tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-52344065677851931972024-03-12T17:52:47.679-07:00London Lyric Opera blogLondon's concert and concert opera company. London Lyric Operahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00968609631843980059noreply@blogger.comBlogger44125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5234406567785193197.post-57386079970610046832012-10-17T08:25:00.003-07:002012-10-17T08:25:46.986-07:00British Choral Classics food!!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
An unexpected but welcome offer was made to us by a local Beckenham chef and caterer <a href="http://www.mariaabrahams.com/" target="_blank">Maria Abrahams</a> to cook a delectable range of British fusion cuisine to be served in the interval of our concert at St Barnabas, Beckenham called <a href="http://www.londonlyricopera.com/" target="_blank">British Choral Classics</a><br />
<br />
Wine will be served to compliment the treats made by our bespoke caterer.</div>
London Lyric Operahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00968609631843980059noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5234406567785193197.post-33200845628757148852012-10-01T04:00:00.003-07:002012-10-01T04:10:26.518-07:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
This is our first try with an online ticket seller but thought we should move with the times. Please click on the banner below to purchase tickets for our next concert at St Barnabas Beckenham<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ocGtS5AONss/UGl5Vgj34qI/AAAAAAAAAPk/oByjjbdlA9A/s1600/PinnacleFB.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="399" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ocGtS5AONss/UGl5Vgj34qI/AAAAAAAAAPk/oByjjbdlA9A/s400/PinnacleFB.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Tickets now available for<br />
<b>Beckenham St Barnabas Church</b><br />
from www.WeGotTickets.com</a>
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London Lyric Operahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00968609631843980059noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5234406567785193197.post-44152102356182639612012-09-30T06:56:00.001-07:002012-09-30T07:14:19.995-07:00British choral classics - InstantEncore<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Rw2QAndjxks/UGhP7bLZUBI/AAAAAAAAAPQ/LyX24tO84sw/s1600/PinnacleFB.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="319" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Rw2QAndjxks/UGhP7bLZUBI/AAAAAAAAAPQ/LyX24tO84sw/s320/PinnacleFB.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<a href="http://www.stbarnabasbeckenham.org/" target="_blank">St Barnabas Church</a>, Beckenham <br />
London, England<br />
Saturday, 27 October 2012 - 7:30 PM <br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.pinnacle-ensemble.com/" target="_blank">Pinnacle Ensemble</a><br />
<br />
Conductor: Michael Waldron<br />
Artist: Max Pappenheim (Organ)<br />
<br />
This special performance of choral music celebrating 450 years of British composers will include works by Weelkes, Purcell, Harris, Stanford and Holst amongst others who have left an indelible mark on the musical life of London. London Lyric Opera and the Pinnacle Ensemble look forward to their first collaboration. Stunning music sung by an ensemble of exceptional singers with Max Pappenheim, Organ. Experience the sounds of the British choral tradition at St Barnabas Church, Beckenham.<br />
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Tickets: £10, £8 conc <br />
<br />
Tickets from: <a href="mailto:tickets@pinnacle-ensemble.com">tickets@pinnacle-ensemble.com</a> or at the door. Book early to avoid disappointment. This will be a very popular concert.</div>
London Lyric Operahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00968609631843980059noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5234406567785193197.post-46632697880073930492012-09-30T06:39:00.001-07:002012-09-30T06:39:54.108-07:00<a href="http://www.instantencore.com/concert/details.aspx?PId=5097717">British choral classics - InstantEncore</a>London Lyric Operahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00968609631843980059noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5234406567785193197.post-37542675678709061732012-09-01T13:19:00.001-07:002012-09-01T13:41:28.922-07:00The Pinnacle Ensemble<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FmAcQtXkyFE/UEJy2iFqtrI/AAAAAAAAAO8/kMBrv8p2fss/s1600/Pinnacle_Ensemble.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FmAcQtXkyFE/UEJy2iFqtrI/AAAAAAAAAO8/kMBrv8p2fss/s1600/Pinnacle_Ensemble.jpg" /></a></div>
Attached is the link to listen to this gem of a choir created by our newly appointed Musical Director, Michael Waldron<br />
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<a href="http://www.pinnacle-ensemble.com/?page_id=21" target="_blank">Listen to the Pinnacle Ensemble</a><br />
<br />
This is a taster for the quality of singing you can expect from this choir of virtuoso singers. Michaelwill lead our first concert of the 2012/2013 season in a celebration of 400 years of English Choral Music with the <a href="http://www.pinnacle-ensemble.com/" target="_blank" title="Pinnacle Ensemble">Pinnacle Ensemble </a>at <a href="http://www.stbarnabasbeckenham.org.uk/" target="_blank" title="St Barnabas Church, Beckenham, Kent">St Barnabas Church </a>in Beckenham, Kent on the Saturday 27th October at 7.30pm.</div>
London Lyric Operahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00968609631843980059noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5234406567785193197.post-85504956928012098512012-09-01T13:09:00.001-07:002012-09-01T13:19:56.266-07:00New Beginnings<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<h1 class="entry-title">
New Beginnings</h1>
<a href="http://www.londonlyricopera.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/Michael_Waldron_Conductor.jpg"><img alt="" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-89" height="195" src="http://www.londonlyricopera.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/Michael_Waldron_Conductor.jpg" title="Michael Waldron - Conductor. Musical Director London Lyric Opera" width="258" /></a><br />
<br />
We are delighted to announce the appointment of <a href="http://www.londonlyricopera.com/?page_id=91" title="Musical Director">Michael Waldron</a>
as the Musical Director of London Lyric Opera. Michael brings a wealth
of choral and orchestral experience which will be crucial to the success
of future LLO events. <br />
<br />
Michael is the founder and conductor of the critically acclaimed <a href="http://www.pinnacle-ensemble.com/" target="_blank">Pinnacle Ensemble</a> and will lead our first concert of the 2012/2013 season in a celebration of 400 years of English Choral Music with the <a href="http://www.pinnacle-ensemble.com/" target="_blank" title="Pinnacle Ensemble">Pinnacle Ensemble </a>at <a href="http://www.stbarnabasbeckenham.org.uk/" target="_blank" title="St Barnabas Church, Beckenham, Kent">St Barnabas Church </a>in Beckenham, Kent on the Saturday 27th October at 7.30pm. <br />
<br />
We have some exciting plans for the rest of the season which will be announced shortly.</div>
