CURRENT PROJECTS...
La Périchole Taster Workshops
As part of our aim to develop relationships with more secondary schools, workshops based on La Périchole are taking place in Wycombe High, Sir William Borlase and The Missbourne Schools during Spring 2012.
Working with director Karen Gillingham and composer/music animateur Richard Taylor, students will explore the story, themes and music of Offenbach’s opera, composing and staging their original arias and chorus alongside Garsington Opera singers. Each group will also have the opportunity to visit the opera site to watch a rehearsal of La Périchole.
"What a fantastic day you gave the girls... the fact that they were 'with you' right up to the very end was a fantastic tribute to your enthusiasm, skill, talent and love of what you all do." Sheila Cornell, Director of Music, Wycombe High School
La Périchole Taster Workshops
As part of our aim to develop relationships with more secondary schools, workshops based on La Périchole are taking place in Wycombe High, Sir William Borlase and The Missbourne Schools during Spring 2012.
Working with director Karen Gillingham and composer/music animateur Richard Taylor, students will explore the story, themes and music of Offenbach’s opera, composing and staging their original arias and chorus alongside Garsington Opera singers. Each group will also have the opportunity to visit the opera site to watch a rehearsal of La Périchole.
"What a fantastic day you gave the girls... the fact that they were 'with you' right up to the very end was a fantastic tribute to your enthusiasm, skill, talent and love of what you all do." Sheila Cornell, Director of Music, Wycombe High School
PAST PROJECTS ...
Heart in a Box
an original, commissioned opera
In autumn 2011, a team of 10 artists worked with over 60 students and staff at Icknield Community College to create and perform an opera for an audience of primary school children. The aim was to give an insight into staging a professional production and provide skills and techniques to support their creative arts studies.
The students explored and responded to the themes of Vivaldi’s opera L’Olimpiade. The resulting text, music and designs were then woven together by composers Hannah Conway and Eugene Skeef to create a fairytale version of the opera appropriate for its young audience.
Heart in a Box involved a cast of 50 teenagers and two professional opera singers. The score included several numbers that were taught to, and performed by, the primary school children.
“Working with Garsington Opera was honestly the best experience of my life; everyone in the team was friendly, talented, charismatic and incredibly inspirational.” Heart in a Box Student Cast Member
“I and they thought the performance was fab! I was particularly taken by the way some of our pupils got extra roles on the day - and they loved it!” Jo Prince, Class Teacher, Lewknor Primary School
Heart in a Box
an original, commissioned opera
In autumn 2011, a team of 10 artists worked with over 60 students and staff at Icknield Community College to create and perform an opera for an audience of primary school children. The aim was to give an insight into staging a professional production and provide skills and techniques to support their creative arts studies.
The students explored and responded to the themes of Vivaldi’s opera L’Olimpiade. The resulting text, music and designs were then woven together by composers Hannah Conway and Eugene Skeef to create a fairytale version of the opera appropriate for its young audience.
Heart in a Box involved a cast of 50 teenagers and two professional opera singers. The score included several numbers that were taught to, and performed by, the primary school children.
“Working with Garsington Opera was honestly the best experience of my life; everyone in the team was friendly, talented, charismatic and incredibly inspirational.” Heart in a Box Student Cast Member
“I and they thought the performance was fab! I was particularly taken by the way some of our pupils got extra roles on the day - and they loved it!” Jo Prince, Class Teacher, Lewknor Primary School
Sarastro Stole my Life
a devised opera
A large part of Garsington Opera Education’s work involves encouraging creativity and providing opportunities for this to flourish.
In summer 2011, the team worked with 30 Year 5 students from Stokenchurch Primary School to devise a short piece in response to The Magic Flute. Working with Karen Gillingham and composer Dominic Harlan, pupils developed their own story involving Sarastro, Papageno and the Queen of the Night , telling their story using excerpts from Mozart’s opera as well as several original songs which they composed. The students also created their own sets and props working with designer Emma Wee.
The resulting piece was performed in the walled garden at Wormsley on Thursday 16 June.
“Thank you for an amazing experience and for giving me an inspiration of what I want to be” Ellie, Year 5 pupil
“I immensely enjoyed working with the opera and I’ve benefited a lot from it. it was really fun to compose our own tunes and music. I would do the project again and again.” Isabel, Year 5 pupil
