Opera South

Latest news: 15th April 2008

Tom Hawkes to produce Martha

Opera South has announced that Tom Hawkes, stage director for The Bohemian Girl, has agreed to return to direct Martha in February 2009.

This is such hot news that it has not even made the newsletter currently going out to members and friends. Vanessa Blaber, Company Secretary of Opera South, says: "Tom's agreement to return is great news. We are all delighted."

Acclaimed production February 2008

The major production The Bohemian Girl was a great success. After the last performance on the evening of Saturday 23rd February, the Chairman Anthony Ramsden congratulated and thanked all concerned. In addition to the cast (principals and chorus), crew, musical and stage directors, front of house helpers, and other company volunteers, those present included Dr Valerie Langfield, whose huge undertaking it had been to produce the new edition of the opera score on which was based the one used in performances. Also present at all performances at Haslemere Hall was a representative of The Balfe Archive, who had information about the composer, and stocks of the few available CD recordings of Balfe's music, on sale.

Balfe gathering

On Monday 14th January 2008 there was a gathering at Drury Lane Theatre in London to mark the start of celebrating the 200th anniversary of Michael William Balfe, of whom the theatre houses a large statue. Representatives of Opera South met guests including John Carter of The Balfe Archive and opera critic Charles Osborne. See the photo gallery of this event. As you can see there, Balfe is in august company, the other statues in the theatre representing Shakespeare, Garrick, and Edmund Kean.

Twelfth Night Celebration

The Twelfth Night Celebration concert on Saturday 5th January 2008 was also a great success.

Have a look at the gallery of photos of performers and some of the guests enjoying this evening at the Georgian House Hotel in Haslemere.

Office Opening Reception

On 13th December 2007 Opera South celebrated the move into its office at Wispers School (see below) with a small reception, which was attended by patrons and friends including the Mayor and Mayoress Of Waverley, Maurice and Mary Byham, and Mr and Mrs Monier-Williams. View photos

From the company newsletter, August 2007

Geoffrey Ramsden, 1917–2007

First of all, I have to report the sad news of the death of Geoffrey Ramsden, a founder member of the Opera Company, and over the years Treasurer, Chairman and President. He died in June and we all miss his wise counsel and friendship. He was proud of Opera South and its achievements and would be delighted to know of the treats in store for all of us during the next few months.

Opera South has an office at last

Since March, the company has been setting up a separate office for Opera South. We have been fortunate to rent a large room at Wispers School, which is completely self-contained, and we are gradually moving all our records out of Moyra Finlay's house and into their new home. We have been enabled to do this by Awards for All — a Lottery funded organization — and we are very grateful for their grant which has enabled us to set it all up. The idea for this came from Moyra, who has retired (again) and now wants to reclaim her house. Michael Barnes took up the idea and it is thanks to him that we have achieved the goal. The office telephone number will be 01428 644716 and we hope to have it manned most weekday mornings, but otherwise an answer-phone will be in operation.

Our major production in February 2008

We have been busy on other fronts too. We have already held three auditions in London for singers for The Bohemian Girl. As usual, we will use our own up-to-date performing edition of the piece, prepared by Guy Davenport and Tom Higgins. Tom will also arrange and direct the music, train the chorus, and conduct the Guildford Philharmonic Orchestra. He will, I am sure, achieve his normal high standard.