Category Archives: News

Lapwing Music Festival – August 31st to September 2nd, 2018

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The Lapwing Music Festival is a unique event celebrating its third year in 2018.
Four outstanding artists will perform in the magical setting of the Coastguard Cottages, Cuckmere Haven. This year we are expanding to a beautiful marquee with views of the cottages, the Cuckmere Valley and the cliffs of the Seven Sisters. Only 60 tickets are available for each of these incredibly intimate recitals. Profits will be donated to the Cuckmere Haven SOS campaign, which seeks to save the cottages from coastal erosion.
Lapwing has an established tradition of hosting renowned solo artists to present deeply personal recitals. Our line-up of performers this year is truly exceptional. Maya Youssef is a Syrian virtuoso instrumentalist, hailed as “the queen of the qanun”. Manu Delago is a unique and innovative performer specialising in the Swiss hang drum who appears regularly alongside Björk and Anoushka Shankar. Lea Desandre is an exquisite mezzo soprano in demand across Europe, and will be accompanied by Thomas Dunford, a “rockstar” of the lute, who will also present a concert of solo Bach from his latest album on the Alpha label.
The festival features an exclusive world-premiere screening of Manu Delago’s 30-minute film ‘Parasol Peak’, a delicious buffet lunch of local produce on Sunday with a guest speaker to-be-announced (2017’s guest speaker was David Dimbleby), and the chance to learn more about the environmental and historical significance of this stunning location from representatives of the Sussex Wildlife Trust and Cuckmere Haven SOS. We look forward to welcoming people to Cuckmere Haven to help save one of the iconic views of England.
Artists for 2018:
Maya Youssef – qanun – Friday, August 31 7:30pm
Manu Delago – hang drums – Saturday September 1, 3pm and 7:30pm
Lea Desandre (with Thomas Dunford) – mezzo soprano – Sunday September 2, 3:00pm
Thomas Dunford – lute – Sunday September 2, 7:30pm
Recital Tickets £40. All tickets include drinks and canapés.
Buffet Lunch £35 – Sunday September 2, 12:30pm, Guest Speaker TBA

Brighton Early Music Festival taps into topical theme with 2018 programme celebrating Europe

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BRIGHTON EARLY MUSIC FESTIVAL: EUROPE – 26 OCTOBER – 11 NOVEMBER 2018

“If it’s Early Music you’re looking for, then get yourself down to Brighton”   Classic FM
Brighton Early Music Festival is bringing 700 years of music from 17 European countries to Brighton this autumn*.  Taking its inspiration from a somewhat topical theme, the 2018 Festival explores Britain’s long and often tempestuous relationship with the rest of the European continent from medieval times onwards.  Artistic Director Deborah Roberts says: “In this of all years it seems only right to celebrate and explore Britain’s relationship with Europe over the centuries, through programmes highlighting important events, collaborations and even conflicts of the past.  Some of these stories will have a striking familiarity, and we are hoping to spark stimulating discussion and a sense of exploration as well as presenting a glorious selection of music from around Europe.”
Festival highlights include music from the 13th-century Lewes Priory Breviary performed by Spanish ensemble Resonet and BREMF Community Choir (St Bartholomew’s Church, 28 October); music by Reformation Remainers Tallis and Byrd from BREMF Consort of Voices (St Bartholomew’s Church, 10 November); festive music for an 18th-century  Swedish royal wedding (St George’s Church, 2 November); and choral & orchestral music for peace by Charpentier, Handel, Purcell and Delalande to celebrate Armistice Day, with a stellar line-up of young soloists including Handel Singing Competition winnerHelen Charlston (St Martin’s Church, 11 November).  Royal Wedding soprano Elin Manahan Thomas and lutenist Elizabeth Kenny will perform songs reflecting Elizabeth I’s marriage prevarications in a ‘Game of Thrones’ (St Paul’s Church, 27 November).
Continuing the Festival’s track record of staging early operas (recently featured in BBC Four documentary Unsung Heroines presented by Danielle de Niese), the 2018 Festival includes a double bill of early Italian and English opera.  Monteverdi’s Ballo delle ingrate and Blow’s Venus and Adonis are directed by Thomas Guthrie, with a cast of some of the best young vocal talent emerging on the scene, and street dance choreographed by J P Omari(The Old Market, 6-8 November).
Strongly committed to developing and mentoring young artists, the Festival features a showcase of emerging ensembles who are part of the Festival’s Early Music Live! young artists’ scheme (St Paul’s Church, 3 November), as well as appearances by ensembles whose early careers were developed by the scheme (Fieri Consort, 9 November; Lux Musicae London, 4 November; Flauti d’echo, 10 November).
Tickets on sale from 10 September at www.bremf.org.uk or 01273 709709.  See full concert listing at www.bremf.org.uk/2018 or call 01273 833746 to join the mailing list.