London Lyric Operahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00968609631843980059noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5234406567785193197.post-5750059370766570462012-04-11T02:52:00.000-07:002012-04-11T02:52:05.829-07:00Website back online<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Sorry for the long delay getting the site back. Our previous ISP was <a href="http://www.dnbuy.com/" target="_blank">DNbuy.com </a>who seemed to think that an email is something you ignore. What began as a simple matter of an expired card number turned into a saga which has gone on for 6 weeks. DNBuy Inc are the resellers ( I know I had never heard of this before either) for Enom. Thankfully <a href="http://enom.com/">enom.com</a> were able to help me out and now LLO has migrated to an UK provider.My last word on DNBuy is DON'T!! Keep shopping around. No excuse for such poor customer service. Enom were terrific. <br />
<br />
The downside of this is the galleries which we had stored in the former LLO site which have now gone. The current page is a simple wordpress layout which is still being built so please understand if it takes a while to create</div>London Lyric Operahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00968609631843980059noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5234406567785193197.post-55365175827666353042012-04-07T02:15:00.003-07:002012-04-07T02:21:39.729-07:00Website down<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">The LLO site is down for the moment.<br />
<br />
Important LLO links are:<br />
<br />
Issuu <a href="http://issuu.com/londonlyricopera">http://issuu.com/londonlyricopera</a><br />
Instant Encore <a href="http://www.instantencore.com/contributor/contributor.aspx?CId=5127199">http://www.instantencore.com/contributor/contributor.aspx?CId=5127199</a><br />
Facebook <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/London-Lyric-Opera/77563041686">https://www.facebook.com/pages/London-Lyric-Opera/77563041686</a><br />
<br />
</div>London Lyric Operahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00968609631843980059noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5234406567785193197.post-6342301143287878642012-02-24T12:13:00.008-08:002012-02-24T13:22:31.986-08:00Vale Elizabeth Connell (1946 - 2012)<iframe height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/gYHeUcUaG9E" frameborder="0" width="560"></iframe><br /><br />In February 2009 London Lyric Opera mounted an ambitious concert performance of Beethoven's, Fidelio at the Cadogan Hall. Elizabeth Connell was an early adviser and supporter when I established the company and to my delight and amazement said that she would love to sing Leonora again.<br /><br />Conducted by Madeleine Lovell and with the support of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Philharmonia Chorus and Queens College Chapel Choir and soloists including Jeffrey Lloyd-Roberts, Andrew Staples, Sarah Nicholls, Richard Wiegold and myself the evening was one of the highlights for the company.<br /><br />Singing to a sold out Cadogan Hall the concert was an undoubted success. From the very beginning she was ever helpful even to the point of suggesting we use the dialogue version that she had perrformed in Hamburg in the 70's which she offered to us at an early meeting. Her advice and encouragement during our piano rehearsals will never be forgotten by the cast. From beginning to end Miss Connell was the perfect colleague.<br /><br /><iframe height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/pl2jG65Bjco" frameborder="0" width="560"></iframe><br /><br />Last week Elizabeth Connell passed away after a long and brave battle with cancer. I, like many of her friends, colleagues and fans, was terribly saddened by her death. Her voice was unique. For a singer of the 'big' roles by Verdi and Wagner it was always a revelation to hear her sing again as the voice never lost its youthful brilliance or delicacy yet had an incredible ability to cut through the largest of orchestras with a blade of tone that too was always beautiful and impeccably controlled.<br /><br /><iframe height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/OR0ulC1uepE" frameborder="0" width="420"></iframe><br /><br />I last saw her at a Tait Memorial Trust concert at 49 Queen's Gate Terrace in December 2011. As ever we had a good chat and the inevitable, "What are you planning James?" came up. I told her that Tosca was being seriously considered. We had a conductor, orchestra but just needed to cast it oh plus little things like a venue, funding, artwork. I almost fell off my chair when she said that Tosca was one of her favourite roles but she had not yet had the opportunity to sing it. "James, I would love to sing Tosca with you..." Christmas, New Year, Kids back to school etc filled the coming months. I was about to call her about the time her brother Paul posted his message on facebook announcing that she was 'gravely ill'. She was gone a few days later.<br /><br />Now hearing her singing 'Vissi d'arte' that would have been something...<br /><br />Tomorrow a requiem mass will given for her. May god bless and keep her and if possible let her know how her wonderful bubbly and ever joyful personality is missed by so many people all over the world.<br /><br />James Hancock<br /><br />A tribute site has been created by her friend and agent, <a href="http://www.fischerartists.com/">Helmut Fischer </a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.elizabeth-connell.co.uk/">http://www.elizabeth-connell.co.uk/</a>London Lyric Operahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00968609631843980059noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5234406567785193197.post-9562341472588568002011-07-06T03:37:00.000-07:002011-07-06T03:38:18.764-07:00Ruthless Jabiru at the City of London Festival<script type="text/javascript" src="http://www.instantencore.com/widgets/ConcertDetailsScript.aspx?&PId=5085652&ShowProgramNotes=y&ShowShare=y&ShowIEMenuLinks=y&ShowPresenters=y&ShowArtists=y&ShowEnsembles=y&ShowConductors=y&ShowArrangers=y&ShowWorkNotes=y&ShowNotes=y&ShowProgram=y&GroupPerformers=n&EnableDetailsLink=y&CustomLinks=n&RemoveIECoreLinks=n&StyleSheet=n&Font=Calibri, Arial&PrimaryColor=DD7722"></script>London Lyric Operahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00968609631843980059noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5234406567785193197.post-54226274140577904232011-07-06T03:30:00.000-07:002011-07-06T03:33:27.883-07:00Pinnacle Ensemble<script type="text/javascript" src="http://www.instantencore.com/widgets/ConcertDetailsScript.aspx?