Sing opera during prestigious season (From Bucks Free Press)

Sing opera during prestigious season

3:00pm Friday 8th February 2013 in Freetime By Rebecca Cain

FANCY yourself as the next Andrea Bocelli or Maria Callas? Then now is your chance to perform at a prestigious opera in Stokenchurch this year.

A community opera is coming together and is in its final stages to make this year one to remember.

The world famous Garsington Opera moved to the Wormsley estate near Stokenchurch two years ago.

And this year the first large scale community opera will be performed in the Opera Pavilion in July as part of the opera's season.

More than 180 people will be on stage, ranging from school children to senior citizens drawn from the community working alongside professional opera singers, musicians, directors, designers, choreographers, stage managers and technicians. This is the first time an opera has been commissioned by Garsington Opera.

Two final recruitment workshops for will be held on Saturday, February 23 from 11am to 4pm (12-18 year olds) and on Sunday, February 24 from 11am to 4pm (adults) at Stokenchurch Primary School, George Road, Stokenchurch HP14 3RN.

It is free to take part. Email communityopera@garsingtonopera.org to sign up or ring 07709 871133.

The satirist, Richard Stilgoe, co-writer of Starlight Express and Cats, together with composer Orlando Gough, has been commissioned to create the hour long opera. A funny, quirky and political piece has now been created after initial workshops.

Richard Stilgoe said: "One minute you are on the M40 being dive bombed by red kites; the next you are in the peace and beauty of Wormsley, surrounded by ancient trees.

This contrast has been our starting point in which a community (village) stands up and sits down for what it believes in.

"Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire must feel it has been singled out for transport schemes - the Romans built the Icknield Way through it, the Georgians dug the Grand Union Canal, the 20th century drove the motorway through the chalk hills and the 21st century threatens HS2. We took this idea to the groups we visited and their reactions were diverse and powerfully expressed.

"So this is a story about how a huge road scheme divides a community not only physically but socially, as they battle over the appropriate level of protest and deal with internal arguments, incoming professional protesters, rent-a-crowd and the media. How do you use the village’s people, wildlife and archaeology to prevent or alter the government’s plans?

"If and when the road is built, will life in the village ever be the same? Meanwhile, watching this and interested only in whether the new road will bring more food, are the red kites."

It will be part of the 2013 season and take place in the award winning Opera Pavilion on July 19 and 20.

For more details go to www.garsingtonopera.org