20 Opera Companies Join Forces to Launch UK Opera Association

A new organization representing the UK’s opera sector, the UK Opera Association (UKOA), has officially launched, uniting 20 founding companies to advocate for opera’s future and strengthen its presence across the country. UKOA, which was founded by Birmingham Opera Company, British Youth Opera, Buxton International Festival, English National Opera, English Touring Opera, Garsington Opera, The Grange Festival, Glyndebourne, Longborough Festival {…}

Oct 9, 2025

OperaUpClose to Tour Reimagined ‘Gianni Schicchi’ Production

OperaUpClose will tour a new production of Puccini’s “Gianni Schicchi,” across the UK in Spring 2026. The new take on the opera, renamed to “Gianni Schicchi (or Where There’s a Will),” is reimagined in English language by writer Hannah Kumari and composer Vahan Salorianand features six singers and a chamber ensemble. It will be directed by PJ Harris and stars {…}

Feb 21, 2025

OperaUpClose 2025 Review: Riders To The Sea

(Photo: Rich Southgate) Those members of the audience who were looking forward to OperaUpClose’s new production of Vaughan-Williams’ one-act opera, “Riders to the Sea,” or had been attracted by the chance of seeing a musical representation of J.M. Synge’s play of the same name, on which the opera is based and follows closely, may well have been somewhat surprised. The {…}

Nov 29, 2023

OperaUpClose Launches Campaign in Support of the UK’s Coastal Community Choirs

In support of coastal community choirs across the UK, OperaUpClose has launched a Big Give Christmas match-funding campaign. The company’s goal is to raise crucial funds to support their work with coastal community choirs. This new project is a significant development of OperaUpClose’s long-term commitment to community engagement. As part of a major new touring production in partnership with MAST {…}

May 4, 2023

OperaUpClose & Manchester Camerata Present New Version of ‘The Flying Dutchman’ on Tour

OperaUpClose and Manchester Camerata will present a new production of Wagner’s “The Flying Dutchman” on a UK tour this summer. English novelist and poet Glyn Maxwell reworked the libretto for Laura Bowler and Robin Wallington’s 8-piece chamber orchestration of Wagner’s classic. Under the stage direction of Lucy Bradley performers, instrumentalists, and singers will all reside on the stage, breaking the {…}

Nov 7, 2022

OperaUpClose to Receive Support from Arts Council England

OperaUpClose will be part of the Arts Council England National Funding Portfolio starting in the Spring of 2023. The company’s 2023 season will kick off with a new version of Wagner’s “The Flying Dutchman,” as well as development and community outreach revolving around “Riders to the Sea” by Vaughan Williams. The company also aims to develop a paid Young Associate {…}

Sep 23, 2022

OperaUpClose Announces New Artistic Director

OperaUpClose in the UK has announced that Flora McIntosh will be its new artistic director. She will take over the role for Robin Norton Hale who is set to take over the position of General Director at English Touring Opera. McIntosh, who took on an advisory role with the company as an Artistic Associate in 2019, is a performer, facilitator, {…}

Oct 26, 2021

OperaUpClose Announces New Executive Producer

U.K.- based company OperaUpClose has announced that Morag Massey will be the organization’s new Executive Producer. Massey was previously the Executive Director at Bristol’s Shakespeare at the Tobacco Factor and produced several works including “Henry V,” and “Otello.” She has also worked as Marketing Manager for Circomedia, researcher for BBC Radio 4, and as a freelance journalist and editor. “We’re {…}

Sep 4, 2021

OperaUpClose Announces ‘Concerts in the Café: Shakespeare Re-Shaped’

OperaUpClose has announced its upcoming “Concerts in the Café: Shakespeare Re-Shaped” on Sept. 27 and 28, 2021. The showcase will feature music by Woolfenden, Gounod, Verdi, Coleridge Taylor, Kat Rose-Martin, Finzi, and Berlioz inspired by Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet,” “Measure for Measure,” and “Much Ado About Nothing.” The cast for the concert will include soprano Claire Wild, actor and writer {…}

Jul 1, 2021

OperaUpClose Announces New ‘Flying Dutchman’ Production for 2022

UK-based OperaUpClose has announced that it will be teaming up with Manchester Camerata to produce a new production of Wagner’s iconic “The Flying Dutchman.” The production, which will be in an all-new English language version, will be re-imagined for four singers and an eight-piece chamber ensemble by composer Laura Bowler and librettist, novelist, and poet Glyn Maxwell. The company is {…}

May 22, 2021

OperaUpClose Announces New Residency in Southampton

OperaUpClose has announced that it will become a resident company at MAST Mayflower Studios in Southampton, U.K. The company started its development with the studio back in 2017 for its production of “The Magic Flute.” That was followed by a partnership in 2019 for “La Bohème,” followed by a production of “Madama Butterfly” in 2020, one week before live performances {…}

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