Just when you thought the summer opera season was over, up pops Fingest Great Barn Opera near Henley with an enticing pair of operas across two weekends.
First up, on September 14 is Puccini’s Madama Butterfly– which includes the famous Humming Chorus – followed a week later by Rossini’s comedy L’Italiana in Algeri.
Both are sung in their original languages, with surtitles, and performed by Diva Opera, Fingest’s regular guest company since its formation by Sylvia Crowther in 2006.
“We really enjoyed working with Diva Opera from the start,” Sylvia says. “The music director, Bryan Evans, and his wife Anne Marabini Young, who is general director and a former opera singer herself, are the backbone of the company. They appoint a director for each production and audition singers.
“Certain singers appear often – tenor Ashley Catling, soprano Louise Mott and baritone Martin Lamb are in performances again this year, and Diva also gives some wonderful and upcoming young singers suitable roles so they can experience singing and performing to an audience.
The Great Barn, with its lovely old beams and rafters, has been converted into a 200-seater auditorium with superb acoustics.
“It’s a very intimate setting, which people really love as you feel involved in the action,” says Sylvia. “The performances are chamber opera with minimum scenery, as Diva gives performances in France, Jersey and Guernsey, as well as venues all over the UK.
“There is no orchestra, just Bryan Evans who accompanies, but he is such a fantastic pianist that you don’t really miss the orchestra, and he enables the singers to give their best performances – always completely in time and harmony. It’s very special, and the singers love it.”
An evening at Fingest is much like other summer opera festivals, with an extended interval for audiences to enjoy picnics either in the marquee or a side barn.
“People arrive with their picnics from 4.30pm and meet friends at their allocated picnic places, and usually have a snack and drinks before going into the Great Barn for the opera,” Sylvia explains.
“There is always a great atmosphere as the performances are really amazing.”
From the start, Fingest has been about raising money for charity.
“I wanted to raise money for a Foundation in memory of a dear friend, Professor David Baum, who was president of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health,” says Sylvia. “He was taking part in a sponsored cycle ride that he had organised to raise funds to send paediatricians to help in Kosovo at the end of the war. This was twenty years ago, in 1999.
“They set off from Buckingham Palace and were due to be met at Sandringham by Princess Anne, but he died suddenly of a heart attack on the way.
“The College set up a Memorial Fund and some fund raising activities were organised.
“A few years later my brother was honorary treasurer of the Stroke Association, and we went to a performance by Diva Opera in aid of that charity. We loved it and asked if they might come to Fingest, and that’s how it started.”
These days, Fingest performances support Child Bereavement UK and Action Medical Research for Children, and raffle tickets are sold during the evening to boost funds.
“Last year we raised £20K and we hope to do so again this time. We have some support from Gary Francis and Stephen Hayes of Beckhoff Automation in Henley, who have given £5K for the last couple of years to help with costs as they enjoy it so much.”
Madama Butterflyis at Fingest on September 14 and L’Italiana in Algerion September 21. For details and booking, visit www.fingestgreatbarnopera.co.uk.
By Nicola Lisle
