Bedfordshire Youth Opera

Please note that this page refers to the Bedfordshire Youth Opera run by Bedfordshire Music.

Contacted Lottie Greenhow: [email protected] for details on current productions and auditions.

Mozart's Magic Flute - 3 to 6 September 2014

Bedfordshire Youth Opera - The Magic Flute 2014 Bedfordshire Youth Opera is back with a brand new production of Mozart's classic fairytale 'The Magic Flute'. Tamino has been researching religious cults and secret societies, but someone seems to want to put a stop to his investigation. Will the Queen of the Night convince him to infiltrate the holy temples? Is Sarastro really the leader of a terrifying subculture? Is Papageno really half-man, half-bird? How deep does the conspiracy go? This talented company of young singers will take you into the inner sanctum as you follow the latest initiates through their exciting, and often very funny, adventures.

Wednesday 3 - Saturday 6 September 2014, 7:30pm

Bedfordshire Youth Opera has been encouraging young singers for 30 years and has provided inspiration for numerous Bedfordshire students. It has been the starting point for some of the very best operatic talent that the country has produced including Rachel Nicholls, Russell Matthews and Carolyn Sampson, and has performed a wide variety of operas including The Magic Flute, Candide, Dido and Aeneas and Sweeney Todd.

The company produces fully-staged productions every year accompanied by a full orchestra drawn from our best Youth Orchestra players. Each year begins with auditions held in January for young singers and technicians aged 14 – 25 who come from Bedfordshire. The intense rehearsal schedule then begins with four days at Easter, followed by three weeks over the summer holidays including a residential course and culminating in a week of performances at a local theatre early in September.

The Marriage of Figaro by Mozart, 2010

The Marriage of Figaro is one of the world's best loved operas. Based on Beaumarchais' play, it is a delightful mix of farce and melodrama tinged with tragedy and romance, heavily influenced by the Commedia dell'Arte tradition, all set to some of Mozart's most beautiful music. To celebrate their 30th Anniversary, Bedfordshire Youth Opera are revisiting this wonderful piece in a new production which promises to be both touching and very funny.
Read More about The Marriage of Figaro...

Reports and photos from previous course are available;

Along with the main production, we also produce a Schools’ Tour which has now become an essential part of the opera calendar. Over a 3 week period, a small group of performers travel around the County performing a different show each year to local schools, giving them an introduction to opera. It gives a section of performers from the main production a completely different experience, working on a small scale touring production building stamina, doing up to three performances a day. In 2008, the company totalled 41 performances in three weeks to over 8000 students, a huge achievement for the Youth Opera.

Die Fledermaus by Strauss, 2009

Our highly stylised version of this operetta told how the respected Dr. Falke obtained his exquisite revenge on his friend Baron von Eisenstein for a prank played on him. A party at Prince Orlofsky's house offered the opportunity he had been waiting for.......

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The performance was a huge success and gave a great insight into opera for anyone in the audience studying GCSE and A level music or drama, showing how the characters are brought to life through these two mediums. Along with the performances, we also offered question time to all upper/secondary schools with the company Director, further developing the educational aspect of the company.

Carmen by Bizet, 2008

Carmen transported us to a world of Spanish gypsies, soldiers, bullfighters and smugglers and is one of the most famous operas of all time. A tragic love story with an outspoken, brash female lead, it is filled with musical highlights, including the famous Habanera and Toreador songs.

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The production saw Rosie Middleton as Carmen, Matthew Kimble as Don José and Anthony Boutall as Escamillo, along with a full cast of 30.

A typical rehearsal schedule reads as follows:

January: auditions
February: casting confirmation
Easter: first week of musical rehearsals
August (second week): rehearsals start
August (third week): residential course for a week
August (fourth week): final week of rehearsals in the theatre
September: one week of performances from Monday - Saturday

Every effort is made to avoid clashes with public examinations, school, college and higher education commitments, Youth Orchestra courses and performances.