Opera for 2008

SCHOOLCHILDREN are to write an opera for Capital of Culture.

The youngsters will also sing the leading roles as one of the ideas to expand 2008 into Sefton.

Council officials plan to spend more than £500,000 on cultural projects, which could also see Crosby town centre transformed to become an extra hub of the Mathew Street Festival.

Other ideas include a Bootle comedy festival, including live street art and entertainment.
http://a248.e.akamai.net/6/592/1130/0/oas-eu.247realmedia.com/0/default/empty.gif (http://ads.trinitymirror.co.uk/5c/icliverpool/news/regionalnews/805077423/x60/default/empty.gif/35363832393166663434616265386130)

Money would be spread over three years, with almost £300,000 being earmarked for 2008 itself.

A special council post could also be created to make surethe benefits of Capital of Culture are shared by the area's smaller arts organisations.

Also among plans for 2007 and 2008 are the expansion of Southport Flower Show, Air Show and Jazz Festival.

The plan was accepted in principal by councillors at a meeting last month and a decision is due to be made tomorrow. continues (http://icliverpool.icnetwork.co.uk/0100news/0100regionalnews/tm_objectid=17371522%26method=full%26siteid=50061% 26page=2%26headline=children%2dto%2dmake%2dopera%2 dfor%2d2008-name_page.html)...

Has anyone else noticed a huge amount of 2008 news since the Aussie lady left her job? Hmm....

Has anyone else noticed a huge amount of 2008 news since the Aussie lady left her job? Hmm....
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Well Jason did say he had all those bits of paper in his office... :cha (41):

how did it go again? lol

http://www.freewebs.com/gerrydoyle/Jason.mp3

Jerry, when you quote, highlight the text then click 'quote'.

Who listens to opera? Can't say i've heard many kids put a opera cd on or a gang of baseball cap teens in there cars put Andrew Lloyd Webber up full blast.

You know what Shapers, even at 40 odd years old I'd feel embarressed to hold me hand up :D


I take in a little classical though ;)

thanks for the tip Kev.

thanks for the tip Kev.

or just press 'quote' and that quotes the whole of the last reply.

OPERA STINKS!:PDT_Xtremez_12:

Operas can be good if you can follow the story.

Operas can be good if you can follow the story.

Just that silly singing gets in the way :Colorz_Grey_PDT_16:

:D yes, sometimes the singing can get a bit heavy !
I've not been to many but I've seen 'The Barber Of Seville' and 'Madam Butterfly' .. I went to see the Chinese Opera at the Empire theatre. I think I was the only English person there !! Ha! It was so spectacular though - the costumes and the brilliant colours.

LIVERPOOL will celebrate its 800th birthday next year with the world premiere of a new opera co-commissioned by the Liverpool Culture Company.

The event was announced at the Empire Theatre last night, where Welsh National Opera were beginning a short season.

There will be 800 tickets available at £5 each in a bid to make the opera accessible to all.

Entitled The Sacrifice and composed by Scottish composer James MacMillan, the opera is a large-scale work based on mythical tales from the medieval Welsh collection The Mabinogion but with an update.

It will follow a generals daughter who tries to secure peace for her country by offering to sacrifice her love for a man in order to marry the leader of a rival military faction.John Fisher, the new general manager of WNO, making his first visit to the Empire, said the three-act opera would have a large cast and orchestra. It would help Liverpool celebrate its 800th birthday, which coincides with WNOs 40th anniversary year in Liverpool.

The operas first productions were at the Royal Court Theatre where the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic played for the company, he said.

It now has its own orchestra.

The opera, which will have its first performance at the WNOs base in Cardiff, would be a keystone event leading up the city's year as European Capital of Culture in 2008, he said.He was unable to reveal what the company would be doing for Liverpool in 2008 "but there will certainly be a special event".

Cllr Mike Storey, executive member for special initiatives at Liverpool Council, recalled that when the city applied to become Capital of Culture, they were told there was not enough opera. The city promised more "and I think we have held to that promise".

Those going to opera for the first time will have "a moment they will never forget".

He was unable to say how much the Liverpool Culture Company had put into the commission, but it was "a grand sum of money".

The composer, James MacMillan, is generally recognised as one of Britain's finest.

The librettist for the new work is an award-winning poet, Michael Symmons Roberts.The opera will be staged at the Liverpool Empire in October next year along with a new production of Rossinis Cinderella and Verdi's Il Trovatore.

Hi Kev

Thanks for this information, Kev. Here is more about librettist, Michael Symmons Roberts (http://www.symmonsroberts.com/) as well as composer James MacMillan (http://www.intermusica.co.uk/artists/Composer-Conductor/James-MacMillan/biography)

All my best

Chris