Flashmob the Opera II - Sheffield
This just in from the BBC… Following the first live opera on BBC Three which took place amidst commuters in one of Britain’s busiest railway stations, a brand new flashmob opera will be live on Thursday April 7 at 20.00 from another spectacular public space in Sheffield.
The Story is a contemporary spin on the legend of Faust, a doctor who made a pact with the devil. Sophie Faust is a high flyer who has sacrificed fulfilment and happiness in her private life in a relentless and ambitious career. On the night, the devil turns up to demand payment - and failure means death…
The music comes from well-known music from popular operas such as Madam Butterfly, Carmen and La Boheme, arranged by Robert Ziegler, who will conduct the BBC Concert Orchestra live at the venue. Tony Bicat is writing new English lyrics, and the scenario is by Stephen Powell. With BBC Three’s notable flair for innovation, the music lyrics that the flashmob sing are available to download.
Patrick O’Connell is the host / presenter. Patrick co-presents the BBC3 coverage for “Eurovision Song Contest”, appears as a regular panellist on BBC3’s new quiz series “HeadJam”.
Mark Stone [Baritone] plays Richard, the Devil. In 2005, he sings Guglielmo and Rossini’s Figaro at ENO, the title role of Eugene Onegin for Opera Holland Park and makes his debut at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden singing Sonora in ‘La Fanciulla del West’.
Rebecca Von Lipinski [Soprano] plays Sophie Faust. Future plans include Karin in The Bitter Tears of Petra von Kant for English National Opera, and Countess in Le nozze di Figaro for Grange Park Opera.
Peter Auty [Tenor] plays Danny, the security guard. He is rapidly establishing himself as one of Britain’s leading tenors. He made his professional debut at Opera North in 1998/9 performing the role of Remendado (Carmen) and returned to Opera North in 2001/2 as Rodolfo in their much acclaimed production of La Boheme. Future plans include Nationale Reisopera in 2006 to sing his first Des Grieux / Manon. But many will remember him as a child singing Walking in the Air from The Snowman soundtrack.
Cantamus, a choir consisting of 43 girls aged between 13 and 19, has achieved unprecedented international acclaim from critics and adjudicators throughout its career. Pamela Cook formed the choir in 1968 and remains its director. The choir has won 16 first prizes in international choral competitions, including the Grand Prix award at the Riva del Garda Festival, Sainsbury’s Choir of the Year (twice), Choir of the World at the Llangollen Eisteddfod and Olympic Champions at the World Choir Olympics.
Sheffield Teachers’ Operatic Society, community chorus, has been producing community musical theatre productions in Sheffield for over 100 years. Originally formed by teachers to bring Gilbert & Sullivan works to the region, it now attracts talented members from all walks of life to take part in shows such as Spend Spend Spend and The Witches of Eastwick. You can believe Sheffield Teachers’ Operatic have enjoyed doing it. Extremely well, it should be said.” (Sheffield Telegraph)
Alasdair Malloy, the principal percussionist of the BBC Concert Orchestra, is running 3 percussion workshops for local schoolchildren. The children will appear at the climax of our story, playing percussion - with the difference that they will be using the vast building itself like a huge percussion instrument.
Ron Howell, choreographer & movement director, currently working with the Birmingham Opera Company, will run workshops to teach everyone the steps, accompanied by the BBC Concert Orchestra, playing the famous tune from Prokofiev’s Romeo & Juliet (Suite 2, No 1).
Phil Chilvers, award-winning television director, whose work includes directing events from London, Japan, China, Germany and Spain.
After the event
Also from the the Beeb
You can now sign up to the SMS on 88822.
It will tell you the date and town of the flashmob service.
more info here:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/bbcthree/flashmob/flashmob.shtml
So there you go - sms the Beeb and they will tell you what you can read above… In fairness though I think they will be giving out more info nearer the time - place and hour perhaps.