&PId=5085655&ShowProgramNotes=y&ShowShare=y&ShowIEMenuLinks=y&ShowPresenters=y&ShowArtists=y&ShowEnsembles=y&ShowConductors=y&ShowArrangers=y&ShowWorkNotes=y&ShowNotes=y&ShowProgram=y&GroupPerformers=n&EnableDetailsLink=y&CustomLinks=n&RemoveIECoreLinks=n&StyleSheet=n&Font=Calibri, Arial&PrimaryColor=DD7722"></script>London Lyric Operahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00968609631843980059noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5234406567785193197.post-6639347840729222862011-07-03T23:08:00.000-07:002011-07-06T03:37:32.143-07:00Ruthless Jabiru, Lovelady/ Pearson/ Sculthorpe/ Barber/ Copland/ City of London Festival - InstantEncoreLooking forward to this concert at LSO St Lukes on the 9th July London's all-Australian chamber orchestra Ruthless Jabiru makes their dynamic City of London Festival debut with a programme honouring their esteemed patron, Australian composer Peter Sculthorpe. A selection of Sculthorpe miniatures shares the platform with two vintage American masterworks, Barber's Knoxville: Summer of 1915 and Copland's Appalachian Spring, parallelling the iconic soundworlds of these two vast countries.<br /><br />With the stunning young Australian Soprano, <strong>Emma Pearson</strong> singing Knoxville: Summer of 1915 Op 24 by Samuel Barber. A former winner of the More than Opera award for a contract at the Hessisches Staatstheater in Wiesbaden. <a href="http://www.mto-gaog.com">http://www.mto-gaog.com/</a><br /><br /><br /><iframe height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/BntK38SwY0c" frameborder="0" width="425"></iframe>London Lyric Operahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00968609631843980059noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5234406567785193197.post-33587491481186829822011-06-27T06:33:00.000-07:002011-06-27T06:36:42.699-07:00New beginningsWe are delighted to confirm that LLO is producing some wonderful concerts and will be announcing details very soon. Hurrah!London Lyric Operahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00968609631843980059noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5234406567785193197.post-18872745962620510402011-05-02T03:03:00.000-07:002011-05-02T03:03:06.660-07:00Go Traviata - InstantEncore<a href="http://www.instantencore.com/concert/details.aspx?PId=5083901">Go Traviata - InstantEncore</a><br /><br /><span id="ctl00_ctl00_ctl00_ContentPlaceHolder1_ContentPlaceHolder1_RoundCornersTitleBar1_ctl01_ChildContent_cst_lblText"><script type="text/javascript" src="http://www.instantencore.com/widgets/ConcertDetailsScript.aspx?&PId=5083901&ShowProgramNotes=y&ShowShare=y&ShowIEMenuLinks=y&ShowPresenters=y&ShowArtists=y&ShowEnsembles=y&ShowConductors=y&ShowArrangers=y&ShowWorkNotes=y&ShowNotes=y&ShowProgram=y&GroupPerformers=n&EnableDetailsLink=y&CustomLinks=n&RemoveIECoreLinks=n&StyleSheet=n&Font=Calibri,%20%20Arial&PrimaryColor=DD7722"></script></span>London Lyric Operahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00968609631843980059noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5234406567785193197.post-8820650797480594392011-04-19T04:17:00.000-07:002011-04-19T04:18:29.314-07:00Opera LondonOpera London are an exciting new company about to produce Verdi's, Il Trovatore at the Camden Fringe Festival<br /><br /><span id="ctl00_ctl00_ctl00_ContentPlaceHolder1_ContentPlaceHolder1_RoundCornersTitleBar1_ctl01_ChildContent_cst_lblText"><script type="text/javascript" src="http://www.instantencore.com/widgets/ConcertDetailsScript.aspx?&PId=5083200&ShowProgramNotes=y&ShowShare=y&ShowIEMenuLinks=y&ShowPresenters=y&ShowArtists=y&ShowEnsembles=y&ShowConductors=y&ShowArrangers=y&ShowWorkNotes=y&ShowNotes=y&ShowProgram=y&GroupPerformers=n&EnableDetailsLink=y&CustomLinks=n&RemoveIECoreLinks=n&StyleSheet=n&Font=Calibri,%20%20Arial&PrimaryColor=DD7722"></script></span>London Lyric Operahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00968609631843980059noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5234406567785193197.post-71627783164360371092009-08-14T05:47:00.000-07:002009-08-15T12:41:56.544-07:00Der Freischütz - PostponedRegretfully London Lyric Opera must postpone our forthcoming concert performances of <em>Der Freischütz </em>in the Autumn due to factors beyond our control. It was the most difficult decision that we have ever had to make but the funding that we expected didn't materialise and the costs to mount a production of this scale were too high to contemplate without a sound financial base.London Lyric Operahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00968609631843980059noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5234406567785193197.post-90026925351640116352009-07-19T09:33:00.000-07:002009-08-15T12:36:50.090-07:00LLO's Radio on InstantEncore<iframe src="http://www.instantencore.com/radio/IERadioPopupLink.aspx?PartnerId=5000537" frameborder="0" height="130" width="250"></iframe><br /><br />Above is link to an easy way to listen to a sample of tracks from our previous concerts. Over time we will add content but there is already excerpts from <span style="font-style: italic;">The flying Dutchman</span> conducted by Lionel Friend with the RPO...the overture is stunningLondon Lyric Operahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00968609631843980059noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5234406567785193197.post-37854193526927227402009-06-25T13:27:00.001-07:002009-07-08T12:16:45.801-07:00Die Fledermaus - Was it really over a week ago?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_azmu70Qsjpg/SkuT_BtKiQI/AAAAAAAAAIA/88Td-ELhBFQ/s1600-h/LLO_Die+Fledermaus_PERFORMANCE_Company+Bow_.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_azmu70Qsjpg/SkuT_BtKiQI/AAAAAAAAAIA/88Td-ELhBFQ/s400/LLO_Die+Fledermaus_PERFORMANCE_Company+Bow_.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353535293058877698" border="0" /></a><br /> <span style="font-size:85%;">Company Bow</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">Producing a concert at this level is never easy and you are never certain how it will all turn out. So many elements to be considered ie Singers, Orchestra, Chorus, Movement, Artwork etc. Our recent </span><a style="font-family: georgia;" href="http://www.londonlyricopera.com/">Die Fledermaus</a><span style="font-family:georgia;"> was a major jump for us; not one but two performances plus the addition of a world famous concert pianist for good measure. </span></span>I am happy to say that Die Fledermaus was one of LLO's greatest successes and provided a fitting end to our first season.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_azmu70Qsjpg/SkuT-zTdgMI/AAAAAAAAAH4/MOUlNL6wPkI/s1600-h/LLO_Die+Fledermaus_PERFORMANCE_Charne+Rochford_Eisenstein.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_azmu70Qsjpg/SkuT-zTdgMI/AAAAAAAAAH4/MOUlNL6wPkI/s400/LLO_Die+Fledermaus_PERFORMANCE_Charne+Rochford_Eisenstein.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353535289192972482" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Charne Rochford - Eisenstein</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">"Charne Rochford, as Eisenstein, showed a special gift for comic roles: he has a huge talent for physical comedy, creating an expressive, hilarious and appropriately ridiculous portrait of the character."</span> Seen and Heard. Margarita Mota-Bull <span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><br /><br /><br />The performance was a great success on so many levels. </span><a style="font-family: georgia;" href="http://www.rpo.co.uk/">The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra</a><span style="font-family:georgia;"> played beautifully. This is the RPO's third opera with us and each time they astound me with their dedication to the score and commitment to the performance. I don't believe that we would have reached such artistic heights without them. The scoring requires outstanding playing from all sections:</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_azmu70Qsjpg/SkvWyBcHasI/AAAAAAAAAJo/dnIK2dQLbeg/s1600-h/LLO_Fledermaus_PERFORMANCE__mg_6330114.