Opera Anywhere:

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A new roof for the amphitheatre at Waterperry

The summer season of opera has begun and we’ve already got drenched whilst performing our Puccini in the woods in Oxfordshire and burnt to a cinder performing our Pirates of Penzance in the hot sun on a farm in Devon! However, great news for all of us and our audiences who plan to see our productions in the amphitheatre at Waterperry Gardens this year  – we have finally found a canopy that can fit and be installed in time for our July ‘Magic of Opera’ season.
We can guarantee for the first 200 ticket holders for each of our events an under cover seat (well, cushion!) and be protected from whatever the weather can throw at us! More information on our new canopy can be found in the news section of our website.
We have two performances of Mozarts Magic Flute, two performances of our new Puccini production of ‘Sister Angelica’ and no less that five Gilbert & Sullivan performances. For all the information you need do see our events page on our website.
If you’re not in Oxfordshire this summer then do not worry, we’re performing all over the UK, from Penzance to Pinner, from Stroud to Sheringham, Cheltenham to Chipping Norton – You get the picture!

Opera Anywhere are on Hastings pier 8 & 9 August with Pirates and Pinafore
and on Sunday 12 August at Hever Castle with Patience

Our mailing address is:

Opera Anywhere

Bayworth Chapel, Brumcombe Lane
Bayworth

Oxford, Oxfordshire OX13 6QU

United Kingdom

Mary’s Hand

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Words by Di Sherlock & Music by Martin Bussey Mary’s Hand is a new music theatre project about the life and reign of Queen Mary I.

It’s a little-known fact that Queen Mary loved games of chance, such as dice and cards. In Mary’s Hand, the Queen shares a game of cards with the audience who get to choose the next card to be turned. Their choices prompt Mary’s reflection upon the influences and events in her life: her father Henry VIII, her mother Katherine of Aragon, her Catholic faith, her half-sister Elizabeth I, and her desperate desire for a child. Above all, Mary was driven by the wish to be a good monarch and her deep conviction that she needed to restore England to the Church of Rome. Her marriage to the Catholic Philip of Spain promised to resolve many of these issues at a stroke, but Mary had played her cards badly and paid a high public & personal price. With words by Di Sherlock and music by Martin Bussey, Mary’s Hand is a dramatic, involving retelling of Mary’s story, performed by solo mezzo-soprano Clare McCaldin and chamber ensemble.

Mary’s Hand will be performed on

21 June 2018 (7.30pm) at St. Mary’s Creative Space, St Mary’s Hill, Chester CH1 2DW

1 & 2 August 2018 (8.30pm) at Holy Cross Church, 98 Cromer St, Kings Cross, London WC1H 8JU as part of the Tête à Tête Opera Festival (#TaTFest18)

27 April 2019 (7.30pm) in the Music in Pinner Series

Carly Paoli shortlisted for Classic BRIT Awards’ Sound of Classical poll

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Rising classical singer and lyricist Carly Paoli has been shortlisted in the first ever Sound of Classical poll, with the winner to be revealed at the Classic BRIT Awards on June 13th.

The winner will collect the award in person during the Classic BRIT Awards ceremony at the Royal Albert Hall in London, to be broadcast on ITV.

Speaking about the news Carly said “I had to pinch myself when I found out that I was nominated for a Brit Award and I’ve been thanking the Lord ever since I received this incredible and completely joyous news. Since I was a little girl, I dreamt about singing and sharing my music with an audience. Now that my dreams have come true, I hope other young people can be inspired to follow theirs. I am so excited, so grateful and so thrilled by this prestigious nomination.”

Signed to the independent London-based record company ABIAH, Carly released her debut album Singing My Dreams in 2017.  The record charted at No. 2 on the UK’s Official Classical Albums chart, while earning 5 star reviews. Carly recently performed a headline concert at London’s Cadogan Hall leading Classic FM’s David Mellor to write a glowing 4 star review in the Mail on Sunday under the headline ‘Nobody does it better’.

From Mansfield, Carly studied at Tring Park and The Royal Northern College of Music and has worked with Jose Carreras, Andrea Bocelli and David Foster. She has performed alongside stars including Aerosmith lead singer Steven Tyler and Oscar-winning actress and Grammy-winning singer Jennifer Hudson and was invited to perform for the Prince of Wales and the Pope.

Carly recently signed a publishing deal with Sony ATV. Her songwriting credits on Singing My Dreams include co-writes with Ennio and Andrea Morricone and James Horner having written English lyrics for Se Tu Fossi (Cinema Paradiso) and the theme from Legends of the Fall which now bears the title Memory of You.

 

Opus Theatre – World Series

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CARLY PAOLI & OLIVER POOLE

Two Of The Greatest Artists Of Our Time
United Through Music

Chart-topping British soprano and international phenomenon Carly Paoli will be joined by one of the world’s most thrilling and groundbreaking concert pianists
Oliver Poole for one truly unmissable night!

Tickets for this exclusive event only £15 at ‘Hastings Tourist Information Centre’ and online HERE.

