully dramatic tone. Costumes (de Sarabia) are ravishing – a colourful fever dream take on classic opera silhouettes which are stunning in their own right. The sound design (Luis López de Segovia) has flair, especially the applause bursting from Alfredo’s old poster. However, the overall mix could use tightening, with orchestral swells occasionally overwhelming the cast and pop vocals fading out. The lighting design is arresting, especially the sculptural side lighting which transforms characters in the central opening.
‘The Opera Locos’ is a breezy showcase of real vocal firepower – an accessible and genuinely inviting way into opera. It’s well worth a visit if you crave fun over formality.
THE OPERA LOCOS
Sadler’s Wells Theatre
Reviewed on 25th February 2026
by Hannah Bothelton
Photography by Annelize Tozetto