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_azmu70Qsjpg/SkvWyBcHasI/AAAAAAAAAJo/dnIK2dQLbeg/s400/LLO_Fledermaus_PERFORMANCE__mg_6330114.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353608736928131778" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Leslie Howard with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra<br /><br /></span></span><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;" ><span lang="en-gb" style="font-size:100%;"><span lang="en-gb"><span lang="EN-US">"The real stars of the night though, were not the solo singers but Strauss’s music and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, who delivered an excellent performance, under Madeleine Lovell's baton.</span></span></span>"</span><span style=";font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;" ><br />Seen and Heard, Margarida Mota-Bull</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_azmu70Qsjpg/Sku2JBOvw8I/AAAAAAAAAJA/SF1cKJkNiTc/s1600-h/LLO_Fledermaus_PERFORMANCE_PhilharmoniaChorus.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_azmu70Qsjpg/Sku2JBOvw8I/AAAAAAAAAJA/SF1cKJkNiTc/s400/LLO_Fledermaus_PERFORMANCE_PhilharmoniaChorus.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353572848125330370" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Philharmonia Chorus<br /><br /></span><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:georgia;" >"The Philharmonia Chorus did full justice to the music too, giving a solid, excellent rendition of their powerful pieces during Act II, as various guests and servants at Prince Orlofsky's party."</span> Seen and Heard, Margarida Mota-Bull</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /> <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_azmu70Qsjpg/Sku__hbpLwI/AAAAAAAAAJQ/ueydoC4BJws/s1600-h/LLO_Fledermaus_PERFORMANCE__mg_6312099.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_azmu70Qsjpg/Sku__hbpLwI/AAAAAAAAAJQ/ueydoC4BJws/s400/LLO_Fledermaus_PERFORMANCE__mg_6312099.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353583680086945538" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Lise Christensen - Prince Orlofsky<br /><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"> </span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:Verdana;font-size:100%;" lang="en-gb" ><span style="" lang="en-gb"><span style="" lang="EN-US"><span style="">"Lise Christensen created an interesting Prince Orlofsky, particularly when singing the difficult high notes of Chacun à son gout, as the higher register of her voice is solidly assured.</span></span></span></span><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;" >"</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-size:100%;"> Seen and Heard, Margarida Mota-Bull</span></span><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_azmu70Qsjpg/SkvDSwm2YjI/AAAAAAAAAJY/5ArIDLAdigQ/s1600-h/LLO_Fledermaus_PERFORMANCE__mg_6385158.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_azmu70Qsjpg/SkvDSwm2YjI/AAAAAAAAAJY/5ArIDLAdigQ/s400/LLO_Fledermaus_PERFORMANCE__mg_6385158.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353587309112877618" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Debra Morley - Ida<br />Nicky Spence - Dr Blind<br /><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:100%;" ><br /></span></span></span></span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family:Verdana;">"and of course Nicky Spence extracted every inch as the muddlesome lawyer.</span>"</span><br />Serena Fenwick, Musical Pointers</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_azmu70Qsjpg/SkuT_Y3N5eI/AAAAAAAAAII/UQ_uMyRNoIU/s1600-h/LLO_Die+Fledermaus_PERFORMANCE_Garrie+Davislim_Alfred.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_azmu70Qsjpg/SkuT_Y3N5eI/AAAAAAAAAII/UQ_uMyRNoIU/s400/LLO_Die+Fledermaus_PERFORMANCE_Garrie+Davislim_Alfred.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353535299275056610" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Garrie Davislim - Alfred<br /><br /></span></span></span></span><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:georgia;" class="bodytext" >"Garrie Davislim was the attractively sung and personable Alfred, and he managed to convey that slight disdain of an opera tenor slumming it in operetta. </span><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:georgia;" >" </span>Peter Reed, classicalsource.com<br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_azmu70Qsjpg/Sku2IzHQQwI/AAAAAAAAAI4/M4fLPQ3pEAg/s1600-h/LLO_DieFledermaus_PERFORMANCE_Simon_Thorpe_Falke_Jeffrey_Black_Frank.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_azmu70Qsjpg/Sku2IzHQQwI/AAAAAAAAAI4/M4fLPQ3pEAg/s400/LLO_DieFledermaus_PERFORMANCE_Simon_Thorpe_Falke_Jeffrey_Black_Frank.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353572844335809282" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Simon Thorpe - Falke<br />Jeffrey Black - Frank</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">"Jeffrey Black’s warm baritone made an agreeable Frank and Simon Thorpe was a convincing Dr Falke."</span> </span></span></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Seen and Heard, Margarida Mota-Bull</span></span><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_azmu70Qsjpg/SkufQpRR2VI/AAAAAAAAAIo/Wldfa_xu5QQ/s1600-h/LLO_Fledermaus_PERFORMANCE_Debra+Morley_Ida__Ana+James_Adele.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_azmu70Qsjpg/SkufQpRR2VI/AAAAAAAAAIo/Wldfa_xu5QQ/s400/LLO_Fledermaus_PERFORMANCE_Debra+Morley_Ida__Ana+James_Adele.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353547690365016402" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Debra Morley - Ida<br />Ana James - Adele<br /><br /><span style="font-size:100%;">Pictured above are Debra Morley and Ana James. Debra gave a wonderfully rich account of Adele's sister, Ida. I hope that she will work with us again as she truly gave this relatively small role life and was an asset in every scene she was in. Oh and her top notes are stunning and sounded superb in the big finales.<br /><br /></span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:Verdana;font-size:100%;" lang="en-gb" ><span style="" lang="en-gb"><span style="" lang="EN-US"><span style="">"Ms James delivered possibly the outstanding performance of the evening. She was a member of the Royal Opera's Jette Parker Young Artist Programme and its influence showed throughout. She gave an accomplished, dramatically expressive performance, playing a sassy, very funny Adele, with some superb singing, especially in her final big moment, during Act III.</span></span></span></span><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;" >" </span><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style=";font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;" >Seen and Heard, Margarida Mota-Bull</span></span><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></span><span class="bodytext" style="font-size:100%;"> </span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_azmu70Qsjpg/SkufQU-OtGI/AAAAAAAAAIg/buZlGuxyiBM/s1600-h/LLO_Die+Fledermaus_PERFORMANCE_Sarah+Redgwick_Rosalinda.