Author: Mike Smith
Michael McCarthy’s 40 years of new opera at Music Theatre Wales
Michael McCarthy is Director of Music Theatre Wales and has staged over 30 productions for the company. Productions include Richard the Lionheart by Telemann and Handel in Germany, large-scale outdoor staging’s of Tosca and Nabucco in Norway, and productions of La Traviata, Cosi fan Tutte, Il Re Pastore, Fidelio and Don Giovanni. Also, Cinderella for…
Siegfried, Longborough Festival Opera
Longborough’s artistic director Polly Graham was understandably delighted to welcome back audiences, both to the Cotswolds opera festival and the resumption of a staged Ring Cycle, Siegfried. Not so enviable was the task of informing the Wagnerian devotees, hungry to embark on the next stage of the mammoth undertaking that Pauls Putnins would be singing…
Tom Coults first opera, Violet opens at Aldeburgh Festival
Composer Tom Coult, 33, is one of the most distinctive and admired composers of his generation. In 2021, he was made Composer-in-Association with the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra and he has enjoyed further associations with ensembles such as Britten Sinfonia and London Sinfonietta. Violet is Tom’s first opera, which he created with acclaimed writer Alice Birch….
Opera Holland Park introduces Songs on the Steps
Opera Holland Park is presenting a new series of free lunchtime recitals from the company’s principal singers.Songs on the Steps will offer a range of new and familiar songs and arias to capture the imaginations of devotees and dog walkers, passers-by and picnickers, featuring music from the 2022 Season.No booking is required. Bring a rug…
Longborough Festival Opera announces cast for Spell Book and La liberazione di Ruggiero
Longborough Festival Opera has announced the cast for Spell Book and La liberazione di Ruggiero, its 2022 emerging artist double bill. The Costwolds company’s Emerging Artist programme gives a vital opportunity to singers at the beginning of their careers. In 2022 audiences are treated to a double bill of love, freedom and magic. Members of…
Director Polly Graham on Longborough and further afield
Award-winning opera and theatre director Polly Graham is Artistic Director of Longborough Opera and is bringing the Cotswolds company out of Covid lockdown with ambitious plays for the both the festival and work with associated artists. A recipient of the Independent Opera Director Fellowship 2016, Graham’s productions have won Best Opera Production in the Wales…
Waterperry Opera Festival 2022 season
This year Waterperry Opera Festival is celebrating its fifth anniversary with an innovative eight-day open-airfestival in August 2022. The programme at the Oxfordshire festival will include eight productions, as well as a variety of other events including talks and workshops. Taking advantage of Waterperry’s extensive historic grounds, the festival will build on the experiences of…
Vache Baroque Festival launches video series celebrating women composers
The Vache Baroque Festival is launching a new video series which celebrates the work of women composers of the baroque era. Entitled VB Showcase, the project aims to shine a light on lesser known songs, with new videos due for release every fortnight from Sunday 22 May to Sunday 31 July 2022. Artists signed up…
Martin Graham steps down as Chairman of Longborough Festival Opera
Having recently celebrated his 80th birthday, Martin Graham, founder of Longborough Festival Opera, is stepping down from the Board which he has chaired for over 20 years. Martin will retain his close interest in the season’s performances and Lizzie Graham will become interim Chair of the Board. Working alongside Executive Director Jennifer Smith, Polly Graham…
Rachel Nicholls Longborough role debut
Following the withdrawal of soprano Noa Danon due to illness, Longborough Festival Opera announces that soprano Rachel Nicholls will make her role debut as Marie / Marietta in the festival’s forthcoming production of Korngold’s Die tote Stadt (21-27 June 2022). Nicholls stunned audiences in the role of Brünnhilde in Longborough’s 2013 Ring cycle and then…