Opera Makers 2023

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The performance duration is approximately 2 hours 40 minutes, including one interval of 20 minutes

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Opera Makers 2023

It is our pleasure to welcome you to this, our ninth incarnation of Opera Makers.

The MA in Opera Making & Writing is a one-year programme, delivered in association with the Royal Opera House, in which three composer-librettist pairings create 25-minute chamber operas specifically for singers in the first year of the Opera Course. This creates a challenging training experience for singers, répétiteurs, orchestral musicians and theatre technicians, for whom being involved in such a process is often an entirely new experience. It also aims to give composers and writers first-hand experience of the whole process of making an opera, from the page to the stage.

 The pieces have been extensively workshopped at each stage of development, to give the singers in particular a voice in helping the composers create roles that suit them vocally and we are hugely appreciative of all the wisdom and support which so many of the Opera Course staff and our vocal professors have given in helping us along the way. It is this process of creating a work together as a company that is just as important to us as the result, and we do hope you enjoy these new chamber operas.

Julian Philips Head of Composition, Programme Leader MA in Opera Making & Writing
Stephen Plaice Writer-in-Residence
Dominic Wheeler Head of Opera Studies

Guildhall School of Music & Drama is provided by the City of London.

Les Mamelles de Tirésias

Francis Poulenc (1899 – 1963)
Act 1, Scenes 1 & 2

Thérèse/Tirésias       
Ana Carmen Balestra

Le mari                          
Alaric Green

Répétiteur                       
Aleksandra Myslek

Feminist THÉRÈSE, sick of her oppressive marriage, throws off the shackles of the patriarchy, lets her womanhood take flight and, much to her sexist husband’s bemusement, transforms herself into her bearded alter-ego, TIRÉSIAS.

La dame de Monte Carlo

Francis Poulenc (1899 – 1963)

La dame                           
Holly Brown

Répétiteur                       
Michael Rose

Once upon a time, LA DAME was the toast of Monaco but has, of late, fallen on hard times.  She curses the former friends who have banished her from the casino at Monte Carlo and tumbles towards self-destruction in the Mediterranean Sea.

Lanternfish

Luka Venter composer
David Bottomley librettist

María                                 
Shana Moron-Caravel

Ulric                                     
Alaric Green

Isabel                                 
Ana Carmen Balestra

Robert                                
Jonah Halton

Quicksilver                     
Yolisa Ngwexana

BlueRay                         
Emyr Jones

Chorus of Lanternfish  
Holly Brown    
Vladyslava Yakovenko           
Rachel Roper
Steven van der Linden
Jacob Harrison
Joe Chalmers

Opera Makers Orchestra

MARÍA, a marine biologist, is listening to the radar echoes of Lanternfish deep underwater — she has made this the focus of her life work, studying on board her research vessel. Following the death of her partner, ULRIC, one year ago in a diving accident, she has become obsessively protective of this unique ecosystem known as the Twilight Zone. When this vulnerable protected area is under threat of harvesting Lanternfish for commercial exploitation, she reaches out to the spirit of Ulric for consolation and guidance and finds herself increasingly torn between the rational world of the living, and the world of the dead.
-David Bottomley

Scene from La voix humaine

Francis Poulenc (1899 – 1963)

Elle                               
Vladyslava Yakovenko

Répétiteur                       
Alistair Burton

A desperate ELLE, clinging to a failed relationship with the selfish man who has rejected her, tries her best to keep him on the line and regain his love.