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_azmu70Qsjpg/SkufQU-OtGI/AAAAAAAAAIg/buZlGuxyiBM/s400/LLO_Die+Fledermaus_PERFORMANCE_Sarah+Redgwick_Rosalinda.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353547684916409442" border="0" /></a><br />Sarah Redgwick - Rosalinda<br /><br /></span></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span class="bodytext" style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">"Sarah Redgwick’s warm lyric soprano had the poise, good taste and understated humour of the role; her looks were a bit too English and wholesome for her to be entirely convincing as the mysterious Hungarian countess, but when she sang it was another matter, with the ‘czardas’ agreeably insinuating and instinctive.</span></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">" </span>Peter Reed, classicalsource.com</span></span><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://www.lesliehowardpianist.com/">Leslie Howard </a>played with the grace and style of a great virtuoso. His performance of the Liszt, <span style="font-style: italic;">Hungarian Fantasies </span>was mesmerising. The change of mood was accepted readily by the audience who all sat back and watched and listened to one of the worlds great Lisztians playing a devilishly difficult piece for piano and orchestra. He was a revelation to us all. The reviewers all agree with me on this point:<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_azmu70Qsjpg/SkuT_kXe5wI/AAAAAAAAAIQ/_dgQ07nng44/s1600-h/LLO_Die+Fledermaus_PERFORMANCE_Leslie+Howard.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_azmu70Qsjpg/SkuT_kXe5wI/AAAAAAAAAIQ/_dgQ07nng44/s400/LLO_Die+Fledermaus_PERFORMANCE_Leslie+Howard.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353535302363178754" border="0" /></a><br />Leslie Howard - mozbphotography.com<br /><br /></span><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:georgia;" class="bodytext" >"The mystery guest was not a star singer but a star pianist, Leslie Howard, who continued the Hungarian tendency with a performance with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra of Liszt’s Hungarian Fantasy, very much in the heavily melancholic ‘rhapsody’ style and thrillingly played by this great Liszt virtuoso. It sat rather oddly within the context of champagne and decadence, but who cares? It’s a terrific piece.</span><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:georgia;" >" </span>Peter Reed, classicalsource.com<br /><br /></span><p style="font-style: italic; font-family: georgia;" class="MsoNormal">"Act II traditionally includes a guest celebrity making a cabaret appearance. On this occasion Liszt specialist pianist, Leslie Howard, gave a rare performance of the <em>Fantasie uber ungarische Volksmelodien</em>, one of the few works that Liszt composed for piano and orchestra, which raised the loudest applause of the evening." Serena Fenwick, Musical Pointers<br /></p><span style="font-size:100%;">We were terribly lucky to find Bernard Horsfall to play Frosch, the gaoler. Bernard has a rich pedigree acting with the RSC, Dr Who, James Bond etc He agreed to be our dialogue coach, in hindsight this was one of the most important decisions we made. He came to every rehearsal and took detailed notes which he methodically passed on to the cast. His influence was vital to the dramatic integrity we were seeking and ensured that the dialogue reached the same level as the music.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_azmu70Qsjpg/SkvT2GZnjAI/AAAAAAAAAJg/mQTIinnGQ-Q/s1600-h/LLO_Fledermaus_RECEPTION__mg_6446036_2.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 233px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_azmu70Qsjpg/SkvT2GZnjAI/AAAAAAAAAJg/mQTIinnGQ-Q/s400/LLO_Fledermaus_RECEPTION__mg_6446036_2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353605508444425218" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Bernard Horsfall - Frosch<br /><br /></span></span><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:Verdana;font-size:100%;" lang="en-gb" ><span lang="en-gb"><span lang="EN-US">"The speaking part of Frosch, the gaoler, was wonderfully played by Bernard Horsfall; his appearance though brief was unforgettable.</span></span></span><span style=";font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;" >"</span> <span style="font-size:100%;"><span style=";font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;" ><br />Seen and Heard, Margarida Mota-Bull</span></span><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span><span style="font-size:100%;">Last but not least I must mention our conductor Madeleine Lovell. This was really her baby. Her fingerprint could be found in every element of the evening.</span><span style="font-size:100%;"> </span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style=";font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;" >It was a pleasure to develop this project with her.</span></span><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /><span style=";font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:10;" lang="en-gb" ><span lang="en-gb" style="font-size:10;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:100%;">"She is a young, graceful and exciting conductor who led the orchestra and the chorus into an intelligent, expressive and elegant rendition of this popular work. Ms Lovell had an intuitive understanding of Strauss’s witty score and ensured that the music made its full impact on a delighted audience. </span></span></span></span>" <span style=";font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;" ><br />Seen and Heard, Margarida Mota-Bull<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_azmu70Qsjpg/SkuT_8dbrkI/AAAAAAAAAIY/CM-uxVnPE60/s1600-h/LLO_Die+Fledermaus_PERFORMANCE_Madeleine+Lovell_Conductor.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_azmu70Qsjpg/SkuT_8dbrkI/AAAAAAAAAIY/CM-uxVnPE60/s400/LLO_Die+Fledermaus_PERFORMANCE_Madeleine+Lovell_Conductor.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353535308830584386" border="0" /></a><br />Madeleine Lovell - Conductor<br /><br /></span><span class="bodytext"> <span style="font-style: italic;">"Madeline Lovell, who was highly praised for her “Fidelio” with LLO earlier this year, conducted superbly, with her fresh, springy and spontaneous approach to the Overture energising the whole evening with an instinctively light Viennese lilt that was very engaging.</span></span><span style="font-style: italic;">" </span>Peter Reed, classicalsource.com<br /><span style=";font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;" ><br /></span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_azmu70Qsjpg/Sku2JGSsFlI/AAAAAAAAAJI/WIeDYNIe5JE/s1600-h/LLO_Fledermaus_RECEPTION__mg_6421015+copy.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_azmu70Qsjpg/Sku2JGSsFlI/AAAAAAAAAJI/WIeDYNIe5JE/s400/LLO_Fledermaus_RECEPTION__mg_6421015+copy.