Company Spotlight: Oxford Opera

 

 

 

I founded Oxford Opera to provide the people of Oxfordshire an Opera Company that they could recognise and proudly regard as ’their own’. To be a company that is a key part of the cultural fabric of the city delivering truly top class productions with some of the best UK based professional artists available whilst also providing access and opportunity to the young people of the County through our Education and Outreach programmes and the Oxford Opera Youth Company.  

World class opera, with the people at its heart.

 

Excellence; accessibility and opportunity. 

Excellence. Within every aspect of the Company. 

In its performance standards. 
In its attitude towards the artists and creatives who join us. 
In its attitude towards the audience and anyone who comes into contact with us as a company. Respect is key. 

In my own career I have been fortunate to have worked with some incredible singers - professionals who are working at the very top level of the profession both here and abroad. Bringing that standard of performance to the people of Oxford and beyond is a core value of Oxford Opera. 

I don’t care where you come from, your social status or your educational background, I want everybody to be able to access and experience this unique art form. I come from a background that completely lacked any exposure, let alone accessibility or opportunity in Opera. As a father I see the demise of classical music education in many, mainly state schools, and it angers and saddens me. Oxford Opera is, in its own way, trying to counter that demise and break down the lazy optic that opera is an elite art form only available to and for a certain part of society. Frankly, that’s utter BS!  

We work incredibly hard through our Education, Outreach and newly launched Oxford Opera Youth Company to bring opera to everyone. This year alone we have already delivered workshops both in and out of school and through the Youth Company to nearly 1000 of Oxfordshires young people.  

“Pendred is on a mission to bring top quality professional opera to Oxford while engaging closely with the local community, putting on productions that are accessible both to regular opera-goers and those who may be discovering it for the first time. This latest production ticks all those boxes.” 

Oxford Times - La Bohème. 

 

As a young company every production is hugely memorable for different reasons, but I think seeing a company of nearly 150 people on the stage of the Oxford Playhouse Theatre including so many young people, at the end of our first ever fully staged production of Bizet’s Carmen has to be one of the best. The Magic Flute - our first production post the devastating impact of Covid. We nearly ceased to exist. Through the incredible generosity of someone we not only survived, but are in a healthier position than we’ve ever been before. 

Seeing the vision that I had for Oxford Opera become not just a reality but to continue to grow beyond that original vision. 

Having the support, insight and wisdom of our incredible Patrons Susan Bullock CBE and Richard Berkeley-Steele alongside our wonderful Ambassador Rachel Nicholls.

The fact that we have only just started as a company, but we have already welcomed such incredible professionals into our company.  

Lee Bisset (ROH) Huw Montague-Rendall (ROH); Philip Rhodes (ROH, WNO, Opera North); Sam Furness (ROH); John Savournin (ENO, Opera North); Mike Bracegirdle (ROH, ENO, WHO) ; Eddie Wade (ROH, WNO, Opera North); Felix Kemp (ROH & WNO); Dawid Kimberg (ROH) 

Whilst also being a company that creates opportunities for younger singers just starting out on their careers, or in a position where their repertoire is changing and they are working on new, perhaps larger roles/repertoire. 

For example; Marlena Devoe is making her role debut as Tosca with us following her wonderful performances of Mimi and Pamina in our Bohème and Flute respectively. Sam Furness is making his role debut as Cavaradossi. Anna Sideris made her role debut as Violetta. Mark Christian-Bautista made his role debut as Alfredo. Felix Kemp his role debut as Papageno.

 

We have a number of projects that my team and I are looking at and planning. We have a 5 year creative schedule in terms of productions, commissions and collaborations. 

To give you a couple of tasters though: 

1) The Oxford Ring.

2) Oxford Opera Company commissioned Children’s Opera.  

 

So many things. The integrity and passion of the people that I get to work with on a daily basis; the friends and supporters of the Company who share and support the vision and help drive it forwards; a great Board of Trustees; the faces of the children and young people when they first encounter/hear an operatic voice in full-flow; the opportunities that we are creating for them to engage with this incredible art form and the benefits that we know engagement with the arts bring ; the chance to be a real part of the cultural fabric of Oxford, Oxfordshire and beyond; working with some astonishing creatives - not just the singers - the ’company’. The teamwork and collective energy that is needed to create art is life-affirming. The opportunity to make genuinely positive differences in the lives of everyone who encounters Oxford Opera.

 

None - I wouldn’t have done it otherwise! …:))

Seriously, after my move to Oxford, it was a gut instinct that I followed. Has it been easy, no. Is it one of my proudest achievements - absolutely. Second only to becoming a father. Oxford Opera is my ‘other' child.  

 

Excellence; Opportunity & Accessibility 

 

TOSCA - 28th and 29th March at the Oxford Playhouse Theatre.

Starring Marlena Devoe as Tosca; Sam Furness as Cavaradossi and Philip Rhodes as Scarpia. 

In a new English translation by Christopher Cowell the company is joined by the Oxford Opera Orchestra under the baton of Music Director John Warner and also features a Youth Chorus made up of 39 young people from 10 Oxfordshire Schools.

Tickets are available from www.oxfordplayhouse.com