Columbian performer and Royal Ballet principal Fernando Montano on what moved him to create an evening of performance supporting the Marine Conservation Society, shooting incredible underwater images and an unsung hero of British theatre. Read the interview then book your tickets for Fernando Montano and Friends – Dance for the Sea.
NEWS: Royal Ballet star hosts charity show Fernando Montano and Friends – Dance for the Sea in aid of Marine Conservation Society
Leading Latin American dance star and Royal Ballet soloist Fernando Montano will stage Fernando Montano and Friends – Dance for the Sea, an evening of music and dance, later this month to raise both awareness and funds for the Marine Conservation Society. Book your tickets now!
‘I hope Hamilton will influence opera around the world’: Alison Buchanan on Pegasus Opera & their new production Shaw Goes Wilde
As Pegasus Opera prepares to stage it’s latest production, Shaw Goes Wilde, at the Royal Academy of Music, Artistic Director Alison Buchanan tells us about playing a character with dominatrix tendencies and how the opera world can learn from the success of Hamilton. Read her fascinating interview, then book your tickets for the production!
NEWS: Pegasus Opera Company premieres Hagemann double bill, Shaw Goes Wilde
Two one-act operas based on works by George Bernard Shaw and Oscar Wilde will receive their UK premieres when Pegasus Opera Company brings Shaw Goes Wilde to the Royal Academy of Music later this spring. The double bill of works composed by Philip Hagemann play a limited run from 12 to 14 April 2019 , so book your tickets now!
Have you experienced Opera Undressed? La traviata
I finally managed to secure a ticket for La traviata through Opera Undressed, a scheme run by the English National Opera for productions at the London Coliseum. It’s a great package: the £20 ticket covers a ‘best available’ seat, a pre-show talk, and a free G&T at the aftershow party.
NEWS: King’s Head Theatre presents radically reimagined La Traviata in September
The King’s Head Theatre has announced their Autumn 2018 opera production will be a radical reimagining of Verdi’s 1853 classic La Traviata.
PHOTOS: In the rehearsal room with Pegasus Opera’s new double bill at the Actors’ Church
Preparations are well underway for the UK premiere of a double bill of two new one-act operas showcasing women in lead roles, Ruth and The Dark Lady of the Sonnets. Sneak a peek into the rehearsal room with Pegasus Opera Company and American composer Philip Hagemann ahead of next week’s run, for four performances only, at the Actors Church (St Paul’s) in Covent Garden. And then get booking!
INTERVIEW: Composer Philip Hagemann on Pegasus Opera & the challenge of adapting George Bernard Shaw as opera
Next week, Pegasus Opera Company presents the UK premiere of a double bill of two new one-act operas showcasing women in lead roles, Ruth and The Dark Lady of the Sonnets. Their American composer Philip Hagemann has flown in specially to conduct the production running for four performances only at the Actors Church (St Paul’s) in Covent Garden. He took a break from preparations to tell us more. Read our interview – and then get booking!
FEATURED SHOW: Pegasus Opera presents UK premiere of two one-act operas at Actors Church
Pegasus Opera Company this month presents the UK premiere of a double bill of two new one-act operas showcasing women in lead roles. Ruth and The Dark Lady of the Sonnets – both composed and conducted by American artist Philip Hagemann – will run for four performances only from 28 February to 4 March 2018 at the Actors Church (St Paul’s) in Covent Garden. Learn more – and then get booking!
Mind the Blog’s 2017 review
Despite a slow, measured start, I upped the pace after a while and (after today) will have somehow managed to see 212 different shows (my P.B.) – and 291 shows in total, equalling 2016.
SEX WORKER’S OPERA – Touring
This cabaret-style show has energy, passion and emotion in spades. It’s not a slick production; it doesn’t shine with bells and whistles, or a complex, sharply written narrative with intertwining, overarching themes and artistic devices.
FEVER PITCH – Union Chapel
Scott Stroman’s composition feels heavily influenced by Bernstein, particularly West Side Story. Indeed, Fever Pitch has a number of themes that coincide with the lovers Romeo & Juliet.
THE MAGIC FLUTE – Soho Theatre
To chop Mozart’s The Magic Flute down into two hours, with an interval; to translate it entirely into English; to set it in a modern-day nightclub-style setting, are all brave moves by OperaUpClose.
THE MAGIC FLUTE – Soho Theatre
To chop Mozart’s The Magic Flute down into two hours, with an interval; to translate it entirely into English; to set it in a modern-day nightclub-style setting, are all brave moves by OperaUpClose.
THE MAGIC FLUTE – Soho Theatre
To chop Mozart’s The Magic Flute down into two hours, with an interval; to translate it entirely into English; to set it in a modern-day nightclub-style setting, are all brave moves by OperaUpClose.
LA VOIX HUMAINE – King’s Place
Jean Cocteau and Francis Poulenc are two bastions of 20th century French creativity, pushing the envelope away from a traditional Romantic period into one of expressionism, serialism and altogether darker motifs. La Voix Humaine is no different.
VIXEN – Vaults Theatre
Vixen is a homeless girl in a world that only seeks to take advantage. Vixen is a fiery redhead who can take care of herself, lashing out at any man that tries it on. Vixen eschews typical human contact, constantly wary that there is an ulterior motive.
The best of British opera training
If you want to train as an opera singer, Britain seems a good place to be based. In the 2017 listing by subject, QS World University Rankings placed Juilliard School in New York first in the new performing arts schools category but there were no fewer than three British conservatoires featured in the top 10.
Does opera qualify as musical theatre?
I think the division usually made between musical theatre and opera – with the implication that the former is inferior to the latter – is utterly spurious. It is all musical theatre. Opera is simply one form of it. Perhaps we should adopt Wagner’s term Music Drama and be done with it.
FROM DOWN UNDER: Werther
Operas are no use sitting in dog-eared scores on the shelf. Operas are made to be heard and experienced and enjoyed. Blancke Knochen Opera takes Massenet’s score for sumptuously melodious opera Werther off the shelf and brings it to life in a bare bones performance that trades production values for heart and soul.