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353572849484043858" border="0" /></a><br />Post Concert Reception - Mick Hurrell, Wardour; Sarah Redgwick; Liz Hughes, HSBC.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_azmu70Qsjpg/SkvZcgPQMqI/AAAAAAAAAJw/a78P--350sE/s1600-h/LLO_Fledermaus_RECEPTION_.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_azmu70Qsjpg/SkvZcgPQMqI/AAAAAAAAAJw/a78P--350sE/s400/LLO_Fledermaus_RECEPTION_.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353611665773441698" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />Reviews to date courtesy of <a href="http://bit.ly/182LZS">www.theoperacritic.com</a><br /><br /><br />Sponsored by Wardour <a href="http://www.wardour.co.uk/">www.wardour.co.uk</a><br />Photography: <a href="http://www.mozbphotography.com/">www.mozbphotography.com</a><br />Venue: Cadogan Hall <a href="http://www.cadoganhall.com/">www.cadoganhall.com</a><br /></span>London Lyric Operahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00968609631843980059noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5234406567785193197.post-56635927274897887322009-06-14T01:30:00.000-07:002009-06-14T02:55:15.971-07:00A teaser from Act 1 - Recorded at the Vernon Ellis concert on Monday 8th June<object height="285" width="340"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube-nocookie.com/v/nxvQyJ7u93o&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0&color1=0x5d1719&color2=0xcd311b&border=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube-nocookie.com/v/nxvQyJ7u93o&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0&color1=0x5d1719&color2=0xcd311b&border=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" height="285" width="340"></embed></object><br /><br />I wish I had some clever excuse for offering only a small 'snippet' of the Act 1 trio with Eisenstein, Adele and Rosalinda but I am afraid it is nothing more exciting than running out of room on the memory card.<br /><br />This was recorded at the Vernon Ellis concert on Monday 8th June. Once again I admit my bias but <a href="http://www.londonlyricopera.com/757/260554.html">Sarah Redgwick</a> is singing the role of Rosalinda beautifully. Sarah, a <a href="http://bit.ly/bj5If">Guildhall Gold Medal </a>winner, has made her reputation singing Marzelline, Susanna, Zerlina for <a href="http://bit.ly/EBYgg">Scottish Opera</a>, <a href="http://bit.ly/Qbf2e">Opera Holland Park</a>, <a href="http://bit.ly/dfPrd">Clonter Opera,</a> <a href="http://bit.ly/10YJmD">Welsh National Opera</a> etc and has recently started singing Violetta for<a href="http://bit.ly/EBYgg"> Scottish Opera</a> and <a href="http://bit.ly/fKBcz">Opera de Bauge</a>. Many singers reach a point in their careers where they have to change repertoire as their voices develop and grow. This is such a case. What makes us so happy is the fact that Sarah still performs with the <span style="font-style: italic;">joie de vivre</span> of a Soubrette but with the voice of a Diva. I think this is evident in the clip attached.<br /><br /><a href="http://bit.ly/C3POg">Charne Rochford</a> has been a revelation to Madeleine and me. His biography is impressive. He sang First Armed Man at <a href="http://bit.ly/vdmna">Glyndebourne</a> and for <a href="http://bit.ly/9xVCE">English Touring Opera</a> and sang the 1st Priest in Kenneth Branagh's film of the <a href="http://bit.ly/6ntJO">Magic Flute</a> but his strong assumption of the role of Eisenstein with a voice that matches his dramatic resolve is wonderful to see...and hear. Only a small clip here so you will have to come to one of our performances if you wish to hear more of this exciting young tenor.<br /><br /><a href="http://bit.ly/NsX9e">Ana James</a> is, to me, the perfect Adele but I think I have already made my feelings about this exceptional soprano clear in the previous post. Unfortunately you don't get to hear much of her in this clip. :( I really should get a larger memory card.London Lyric Operahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00968609631843980059noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5234406567785193197.post-4673307372592991432009-06-11T12:53:00.000-07:002009-06-12T00:07:53.243-07:00Introducing our lovely Adele, Miss Ana James<object width="340" height="285"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube-nocookie.com/v/-COrwN0WUg8&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0&color1=0x5d1719&color2=0xcd311b&border=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube-nocookie.com/v/-COrwN0WUg8&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0&color1=0x5d1719&color2=0xcd311b&border=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="340" height="285"></embed></object><br /><br />Rehearsals are in full swing and the cast are working hard to make our performances as good as they possibly can. <a href="http://bit.ly/NsX9e">Ana James </a>was cast relatively late. Our original choice had a clash with the Buxton Festival so we reluctantly agreed that we had to find a new Adele. Luckily we were told about this beautiful soprano from New Zealand with the gorgeous voice and magnetic stage presence. A few days later Ana came, sang for Madeleine and was promptly engaged on the spot.<br /><br />We have been incredibly lucky with our cast. Simon Thorpe and Charne Rochford work together as if they were brothers and Lise Christensen plays the bored and world weary character of Prince Orlofsky with aplomb. Jeffrey Black brings real experience to Frank with the bonus of a beautiful baritone voice and has a perfect foil in Bernard Horsfall playing Frosch.<br /><br />Nicky Spence is a younger than usual Blind. He is playing him like a young turk lawyer who unfortunately... isn't very good at his job. Debra Morley who I have worked with on several occasions is luxury casting as Ida. Debra has sung most of the lyric coloratura repertoire with great success. The fact that she is a wonderful colleague is another matter.<br /><br />Garrie Davislim has spent most of his career in Vienna, Milan and guesting in Germany singing most of the lead romantic tenor roles of his Fach. A graduate of the National Opera Studio he is a perfect Alfred and a very believable 'lover' of our Rosalinda, Sarah Redgwick.<br /><br />I will stop babbling on and let you enjoy the film.<br /><br />Wait until you here Ana sing...London Lyric Operahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00968609631843980059noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5234406567785193197.post-9457718098173164102009-06-06T07:59:00.000-07:002009-06-06T10:26:18.368-07:00Strauss' Waltz of Marriage: Sin, Satire and Spin...<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Special e Offer to London Lyric Opera friends. </span> <span style="font-weight: bold;">Quote "LLO160609" to get a 20% discount on all ticket prices</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_azmu70Qsjpg/SiqNVpU4u0I/AAAAAAAAAGY/6rwsBkeBJ48/s1600-h/DieFledermaus_Illustration_Final.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 328px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_azmu70Qsjpg/SiqNVpU4u0I/AAAAAAAAAGY/6rwsBkeBJ48/s400/DieFledermaus_Illustration_Final.