This, Peter Eötvös’ fifth opera, is based on the novel 'Of Love and Other Demons' by Columbian author Gabriel García Márquez. The story is set in an 18th century Columbian seaport. It is based around a young girl (Sierva Maria - Allison Bell) who contracts rabies and is believed to be possessed. She is admitted to a Convent for observation. Father Cayetano Delaura (Nathan Gunn) tends to her and is supposed to exorcise her, but shockingly falls in love instead.

The opera is of their love: improbable, moving, and defying the constraints of faith and reason. It is sung in four languages - English being the language of the people, Latin the language in the Convent, Spanish deployed for intimate discussion between the central characters Sierva and Delaura, and Yoruba the language of the slaves.

Vladimir Jurowski’s conducting reveals fine detail and finesse within the score, Allison Bell’s stratospheric ‘bel canto’ is fearless, Nathan Gunn convincing in his portrayal of the tortured soul of Delaura.

Love and Other Demons was commissioned by Glyndebourne. In its premiere season it was performed at the BBC Proms at London’s Royal Albert Hall, and has subsequently been staged by Lithuanian National Opera in November 2008 and a sold out production in Chemnitz in Germany in 2009.

Cast:
- Sierva Maria: Allison Bell (soprano)
- Father Cayetano Delaura: Nathan Gunn (baritone)
- Don Toribio, the bishop: Mats Almgren (bass)
- Josefa Miranda: Felicity Palmer (mezzo-soprano)
- Martina Laborde: Jean Rigby (mezzo-soprano)

Recorded live at the Glyndebourne Festival in 2008.