Ulysses

Luka Venter composer
David Bottomley librettist

Ulysses                          
Alaric Green

Following the Trojan War, ULYSSES has been at sea for ten years on his return voyage to Ithaca. He is about to sail through dangerous waters renowned for half-woman, half-bird Sirens that seduce men to their deaths by the beauty of their song. Ulysses plugs his crew’s ears with wax to maintain their concentration and has them bind him to the ship’s mast to avoid temptation by the Sirens. He steals himself but finds their voices too overpowering and after all that time at sea, despite himself, calls out for them to release him from his arduous captaincy.
-David Bottomley

INTERVAL

reborns

Elif Nur Karlidag composer
Stanley Lawson librettist

Artist                                  
Rachel Roper

Client                                 
Vladyslava Yakovenko

Partner                          
Joe Chalmers

Opera Makers Orchestra

The ARTIST works most days alone in her studio. Her work is laborious and highly specialised; she makes Reborns, expensive dolls which are meticulously crafted to emulate a real baby. This afternoon is unusual, a CLIENT has come to discuss a new commission in person. Unwillingly accepted, the commission leads the artist to be confronted by the consequences of her work and the emotional hold her dolls have over people.
-Stanley Lawson

L’enfant et le sortilèges

Maurice Ravel (1875 – 1937)
Princess Scene

L’enfant (Child)         
Shana Moron-Caravel

La Princesse (The Princess)             
Yolisa Ngwexana

Répétiteur                     
Yongqiu Yuan

Flute
Stratty Ryan

The naughty CHILD has destroyed the story book that featured his first love, THE PRINCESS.  The Princess comes to life and shows the child that awful actions have consequences.

Lost Property

Anna Disley-Simpson composer
Olivia Bell librettist

Traveller                           
Holly Brown

Attendant                        
Steven van der Linden

Father                                
Jacob Harrison  

Opera Makers Orchestra

A TRAVELLER stumbles into a lost property office in search of a bag left behind on a train the previous evening. Greeted by an eccentric and enthusiastic ATTENDANT, she quickly finds that all is not what it seems, and she is confronted with everything she has ever lost — from bags to books, bracelets to woolly hats, and even her beloved stuffed bunny. But her initial joy is tempered by the realisation that collecting these objects comes at a price, and she is forced to make decisions beyond her wildest dreams.
-Olivia Bell

L’enfant et le sortilèges

Maurice Ravel (1875 – 1937)
Final Scene      

L’enfant (Child)         
Shana Moron-Caravel

Les Bêtes et les Arbres (The Animals and the Trees)           
Holly Brown
Yolisa Ngwexana
Ana Carmen Balestra
Vladyslava Yakovenko             
Rachel Roper
Steven van der Linden
Jonah Halton
Emyr Jones
Jacob Harrison
Joe Chalmers
Alaric Green     

Répétiteur                       
Alistair Burton

The Animals confront the cruel CHILD — but are astounded when they see the child’s act of kindness to one of their number.  Realising that all the child really needs is maternal love, they help the child find the way home to Maman. 

Production Team

Stage Manager  
Iben Bering Sørensen

Deputy Stage Manager
Beri Valentine

Props Supervisor
QianYan Tan

Assistant Stage Manager (Book Cover)
Eva Gaidoni

Assistant Stage Manager
Justin Anderson

Assistant to Stage Management Team
Amy Jacobs
Ida Pontoppidan

Assistant to Stage Management Team & Props Supervisor
Jan Robotycki

Assistant to Stage Management Team & Orchestra
Agatha Giannini

Production Manager
Bradley Halliwell

Technical Manager   
Jonathan Reeks

Production Assistants
Josie Ireland
Dallas Thompson
Rebekah Tunnell

Production Electrician
Nicholas Dyne           

Lighting Programmers
James Calliss
Abbie Hardcastle

Production Sound Engineer
Finn Rowden 

Production Video Engineer
Oliver Hynds

Costume Supervisor & Wardrobe Manager
Andras Jacobs

Costume Assistants  
Olivia Fowler
Batoul Ghallab
Uju Olisa
Emily Sayner
Callum Wallace

Wigs, Hair & Makeup Supervisor
Lucia Mameli

Wigs, Hair & Makeup Assistant
Brook Richardson

 

Props Coordinator   
Kyra Coppini

Props Maker      
Iza Fordham

Props Assistants
Charlotte Antingham
Aleyna Feran

 