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5344239310838741826" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Our performances of <a href="http://bit.ly/Ti1hz">Die Fledermaus</a> at <a href="http://www.cadoganhall.com/">Cadogan Hall</a> begin in 10 days. First performance at 7pm on <a href="http://bit.ly/Ti1hz">Tuesday 16th June</a> & the second on <a href="http://bit.ly/pPNuR">Friday 19th June.</a> Soloist rehearsals begin tomorrow and the Sitzprobe with the <a href="http://www.rpo.co.uk/">Royal Philharmonic Orchestra </a>and <a href="http://www.philharmoniachorus.co.uk/">Philharmonia Chorus</a> is on Sunday 14th...we are literally in the home straight.<br /><br />Can't wait to see it all come together. Must admit hearing <a href="http://bit.ly/ISWuV">Leslie Howard </a>playing Liszt's Hungarian Fantasy will be fantastic. His rehearsal with Madeleine went extremely well...it will be quite a concert.<br /><br />More about Leslies involvement <a href="http://bit.ly/dtSVe">here</a><br /><br /><br /><br />Below is the article which our conductor, <a href="http://bit.ly/CIj3Y">Madeleine Lovell</a> has written for the programme. For those of you who don't know this operetta this is a very helpful and enjoyable form of introduction.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Strauss' Waltz of Marriage: Sin, Satire and Spin</span><br /><br />After 135 glorious years as a mainstay of the operatic repertoire, it is all too easy to take Johann Strauss II’s Die Fledermaus a little for granted. The warm familiarity of the score can perhaps endanger our appreciation of Haffner’s and Génee’s well-aimed satire – on marriage, fidelity, mid-life crisis, the aspiring actress, the self aggrandizing tenor, and the sore loser – when, in truth, Strauss’ music provides the perfect foil. It is hard to imagine a musical setting more focused on awkwardness and discomfort.<br /><br />While calling upon all the stock-intrades of comedy – mistaken identity, the battle of the sexes, class-warfare, as well as the requisite happy ending – Strauss never loses sight of the emotional core of the action. Consider, for example, the giddy succession of new themes in the Finale of Act 1 (the trio for Alfred, Rosalinda and Frank), spiralling out of control just as management of the situation spins away from Rosalinda. The middle portion of this Finale (‘Dear Sir, what can you think of me?’ … ‘It’s getting late, we’re tête-à-tête’) reveals what Rosalinda is trying her best to conceal, with a vocal line whose potential urbanity is undermined by sudden leaps, awkward breaks and deliberately fussy grace notes. She uses the sophistication of the waltz to paper over her anxiety.<br /><br />The underlying menace of Orlofsky is suggested in a similar way. The vocal register of Chacun à son gout, largely based around the lower-middle part of the voice, suddenly erupts into the highest part of a mezzo’s range. Strauss’ music uncovers the erratic nature of this Prince, and, through remarkable use of the high part of the voice (whose timbre will, inevitably, be very penetrating) in this aria and throughout Act 2, shows us a domineering character.<br /><br /><div><embed src="http://static.issuu.com/webembed/viewers/style1/v1/IssuuViewer.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" menu="false" quality="high" scale="noscale" salign="l" flashvars="mode=embed&viewMode=presentation&layout=http%3A%2F%2Fskin.issuu.com%2Fv%2Fcolor%2Flayout.xml&backgroundColor=A4112B&showFlipBtn=true&autoFlip=true&autoFlipTime=6000&documentId=090512141820-067ffe5c524b4b0cb0105df460148738&docName=llo_die_fledermaus_flyer&username=LondonLyricOpera&loadingInfoText=Die%20Fledermaus%20Flyer&et=1244308207168&er=59" style="width:300px;height:424px" name="flashticker" align="middle"></embed><div style="width:300px;text-align:left;"><a href="http://issuu.com/LondonLyricOpera/docs/llo_die_fledermaus_flyer?mode=embed&viewMode=presentation&layout=http%3A%2F%2Fskin.issuu.com%2Fv%2Fcolor%2Flayout.xml&backgroundColor=A4112B&showFlipBtn=true&autoFlip=true&autoFlipTime=6000" target="_blank">Open publication</a> - Free <a href="http://issuu.com" target="_blank">publishing</a> - <a href="http://issuu.com/search?q=wardour" target="_blank">More wardour</a></div></div><br /><br />Power play is also at the heart of Rosalinda’s Act 2 show-stopper Csárdás. Supposedly the moment at which Eisenstein’s wife is least sincere, Strauss produces music of unparalleled beauty and emotional strength. Her impersonation of a Hungarian Countess ceases to be an exercise in fabulous fakery (unlike, for instance, Adele’s Audition Aria) and becomes instead a lament for the marriage that she has just seen falling apart. This mesmeric music, with its virtuoso display of the singer’s legato line and dazzling coloratura, makes us appreciate the depths of Rosalinda’s character. This in turn sheds light on why Eisenstein in the end cannot live without her.<br /><br />Eisenstein’s short temper, and the associated issue of his violent jealousy, are brilliantly evoked in trios at either end of the opera. The Act 1 Trio with Rosalinda and Blind begins noisily as Eisenstein storms in, biting out his criticism of his incompetent lawyer, and barely letting anyone else get a word in. Despite Rosalinda’s best efforts to calm him with two passages of soothing Andante, Eisenstein’s bad mood shows no sign of abating. Blind’s ill-conceived and long-winded description of how he will sort things out merely tips him over the edge. Strauss demonstrates an equally masterful handling of pace in the Act 3 Trio for Eisenstein, Rosalinda and Alfred. Time and again Eisenstein’s short fuse looks set to sabotage his ambush of his ‘unfaithful wife’ as he cannot stop his own horrified outbursts as more details of the story are revealed. The sheer rhythmic force of the final section, as well as the contrast between a heavily accented three-note ascent high in the voice (‘Ei-sen-stein’) followed by a legato four-note descent low in the voice (‘though I was cheated’) drives this Trio to its breathless conclusion. Strauss, of course, last used this music at the beginning of the Overture, cleverly rounding off the opera by identifying its main musical theme with the belligerent<br />main character.<br /><br />No account of Strauss’ handling of pace in Die Fledermaus would be complete, however, without mention of the descent into paralytic drunkeness that is the multi-sectional Act 2 Finale. What begins with a champagne toast, quickly dissolves into hiccups and a joyous collective decision to invade one another’s most personal space. The lurching theme of the final section shows us the revellers in the last stages of intoxication. Bacchus would have approved.<br /><br /><br />© Madeleine Lovell<br />Queens’ College Cambridge<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_azmu70Qsjpg/SiqOasDrg_I/AAAAAAAAAGg/Rh5kUzECpI0/s1600-h/Madeleine_Lovell_Fidelio.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 394px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_azmu70Qsjpg/SiqOasDrg_I/AAAAAAAAAGg/Rh5kUzECpI0/s400/Madeleine_Lovell_Fidelio.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5344240496982852594" border="0" /></a>Please don't forget our Fledermaus launch concert at Vernon Ellis' House 49 Queen's Gate Terrace. Monday 8th June. 7 - 7.30pm.