Hannah Pedley will be starring at Oxford Opera's triumphant return on Sunday

There will be magic in the air when Oxford Opera bounces back this Sunday with a special concert at Oxford Playhouse at 3pm and 7pm.

A Night at the Opera – Making Magic takes place at Oxford Playhouse on Sunday November 7 to mark the company’s triumphant return to the stage following the pandemic, as well as celebrating the glorious world of opera.

“book your tickets and help to create some opera magic!”

Anthony Flaum

“It’s essentially going to be an opera Top of the Pops,” says Stuart Pendred, who founded Oxford Opera in 2018. “We’re using it as a relaunch really, to say we’re back, we’ve survived, and to keep opera alive in Oxford. It’s very exciting because it will be our first live performance in two years.

The two 80-minute performances, both without interval, will feature operatic favourites by Mozart, Bizet and Puccini, amongst others. 

The soloists are South African soprano Caroline Modiba, mezzo Hannah Pedley (who sang the title role in Oxford Opera’s Carmen two years ago), tenor Anthony Flaum (who will be singing Tamino in next year’s The Magic Flute), baritone Felix Kemp (due to sing Papageno in The Magic Flute) and Stuart himself, a bass baritone. 

The soloists will be joined by the Oxford Opera Children’s Chorus, led by Susan Glaisher.

Felix Kemp by Eivind Hansen

Legendary British soprano Susan Bullock CBE – who has sung with English National Opera, Royal Opera, Metropolitan Opera and at the BBC Last Night of the Proms, among others, and is one of Oxford Opera’s patrons – will also be attending.

The occasion also marks the launch of the 16-strong Oxford Opera Orchestra, conducted by the Oxford-based, young and talented John Warner.

Hannah Pedley

Despite the setbacks of the last 18 months, Stuart is enthusiastic and optimistic about the company’s future. The next main production, of course, is The Magic Flute, which takes place on April 1-3 at the Oxford Playhouse.

“It will be the same model as we did for La Boheme and Carmen – three full performances and a mini matinee. We were really encouraged by the response to that model – clearly there is an appetite for it within Oxford,” Stuart says.

Stuart Pendred of Oxford Opera

First, though, there’s Sunday’s opera gala to enjoy – so book your tickets and help to create some opera magic!

A Night at the Opera – Making Magic is at the Oxford Playhouse on 7th November, 3pm and 7pm. Details and ticketswww.oxfordplayhouse.com/events/a-night-at-the-opera-making-magic

For more information about Oxford Opera, visit https://oxfordopera.uk

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