Garsington Opera 2019

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30th ANNIVERSARY SEASON ANNOUNCED

Garsington Opera is delighted to announce their 30th anniversary season in 2019 which will feature four new productions:

Smetana’s The Bartered Bride, conductor Jac van Steen, director Paul Curranwith Natalya Romaniw as Marenka; the British stage premiere of

Offenbach’s Fantasio, conductor Justin Doyle, director Martin Duncan with Hanna Hipp in the title role and Jennifer France as Princess Elsbeth;

Britten’s The Turn of the Screw, conductor Richard Farnes, director Louisa Muller with Sophie Bevan as the Governess

Mozart’s Don Giovanni with conductor Douglas Boyd, director Michael Boyd and Jonathan McGovern in the title role. The season will run from 29 May to 21 July 2019.

The 2018 Season is now 95% sold to date.  It opens on 31 May for seven weeks and features four new productions, including the world premiere of The Skating Rink by leading British composer David Sawer with a libretto by award-winning playwright Rory Mullarkey, Verdi’s Falstaff, Richard Strauss’s Capriccio and Mozart’s Die Zauberflöte.

Opus Theatre’s first World Series

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A first World Series comes to The Opus Theatre, commencing this June with international professional musicians from across the world.

Speaking at the inauguration, pianist Oliver Poole, who is Artist In Residence for the series, said ‘As Artist in Residence, I am truly thrilled and honoured to welcome six incredible, inspirational and internationally renowned acts this year, together with the theatre’s director, composer and impresario Polo Piatti. The message of the series is simple: To Unite The World Through Music. I, with Polo  – together with the artists who will be arriving from all over the world – believe in one core principle: The power of music and its ability as a universal language to enlighten and bring change to our world. Each of the artists performing have stories to share, some serving as backdrops to their artistic endeavours. I am truly thankful to all of the artists for being part of the first ever World Series at The Opus Theatre. It is going to be a unique and inspirational celebration of music, storytelling and the human spirit, and we cannot wait to warmly welcome our artists and audiences for unforgettable experiences.’

More than anything else the promoters of the World Series want to ensure it is accessible to all, with music that is captivating and engaging without the need for previous study or understanding. Moreover, the series will be a not-for-profit venture, to enable as many people to attend as possible by keeping entry costs as low as is feasible.

The Opus Theatre in Hastings is considered one of the finest small concert halls in the South East. Formerly a non-conformist church, it is a Grade II listed building with superb natural acoustics.

It hosts the Phoenix Opus – a 9ft concert grand piano, one of the most technologically advanced instruments in the world. It was custom built to the venue’s exact specifications and finish, and constructed using the latest Phoenix technology including their carbon-fibre soundboard, fitted to a 1925 Blüthner Style XI acoustic body, widely considered as one of the finest acoustic bodies in existence. This makes the Phoenix Opus piano the concert grand with the biggest carbon-fibre soundboard in the United Kingdom.

The series opens on 9 June with soprano Carly Paoli and pianist Oliver Poole. Carly Paoli is internationally known for her wide repertoire and her appearances alongside many iconic singers including Andrea Bocelli and Elaine Page. Having appeared in venues as large as the O2 she is looking forward to the intimacy of the Opus Theatre and its possibilities for immediate engagement with the audience.

The next visitor is the Portuguese pianist Pedro Gomes on 16th June followed by Blato Zlato bringing fiery Balkan music from the swamps of New Orleans.

Later performances will include Marcelo Bratke from Brazil, Iranian tenor Ramtin Ghazavi and cellist Nina Kotova.

Full details are available on www.opustheatre.co.uk/news

NEW HEAD OF MUSIC FOR GARSINGTON OPERA

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Garsington Opera is delighted to announce the appointment of Jonathon Swinard as Head of Music.  He takes up this appointment at the end of the 2018 Season.

Conductor and pianist Jonathon Swinard studied at Oxford University and the Guildhall School of Music and Drama. He began his career at Scottish Opera as the company’s first Emerging Artist répétiteur  and went on to hold the Alexander Gibson Choral Conducting Fellowship with the Royal Scottish National Orchestra Chorus. From 2014 to 2016 he was Solorepetitor and Kapellmeister at the Staatstheater in Nuremberg where he conducted opera, ballet, and musical theatre. In 2016 he returned to Scottish Opera as Chorus Master and répétiteur. He studied conducting with Sian Edwards at Dartington and is the Artistic Director of the Scottish Opera Young Company. Jonathon is a long-standing member of Faculty for both the Georg Solti Accademia di Bel Canto and Lyric Opera Studio Weimar, and is a visiting vocal coach at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland.

As Head of Music, Jonathon will be Garsington Opera’s Chorus Master and Music Director of the Alvarez Young Artists’ Programme.  He will take over from Susanna Stranders who joins the Music Department at the Royal Opera House.  Over six years, Susanna Stranders has made a transformational contribution to Garsington Opera developing both the chorus and Alvarez Young Artists’ Programme to be an internationally renowned training ground for the best young talent.