Greenham Common Trust announces its summer of opera

Greenham Common Trust is teaming up with professional touring opera experts Opera Brava for a festival of opera this summer continuing the buzz of interest in the art form ignited by Dustin Hoffman’s feel good movie Quartet.

The packed programme begins with a wonderfully vivid adaptation of the C.S. Lewis classic fairy tale The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe performed by pupils at Whitelands Park Primary School on Thursday May 2 at the Corn Exchange in Newbury.

Children will not only learn how to sing but will be taught skills such as prop and mask making , dancing, stage management, acting and everything that goes into making an operatic success!
For 25 years Opera Brava has been providing inspirational and unique workshops for children aged 7- 13, creating a participative and fun environment for both pupils and teachers.
Opera Brava Artistic Director Bronek Pomorski says: “We create a dynamic and friendly environment and aim to encourage confidence within each child leaving memories that last a lifetime. Having worked with over 20,000 children in over 250 schools, the feedback we have received is a testament to the success of our workshops.”
Greenham Common Trust is funding the performance and has invited parents, teachers, family and friends to attend free of charge. Tickets are reserved for family and friends of pupils performing and will be organised through the school. Public tickets are subject to availability.
 

You’ve laughed at and loved Dustin Hoffman’s tale of four retired opera singers Quartet , now come and see the live outdoor opera Rigoletto at Newbury Racecourse on Saturday June 29th.

A fabulous cast of young and thrilling singers mixed with some international artists who have performed in major opera houses including Covent Garden and English National Opera has been assembled who will perform Giuseppe Verdi’s classic tale of love, deception, a curse and murder.

The able cast will perform alongside Newbury’s own Southern Sinfonia orchestra.

The title role of Rigoletto is the first fully developed character found in Verdi's operas; his changes of mood and emotion seem naturally wedded to the dramatic situation, and his music has an inevitable quality, seemingly driving the story to its tragic conclusion.

The opening of the final act contains two of the most famous pieces in all opera: the Duke's La donna e mobile (which needs no introduction), and the famous quartet, Bella figlia dell'amore (the focus of Hoffman’s film), in which each character is expressing a different emotion.

Artistic Director at Opera Brava Bronek Pomorski says: “Rigoletto is one of opera's most vivid and compelling characters, a vengeful court jester, desperately tries to protect his daughter from disaster in this heart-wrenching tragedy. If you haven’t been to Opera for All before bring a picnic and let the whole family see and hear a new magnificent production of Verdi’s Rigoletto.”

The performance starts at 7pm and gates open at 5.30pm. Early bird tickets are available from just £5 (until April 30th) and advanced tickets £7.50 (until June 29). Tickets on the gate cost £10.

The season finishes with a Candlelit Opera Gala by Opera Brava on Saturday July 27 at 7.30pm with Chamber Ensemble by Southern Sinfonia set against the beautiful backdrop of the historic Shaw House.
This event promises to have something for everyone, the lifelong opera lover or the novice, this fully staged programme will contain a feast of opera’s most inspiring music that will create a positive and lasting memory. 

The first half includes such gems as: La Traviata, the Lakme duet, the Pearl Fishers duet, Rigoletto Quartet, and Mozart trio plus many others.

The second half includes a West Side Story medley, Lehar, Rodgers & Hammerstein, Gershwin melodies and a popular medley from the Gilbert & Sullivan operas, interspersed with  informative and comic  anecdotes.

Singers from English National Opera, Covent Garden and International Opera houses will entertain you with world class singing and accompanied by the Opera Brava ensemble.

This programme encompasses some of the most frequently requested pieces on Classic FM.

Advanced tickets cost £25 (adults, £10 children).

All tickets are available from the Corn Exchange Box Office in Market Place, Newbury; telephone 0845 5218 218 or visit www.cornexchangenew.com 
Tickets for the Gala performance are also available from Opera Brava. Please call 01444 443000 or book online at www.operabrava.co.uk

Greenham Common Trust has been putting on affordable Opera for All the whole family since 2005 and has been in a successful partnership with Opera Brava since 2009.