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Swansea City Opera

March 2023. Dates for the second mini-tour of Swansea City Opera's new opera have just been confirmed. A total of seven extra performances will take place across Wales, with me at the helm for six of them. Full details can be found on the Diary page of this website, or at www.swanseacityopera.com .

Ensemble Eos. Sadly, the world premiere of the Christopher Weeks Concerto for Violin and Chamber Orchestra has had to be postponed. The new date will be confirmed as soon as possible.

Ensemble Eos

December 2022. Ensemble Eos with Robert Atchison gave the world premier of Serenade: Nocturne: Alba - part of Chrisopher Weeks' concerto for Violin and Chamber Orchestra - back in April (2022). Chris has now finished writing the concerto, and the first complete performance will be given in April 2023, with Robert Atchison again as soloist (and me conducting). An informal performance on April 28th will be followed by a more formal one on the 29th, in a concert also to include works by Mozart, Mendelssohn and Beethoven.

Swansea City Opera

Also this month, rumours have started circulating that Swansea City Opera's new opera-cum-musical about Men's Sheds may be returning for more performances in autumn 2023 (details tbc). If you would like to sample the flavour of the show, then check out https://www.dropbox.com/s/lqmge81fsmngkue/PROMO_2.mp4?dl=0 or - for a shorter excerpt - try https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VJJuHZUB9wY .

Shoulder to Shoulder

Swansea City Opera - Shoulder to Shoulder

July 2022. A long associate with Swansea City Opera will continue this autumn; John has just been engaged to conduct the first performances of a new opera called Shoulder to Shoulder.

Backed by a grant from the Arts Council of Wales, the opera is centred around - and created in association with - the organisation Men's Sheds Cymru, which provides supportive, welcoming spaces for socially disadvantaged men (and women). At the various 'sheds', they can make new friends and develop new skills in a mutually supportive environment

The opera features a brand new libretto by Brendan Wheatley, which reflects both the struggles that members have encountered, as well as conveying the strength and humour with which they have confronted their life situations. An attractive and imaginative score composed by Lenny Sayers will be performed by professional soloists and local community choruses, accompanied by a professional instrumental ensemble.

Learn More

Further information about the Shoulder to Shoulder project can be found at www.swanseacityopera.com/productions/shoulder-to-shoulder

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Redhill Sinfonia - Come and Play

June 2022. Every so often, Redhill Sinfonia like to have a day when they play through some epic repertoire that they might not otherwise programme for a concert. The next such event is planned for 7th January 2023, and the orchestra have just confirmed the repertoire that will be tackled: Respighi's The Pines of Rome and the suite from Richard Strauss' opera Der Rosenkavalier.

The event is open to non-members. Details can be found at www.redhillsinfonia.org.uk where the contact form can be used to express an interest in taking part.

Latest News

Swansea City Opera

Ensemble Eos

Swansea City Opera

Shoulder to Shoulder

Swansea City Opera - Shoulder to Shoulder

Learn More

Redhill Sinfonia - Come and Play

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