International Concert Series 2026-27

In 1829, Vincent Novello visited Constanze Mozart in Salzburg and found her to be "one of the most interesting persons now in existence". Yet much of what we know of Mozart's life has been told through the stories of others. The Real Constanze offers Constanze the opportunity to tell her own story, drawing on letters and diaries to explore her life alongside one of the most celebrated composers in history.

Compiled by Tim Coates, the production brings together the words of Constanze, performed by Jane Asher, with music sung by soprano Fflur Wyn and accompanied by pianist Andrew Matthews-Owen. It presents Constanze not simply as Mozart's widow, but as a brilliant soprano, beloved wife and mother, and a woman whose own experiences and perspective have often been overshadowed by the mythology surrounding her husband.

With its combination of music, theatre and historical testimony, The Real Constanze invites us to reconsider a familiar story from another point of view. As part of The Sounding World, it asks a simple but enduring question: who gets to be heard?

This event is presented as part of the International Concert Series 2026-27 - The Sounding World - at Royal Holloway.

About the performers

Jane Asher is one of Britain's most celebrated actors, with a career spanning theatre, film and television. She brings Constanze's words and story to life in this production, giving voice to a woman whose perspective has often been overshadowed by the legend of Mozart. She has appeared in TV shows and films such as The Masque of the Red Death (1964), Alfie (1966), Deep End (1970), The Mistress (1985-1987), Crossroads (2001-2003), Death at a Funeral (2007) and The Old Guys (2009-). She is also known for supplying specialist cakes and kitchenware, as well as publishing three bestselling novels.

Welsh singer Fflur Wyn has been praised for her “shining and glossy” lyric soprano (Opera Magazine) and her “bright and youthful tone” (Gramophone). She recently returned to Welsh National Opera to sing 1st Niece Peter Grimes, and this season’s performances include Handel’s Messiah with the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra under Laurence Cummings and Brahm’s Requiem with the Oxford Philharmonic. Read more.

Andrew Matthews-Owen is among the most sought after collaborative pianists of his generation, regularly appearing in concert, and on commercial recordings with some of the finest classical artists of our time. Recent engagements include appearances at the Southbank Centre (Queen Elizabeth Hall and Purcell Room), Wigmore Hall, Kings Place, Birmingham Symphony Hall, St. David’s Hall, Warehouse and National Portrait Gallery with singers including Patricia Bardon, Susan Bickley, Claire Booth, Susan Bullock, Lucy Crowe, Anne-Sophie Duprels, Rebecca Evans, Helen Field, Gail Pearson, Natalya Romaniw, Nicky Spence, Katie Van Kooten, Elin Manahan Thomas, Sir Willard White, French horn player Richard Watkins, percussionist Joby Burgess and the Allegri and Brodowski String Quartets. Read more. 

Car parking

When you arrive for a College event at our Egham campus, please park in car parks 12 or 4.

Car park 12 can be accessed by turning right as you enter the main College gates and is located next to the tennis courts. If this car park is full, please drive further onto our campus to car park 4, which can be accessed by turning left at the mini-roundabout behind the Students’ Union. We would advise that you bring the College map to campus with you and give yourself plenty of time to park.

Blue Badge holders can find designated parking spaces in Car park 1W, as well as between Gardeners Lodge and the Williams Annexe. You can find these locations by looking at our campus map opposite. If you require any assistance on arrival, please contact our premises team in advance of your visit by emailing: premisesadmin@royalholloway.ac.uk and they will be happy to help.

Please note that we operate an Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) system on certain parts of our campus, however if you are here for an organised event, parking is unrestricted for event guests in car parks 12, 4 or 14 (or display your blue badge permit if parking in a disabled bay). If you have any questions about parking, please email: premisesadmin@royalholloway.ac.uk

Fflur Wyn