The Golden Ticket (opera)

The Golden Ticket is an opera composed by Peter Ash, with a libretto by Donald Sturrock, based on the 1964 children's book Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl.

The opera tells the story of Charlie Bucket, a poor but virtuous boy who lives with his family in a run-down shack. Charlie's life changes when the eccentric chocolatier Willy Wonka hides five golden tickets inside his chocolate bars, offering a tour of his mysterious factory to the lucky finders. The opera follows Charlie's journey, as well as the stories of the other ticket winners: the gluttonous Augustus Gloop, the spoiled Veruca Salt, the gum-chewing Violet Beauregarde, and the television-obsessed Mike Teavee.

The opera premiered at Opera Theatre of Saint Louis in 2010 and has since been performed by several opera companies in the United States and internationally. The score incorporates a variety of musical styles, reflecting the diverse personalities and events in the story. Its instrumentation typically includes a large orchestra and the vocal roles encompass a wide range of ages and voice types. The Golden Ticket aims to capture the whimsy and moral themes of Dahl's original story, exploring issues of greed, kindness, and the importance of family.