I’ve just returned from six days at Snape Maltings, working with composers and librettists in their third week of the Jerwood Opera Writing Programme Foundation Course. Six singers, two conductor/pianists and six instrumentalists gathered to workshop the ten-minute mini-operas written by each of the ten composers-librettist teams. We also had directors with us, some of whom had also provided libretti, and on the final day of the course we presented all of the operas in a staged version, with lights and costumes and a range of sets making imaginative use of cardboard boxes. Stephen Langridge was keeping us all under control, ably assisted by Stephen Plaice and David Sawer joined us for the final day of presentations, to offer a composer’s-eye view. Aside from the enormous amount of talent and creativity on show, I was also struck by the generosity of all the participants towards each other and their support of each other’s work. A challenging week but one in which everyone achieved something impressive. I hope everyone else enjoyed themselves as much as I did.
The nun costume was featured in “Hope Dies Hard In His House” by Luke Styles and Alan McKendrick, in which I was joined onstage by Anna Dennis and Sarah Leonard.
For more information on the programme and a full list of the participants click here