<br /><br />As usual we have pulled out all the stops with appearances by Sarah Redgwick, Rosalinda singing the Czardas; Ana James, Adele will sing the Audition Aria; Simon Thorpe, Falke will sing the famous Bruederlein and Lise Christensen, Orlofsky will sing Orlofsky's famous aria.<br /><br />Plus 30 members of the Philharmonia Chorus who will sing the final champagne chorus. A wonderful way to spend a summers evening. Madeleine Lovell will conduct and give a short talk about the piece, with Margaret Marinkovic on the piano.<br /><br />Fine wines and canapes will be served. Seats are still available please book <a href="http://bit.ly/Sncbu">here</a><br /><br />Please email us at info@londonlyricopera.com if you would like any further information.<br /><br /></div>London Lyric Operahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00968609631843980059noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5234406567785193197.post-9632469039109076372009-06-04T04:55:00.000-07:002009-06-04T05:09:15.581-07:00Philharmonia Chorus rehearsing Die Fledermaus<object width="340" height="285"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube-nocookie.com/v/rFMIXRTP9M0&hl=en&fs=1&color1=0x5d1719&color2=0xcd311b&border=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube-nocookie.com/v/rFMIXRTP9M0&hl=en&fs=1&color1=0x5d1719&color2=0xcd311b&border=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="340" height="285"></embed></object><br /><br />Last night I popped in to watch the penultimate <a href="http://www.philharmoniachorus.co.uk/">Philharmonia Chorus</a> rehearsal before the Conductor's call next week. It is wonderful to hear the music sung with such joy. This was recorded off the cuff with a very small camera but the results are pretty good. The Chorus Master/ Philharmonia Artistic Director is <a href="http://www.edwardcaswell.co.uk/">Edward Caswell</a> ably assisted by Stephen Rose on the piano.<br /><br />All other plans are going well but the complexity of mounting a production at this level never ceases to amaze me. Rehearsals for the principals start in earnest next week with the <a href="http://bit.ly/Sncbu">Vernon Ellis</a><br />event on Monday the 8th at 49 Queen's Gate Terrace as a taster for our friends and sponsors.<br /><br />Tickets are still available.<br /><br />I hope this will tempt more of you to come to our performances.London Lyric Operahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00968609631843980059noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5234406567785193197.post-87631360087919943282009-05-23T16:33:00.001-07:002009-05-23T16:33:57.248-07:00Die Fledermaus Flyer<div><object style="width:420px;height:594px"><param name="movie" value="http://static.issuu.com/webembed/viewers/style1/v1/IssuuViewer.swf?mode=embed&viewMode=presentation&layout=http%3A%2F%2Fskin.issuu.com%2Fv%2Fcolor%2Flayout.xml&backgroundColor=A4112B&showFlipBtn=true&autoFlip=true&autoFlipTime=6000&documentId=090512141820-067ffe5c524b4b0cb0105df460148738&docName=llo_die_fledermaus_flyer&username=LondonLyricOpera&loadingInfoText=Die%20Fledermaus%20Flyer&et=1243121524053&er=39"><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true"><param name="menu" value="false"><embed src="http://static.issuu.com/webembed/viewers/style1/v1/IssuuViewer.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" menu="false" style="width:420px;height:594px" flashvars="mode=embed&viewMode=presentation&layout=http%3A%2F%2Fskin.issuu.com%2Fv%2Fcolor%2Flayout.xml&backgroundColor=A4112B&showFlipBtn=true&autoFlip=true&autoFlipTime=6000&documentId=090512141820-067ffe5c524b4b0cb0105df460148738&docName=llo_die_fledermaus_flyer&username=LondonLyricOpera&loadingInfoText=Die%20Fledermaus%20Flyer&et=1243121524053&er=39"></embed></object><div style="width:420px;text-align:left;"><a href="http://issuu.com/LondonLyricOpera/docs/llo_die_fledermaus_flyer?mode=embed&viewMode=presentation&layout=http%3A%2F%2Fskin.issuu.com%2Fv%2Fcolor%2Flayout.xml&backgroundColor=A4112B&showFlipBtn=true&autoFlip=true&autoFlipTime=6000" target="_blank">Open publication</a> - Free <a href="http://issuu.com" target="_blank">publishing</a> - <a href="http://issuu.com/search?q=wardour" target="_blank">More wardour</a></div></div>London Lyric Operahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00968609631843980059noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5234406567785193197.post-45613263930631493422009-05-22T03:28:00.000-07:002009-05-22T03:58:29.295-07:00LLO on Bachtrack<a href="http://www.bachtrack.com/find-an-opera/Where/venue=67;composer=105-Strauss-II"><img src="http://www.bachtrack.com/images/bachtrack-find-us-240x60.gif" alt="Find London events on Bachtrack" /></a><br /><br />Yesterday I had a long chat with Alison Karlin, Founder of the UK's newest concert search engine/resource <a href="http://www.bachtrack.com/">Bachtrach.com</a> subsequently I registered LLO and entered the concert details for Die Fledermaus <a href="http://www.bachtrack.com/find-an-opera/Where/venue=67-Cadogan-Hall">here</a>. Terrific site as it gives so much detailed information about the concerts and provides us with another way to find our audience. We wish them well.London Lyric Operahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00968609631843980059noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5234406567785193197.post-62993637138518776912009-05-19T03:08:00.000-07:002009-05-19T03:10:58.758-07:00LLO Die Fledermaus - Press Release<div><object style="width: 420px; height: 544px;"><param name="movie" value="http://static.issuu.com/webembed/viewers/style1/v1/IssuuViewer.swf?mode=embed&viewMode=presentation&layout=http%3A%2F%2Fskin.issuu.com%2Fv%2Fcolor%2Flayout.xml&backgroundColor=000000&showFlipBtn=true&documentId=090519100029-4193c2416a334d509f9abb934bb2f087&docName=llo_fledermaus_press_release_19may09&username=LondonLyricOpera&loadingInfoText=London_Lyric_Opera_Press_Release_Die_Fledermaus&et=1242727691409&er=44"><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true"><param name="menu" value="false"><embed src="http://static.issuu.com/webembed/viewers/style1/v1/IssuuViewer.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" menu="false" style="width: 420px; height: 544px;" flashvars="mode=embed&viewMode=presentation&layout=http%3A%2F%2Fskin.issuu.com%2Fv%2Fcolor%2Flayout.xml&backgroundColor=000000&showFlipBtn=true&documentId=090519100029-4193c2416a334d509f9abb934bb2f087&docName=llo_fledermaus_press_release_19may09&username=LondonLyricOpera&loadingInfoText=London_Lyric_Opera_Press_Release_Die_Fledermaus&et=1242727691409&er=44"></embed></object><div style="width: 420px; text-align: left;"><a href="http://issuu.com/LondonLyricOpera/docs/llo_fledermaus_press_release_19may09?mode=embed&viewMode=presentation&layout=http%3A%2F%2Fskin.issuu.com%2Fv%2Fcolor%2Flayout.xml&backgroundColor=000000&showFlipBtn=true" target="_blank">Open publication</a> - Free <a href="http://issuu.com/" target="_blank">publishing</a> - <a href="http://issuu.com/search?q=press%20release" target="_blank">More press release</a></div></div>London Lyric Operahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00968609631843980059noreply@blogger.com0