An Opera for Tilford
Concept
A Community
Opera is to be staged in All Saints Church Tilford in June 2010, to celebrate the
village and its history and to enable local people to join in a tradition of
music for which the village is famous. It will form a special additional part
of the Festival of Music that the Tilford Bach Society presents in the church
every summer.
The cast for
the Opera will be drawn from the community, with lead parts sung by
professionals and a chorus that includes the children of
Local drama
societies and choirs will provide the “characters” in the story and
the music will be played by a professional orchestra conducted by the TBS
Director of Music, Laurence Cummings, a musician of international repute.
The story
behind the Opera is based on Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s novel Sir Nigel, an
historical romance set in Tilford in the Middle Ages, for which a libretto has
already been written by local writer Rosemary Wisbey.
Theme of the Opera
In 1906 Sir
Arthur Conan Doyle published Sir Nigel, an historical romance set in medieval
Tilford. He was living at Hindhead
and enjoyed bicycling around the local countryside, incorporating it into much
of his writing.
In the
operatic adaptation, Nigel of Tilford is set in 1904 when Conan Doyle visits
Tilford and tells the story of his future literary hero to a group of schoolchildren. As the tale unfolds, with the eager
assistance of the children, it comes to life in a series of dramatic, romantic
and comic scenes.
We meet the
dreaded Wild Man of Puttenham and his wily wife, face the horrors of the Worm
of the Wey and feast with the King of England. With the help of his faithful friend
Samkin, the impoverished Nigel of Tilford becomes Sir Nigel and is able to
restore the family fortunes and marry the beautiful Lady Mary.
Finance, Sponsorship etc
TBS is also
inviting sponsors for the opera. It will be produced to a very high standard,
with professional singers in the principal roles and a professional stage
director. Musical direction will be by Laurence Cummings whose conducting
experience includes productions at Glyndebourne, ENO, South Bank and Barbican.
In addition to the professional stage director, other professionals will be
engaged.
All sponsors
will be publicly acknowledged (unless they prefer anonymity). For details on
how to sponsor this opera, please contact the society’s treasurer Mr Ian Sargeant.
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Three Sunday events in support of
the Tilford Bach Society’s opera project
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Sunday 7th February at 3pm
MUSIC FOR THREE GUITARS
Richard Veitch, Chris Smith and Ben
Pugsley
in a programme of music spanning four
centuries
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Sunday 28th February at 3pm
SHAKESPEARE SONGS
Award-winning soprano Alexandra
Kidgell and accompanist Elizabeth Burgess present songs inspired by
Shakespeare’s works, interspersed with readings from the plays.
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Sunday 28th March at 3pm
Caryl Griffith and Jeffrey Bell
perform
DUETS AT TWELVE PACES
Dramatic readings from the works of
George Bernard Shaw
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All these events take place at
Admission £7 including light
refreshments.
To book phone 01252 721605 or email tilford.opera@btinternet.com
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Auditions
Join the Open auditions for speaking
parts and chorus
Come along to All Saints Church, Tilford on one of these dates:
Wednesday 10th February at
7.00 - 9.30 pm
Saturday
14th February at 2.00 -5.00pm
Sunday
7th March at 2.00 - 5.00pm
Wednesday 10th March at 2.00 -
5.00pm
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