Scenic Art Coordinator
Ema Cunha    

Scenic Assistants
Emily Cave
Lola King

Orchestra

for Lanternfish:

Violin
Camille Saïd

Viola
Young Two Cheung

Cello
William Lui

Double Bass
Fabián Galeana

Flute, Bass Flute & Piccolo
Stratty Ryan

Clarinet & Bass Clarinet
Izzy Hopkins

Horn
Henry Ward

Percussion
Jovi Lo

Harp
Vanessa Wagner

Piano
Alistair Burton

for reborns:

Viola
Young Two Cheung

Cello
William Lui

Double Bass
Fabián Galeana

Oboe & Cor Anglais
Lidia Moscoso

Clarinet & Bass Clarinet
Izzy Hopkins

Bassoon
Maria O’Dea

Horn
Henry Ward

Percussion
Jovi Lo

Harp
Vanessa Wagner

Piano & Electronics
Aleksandra Myslek

for Lost Property:

Violin
Camille Saïd

Viola
Young Two Cheung

Cello
William Lui

Double Bass
Fabián Galeana

Flute & Piccolo
Stratty Ryan

Clarinet & Bass Clarinet
Izzy Hopkins

Percussion
Jovi Lo

Harp
Sabrina Savenkova

Piano
Yongqiu Yuan

Additional Staff

Producer
Stuart Calder

Production Management Supervisor       
Julia Bermingham

Stage Management Supervisor    
Caroline Moores
Chantal Hauser

Technical Management Supervisor
Alistair Pullan

Lighting Supervisor 
Nick Peel

Sound Supervisor     
Andy Taylor

Props Supervisor    
Aurelie Clark

Scenic Supervisor    
Vanessa Cass

Wardrobe Supervisor
Rachel Young

Video Supervisor    
Pete Wallace

Theatre Technology Assistant      
Ben Collins

Stage Management Assistant      
Tamasin Cook

Opera Department Manager       
Steven Gietzen

Ensembles, Programming & Instrument Manager
Phil Sizer

Orchestra Librarian
Anthony Wilson

Music Stage, Logistics & Instrument Manager
Kevin Elwick

Music Stage Supervisors
Shakeel Mohammed
Louis Baily

Guildhall School Scholarships Fund

Each year the Scholarships Fund enables talented young actors, musicians and theatre technicians to take up their places or continue their studies at Guildhall School. We are extremely grateful to the many trusts, foundations, businesses, City livery companies and individuals who make annual donations to the Scholarships Fund, and to those people who make provision for legacy donations in support of the School in their wills. Students involved in these scenes who have received support from the Scholarships Fund and from external donors are as follows:

Ana Balestra Weavers' Scholarship & The Anne Pashley Opera Scholarship

Holly Brown Behrens Foundation Scholarship & Wax Chandlers' Scholarship

Joe Chalmers Elizabeth Sweeting Award

Rose Chase The Herbert and Theresie Lowit Memorial Scholarship

Ema Cunha B&T Scholarship

Alaric Green Fishmongers' Music Scholarship & Sophie's Silver Lining Fund

Jonah Halton Carpenters' Company Henry Osborne Award Scholarship

Jacob Harrison Behrens Foundation Scholarship

Emyr Jones Horners' Becker Scholarship & Tobacco Pipe Makers' Scholarship

Shana Moron-Caravel Sally Cohen Opera Scholarship

Yolisa Ngwexana Margery & Frederick Stephen Wright Eisinger
Award, Dow Clewer Foundation, Gwen Catley Scholarship (The Amar-Franses & Foster-Jenkins Trust) & Innholders' Scholarship

Rachel Roper Marianne Falk Award

Michael Rose The Jack Irons Repetiteur Scholarship

Iben Bering Sørensen The Herbert and Theresie Lowit Memorial Scholarship

Steven Van Der Linden Grocers' Scholarship

Vladyslava Yakovenko Gold and Silver Wyre Drawers' Scholarship