Q&A When did you start singing? As a professional at 19 thanks to being chucked out of the Guildhall. I always sang as a child.Why did you start singing? I simply loved it. I grew up with no tv and only classical music played at home. My parents were wonderful at taking us to opera. I saw Sutherland, Price, Gobbi and so on at a very young age. I decided to be a … [Read more...] about Rebecca Caine answers the Gramilano Questionnaire… Singers’ Edition
Opera North
Opera North’s Beached goes on: “The good news is that it happened at all”
The Lee Hall/Opera North community opera has finally had its showing. The Guardian, commented on the viral storm that surrounded it: Though there are traces of Britten in the score, it's not the dark, sexualised world of Peter Grimes or Death in Venice, but the innocuous holiday atmosphere of Albert Herring. So we can relax then (though I don't think that anyone imagnied it … [Read more...] about Opera North’s Beached goes on: “The good news is that it happened at all”
What it means to be in Opera North’s community opera…
After all the controversy the Opera North community project "Beached" is finally coming together. Participants aged from 4 to 73 talk about their experience so far:Reception, Bay Primary School‘Sea creatures’Pippa, age 5 (Barnacle) ‘its excellent, really really exciting.’Destiny, age 5 (Jellyfish) ‘I enjoy it when we stand up on the stage.’Bailey, age 5 … [Read more...] about What it means to be in Opera North’s community opera…
A fresh wind from the north: Lee Hall and Opera North’s Bridlington community opera will go ahead as planned
Opera North today announces that the community opera, Beached, by Harvey Brough to a text by Lee Hall, is continuing as planned. Here is the statement from their blog: We have been at pains to work closely with the writers at all times, and have supported their rights of artistic expression throughout. We have also worked equally hard to ensure that the schools and … [Read more...] about A fresh wind from the north: Lee Hall and Opera North’s Bridlington community opera will go ahead as planned
A gay painter, an outraged headmistress, and Billy Elliott’s literary dad: opera and homophobia up north
Lee Hall, the creator of Billy Elliott, has caused a Twitter storm accusing Opera North of being homophobic. He is the librettist of 'Bleached', an exciting project based in Bridlington, East Yorkshire, to create a new community opera as a major part of Opera North’s two-year project with the seaside town. His brief was to think: Benjamin Britten, the seaside, inclusivity and … [Read more...] about A gay painter, an outraged headmistress, and Billy Elliott’s literary dad: opera and homophobia up north