First Act Opera

INTERNATIONAL

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Introduction

First Act Opera International was founded sixteen years ago and has amongst its clients royalty, the heads of state, major corporations and charities. It is administered by Elaine Holden, Managing Director, Ken Roberts, Musical Director and John von Nuding, Producer.

The company has now accumulated over 1000 performances, including broadcasts for the BBC and Classic fM, for TVS and Channel Television. In August 1994, BBC Television completed a documentary covering First Act's productions and approach to obtaining business sponsorship which was featured on BBC Breakfast News and World Service Satellite. Their major venture in 1994 was a two week UK Government Aided and commercially sponsored tour in Hong Kong where the company performed at venues including Government House. Their new opera "Mister Butterfly", a sequel to Puccini's work, was staged at the Hong Kong Fringe Club. Mister Butterfly received its European Première in April 1995 and becomes an Edinburg Fringe First in August 1999.

First Act Opera International, founded in 1990, has amongst its clients royalty, the former Prime Minister, major corporations and charities. Having accumulated over 1000 performances, including broadcasts for the BBC and Classic fM, for TVS and Channel Television, their unique style of dinner opera concert was described by the Independent as "Classic fM with food". At an Opera Gala Concert with the Brandenburg Sinfonia hosted by Arts Council Chairman, Gerry Robinson, for Granada Television at the Savoy, Sir Jeremy Isaacs, Director General of the Royal Opera House, commented “Your performers are excellent. All I can say is bravi, bravi, bravi!” In August 1994 BBC Television completed a documentary covering First Act’s productions and approach to obtaining business sponsorship which was featured on BBC Breakfast News and World Service Satellite. The company has now made five visits to East Asia, the most recent marking the first British Opera company to perform in Beijing. This was featured on BBC2’s Newsnight as an effective way of linking Western culture to “woo the Chinese dragon”. In Europe the company has performed to French, Belgian, Dutch, Swiss, Swedish and German audiences, in a debut concert at the Shuvalov Palace in St Petersburg, Russia, in June 1997, and at L’Hermitage in Monte Carlo. First Act Opera International and the Brandenburg Sinfonia have made their first CD recording together, “The Intimate Opera Experience” featuring the most popular opera with special orchestral arrangements by Kenneth Roberts for just ten players. His new community opera “Joe Carpenter & Son – the Opera”, directed by the international opera star Benjamin Luxon, received its première at Rochester Cathedral in December 1997 followed by further performances throughout Kent to much critical acclaim. The company has made return visits to Newbury, Canterbury, Hounslow and Sandwich Festivals. First Act Opera International, founded in 1990, has amongst its clients royalty, the former Prime Minister, major corporations and charities. Having accumulated over 1000 performances, including broadcasts for the BBC and Classic fM, for TVS and Channel Television, their unique style of dinner opera concert was described by the Independent as "Classic fM with food". At an Opera Gala Concert with the Brandenburg Sinfonia hosted by Arts Council Chairman, Gerry Robinson, for Granada Television at the Savoy, Sir Jeremy Isaacs, Director General of the Royal Opera House, commented “Your performers are excellent. All I can say is bravi, bravi, bravi!” In August 1994 BBC Television completed a documentary covering First Act’s productions and approach to obtaining business sponsorship which was featured on BBC Breakfast News and World Service Satellite. The company has now made five visits to East Asia, the most recent marking the first British Opera company to perform in Beijing. This was featured on BBC2’s Newsnight as an effective way of linking Western culture to “woo the Chinese dragon”. In Europe the company has performed to French, Belgian, Dutch, Swiss, Swedish and German audiences, in a debut concert at the Shuvalov Palace in St Petersburg, Russia, in June 1997, and at L’Hermitage in Monte Carlo. First Act Opera International and the Brandenburg Sinfonia have made their first CD recording together, “The Intimate Opera Experience” featuring the most popular opera with special orchestral arrangements by Kenneth Roberts for just ten players. His new community opera “Joe Carpenter & Son – the Opera”, directed by the international opera star Benjamin Luxon, received its première at Rochester Cathedral in December 1997 followed by further performances throughout Kent to much critical acclaim. The company has made return visits to Newbury, Canterbury, Hounslow and Sandwich Festivals. Specific future plans include tours in France, Japan, the USA, a return trip to Beijing, a production of Eugene Onegin in Russian to celebrate the bi-centenary of Alexander Pushkin and a series of concerts on the music and life of Beethoven introduced by John Suchet. This September the Company launches its production of Eugene Onegin in Russian premièred in the Britten Theatre at the Royal College of Music. This production is sponsored by Birds Eye Walls and is celebating the Bicentary if Alexander Pushkin. In 2000 the company produced Eugene Onegin in Russian to celebrate the bi-centenary of Alexander Pushkin and a series of concerts on the music and life of Beethoven introduced by John Suchet. The largest of these being in the Royal Albert Hall. Specific future plans include tours in France, Japanand the USA and a return trip to Beijing. For three years, from 2002, sponsors Martell invited company members, Elaine Holden, Sally-Ann Shepherdson, Simone Sauphanor, Khosrow Mashoori and John von Nuding to sing the national anthem before the Grand National Sweepstake at Aintree as a mark of repect to the late Queen Mother. This was to a live audience of 1.5 billion worldwide!

NEWSFLASH

First Act Opera International has been sponsored by residential property developer R.R. Richardson to create Regeneration in Harmony

HIGHLIGHTS DIARY 2007

June 28,29 BOOK EARLY - Carmen, Chamber Opera with Southwark Schools Unicorn Theatre, Southwark

October 14 Die Fledermaus, Opera with orchestra , Charity Performance -The vineyard at Stockcross, Newbury

Singers/performers include: Brandenburg Sinfonia (Artistic Director - Robert Porter), Maria Moll, Rosemarie Arthurs,Ida-Maria Turri, Fiona O'`Neill, Sally-Ann Shepherdson, Simone Sauphanor, Naomi Harvey,Nancy Yuen, Penelope Chalmers Rosemary Ashe, Kathleen Tynan, Pamela Kuhn, Rosamund Barker, Sarah-Jane Dale, Fiona Firth-Spiller, Hilary Brooks, Arhlene Allan, Maria Bovino, Lesley Echo-Ross, Lorna Washington, Diane Charlesworth, Alison Charlton-West, Valerie Reid, Deborah Hawskley,Gaynor Keeble, Carol Rowlands, Elaine Holden, Kate McCarney, Margareta Hillerud, Margaret Cameron, Hyacinth Nicholls, Julie Unwin, Jenny Miller, Maria Jagusz, Scilla Stewart, Karen Roberts, Susannah Self, Janet Haney, Nancy Cooley, John Hudson, Peter Jeffes, Eugene Ginty, James Barrett, Michael Powell, Bruce Rankin, Eugene Ginty, George Owen, Gavin Sayers, Stephen Miles, Mark Luther, Khosrow Mahsoori, David Fieldsend, Geoffrey Shovelton, Jeffrey Stewart, Richard Seaward, Philip Creasy, Michael Preston Roberts, Andrew Mayor, John Hancorn, Roberto Salvatori, Anthony Scales, John Morgan, Robert Poulton, Anthony Barratt, Jonathan May, Guy Harbottle, Graham Case, John Ayldon, Benjamin Luxon, David Roblou, Susan Graham-Smith, Julian Leaper, Ken Roberts, Knight Mantell, Richard Black, Richard Farnes, Martin Pacey,John Suchet Chris Squires, David Cousell, David Mackie, John Shea, Rosalind Jones, John von Nuding.

All private functions are excluded from this diary.

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