Jane’s autumn music guide 2 – opera

Discover the astonishing power of opera this autumn with English Touring Opera’s productions at the Gala Theatre.

A disturbing day of madness: DOE Figaro

Durham Opera Ensemble’s first production at the Gala Theatre takes Mozart’s great opera “The Marriage of Figaro” to the sixties in a production that brought out the uncomfortable truths behind the riotous comedy.

DUCS: Rowarth and Mozart

Ben Rowarth’s “Christus: A Passiontide Sequence” is a powerful and provocative new approach to the story of Christ’s Passion, combining imaginative writing with a firm grounding in musical history. This startling new work was combined with an energetic performance of Mozart’s Requiem, sung by the Durham University Choral Society and Chamber Choir, conducted by Mike Summers.

Guest review: Liz Watford on Parnassius Piano Duo

Guest reviewer Liz Watford of the Durham Amateur Pianists group reviews the Parnassius Piano duo performing at Durham University Music Department.

DOE: The Magic Flute

Durham Opera Ensemble put on a touching, witty and thoroughly entertaining performance of Mozart’s final opera, “The Magic Flute”.

English Touring Opera Durham dates

English Touring Opera’s make their Spring visit to the Gala Theatre on 19 and 20 May – details are now on my listings. They’re doing Magic Flute and Tippet’s King Priam. I’d quite like to see their production of the Magic Flute, and the trailer looks great fun (there’s a link on my listing page) […]

DUCS to perform new Ben Rowarth work

An exciting bit of news landed in my in-box on Friday evening: the next Durham University Choral Society concert will include the first performance of a new commissioned work by recent Durham graduate Ben Rowarth. It’s called “Christus: A Passion Sequence” and is for chorus and soloists, accompanied by strings and harp.  It sounds as […]