A post-apocalyptic farce...
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Last Party on Earth
Broadcast of the opera with introduction and discussions with cast and crew available online until 16 October 2020 Evoking everything from early opera to vaudeville entertainment, a musical comedy of manners at the end of civilisation… Following fire, flood and virus, two survivors wander in a barren landscape. In her decrepit bunker, they come across the self-isolating, stockpiling Queen of Cans who invites them in to party. Can love blossom even as life on Earth perishes? And who or what is the Dark One of whom they are so terrified? Stripped to its essentials, with only an accordion for company, this comic opera turns out to be no laughing matter. A unique work created in a time of pandemic. A live, semi-staged version of a production created for film - to be released soon. First performance Wednesday 16 September 2020 at The Cockpit London Words - Leo Doulton Music - Edward Lambert Queen - Emily Thorner (soprano) Squib - Gráinne Gillis (mezzo-soprano) Lissa - Simon Grange (bass) Dark One - Henry Clements (treble) Accordion - Ilona Soumalainen Musical Director - Elspeth Wilkes Design - Charlie Wood Production Assistant - Layla Bradbeer Movement Director - Korina Kokkali Stage Director - Simon Gleave Film credits: Lighting - Sonny Ray-Casson Sound - Malcolm Cromie Boom - Ben Gandy Producer - Katie Gunn Director - Adrian Florin Ardelean Co-produced by The Music Troupe and jeudi |
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Emily Thorner - Queen
International "ultra-soprano" (Second Inversion, USA) and "new music rising star" (The Stranger, USA) Emily Thorner is highly sought-after for world premieres due to her unusual range and fearless virtuosity. Recent performances have included: Acht Brücken festival (Cologne, Germany,) Britten-Pears Young Artist Programme at Snape Maltings in Aldeburgh with Jessica Cottis, the Donaueschinger Musiktage (Donaueschingen, Germany,) the Ruhrtriennale Festival with the Duisberg Philharmonic, the Soprano in Residence with Kin of the Moon in (Seattle, USA,) Bang on a Can (MA, USA), The Miller in Rumpelstiltskin at Opera America (NY, USA) and in Italy, singing as the Soprano Soloist for "Hotel Paradiso" by Benedict Mason with TransArt under the baton of Clement Power.
International "ultra-soprano" (Second Inversion, USA) and "new music rising star" (The Stranger, USA) Emily Thorner is highly sought-after for world premieres due to her unusual range and fearless virtuosity. Recent performances have included: Acht Brücken festival (Cologne, Germany,) Britten-Pears Young Artist Programme at Snape Maltings in Aldeburgh with Jessica Cottis, the Donaueschinger Musiktage (Donaueschingen, Germany,) the Ruhrtriennale Festival with the Duisberg Philharmonic, the Soprano in Residence with Kin of the Moon in (Seattle, USA,) Bang on a Can (MA, USA), The Miller in Rumpelstiltskin at Opera America (NY, USA) and in Italy, singing as the Soprano Soloist for "Hotel Paradiso" by Benedict Mason with TransArt under the baton of Clement Power.
Simon Grange - Lissa
Career highlights have included Bluff in Mozart’s Der Schauspieldirektor at the Teatru Manoel in Malta, Leporello in Mozart’s Don Giovanni for Clonter Opera, covering Reinmar in Wagner's Tannhäuser for Longborough Opera Festival, performing as Bartolo (Il Nozze di Figaro) and Basilio (Il Barbiere di Siviglia) a young artist with Mid Wales Opera, Sparafucile in Verdi’s Rigoletto (Regents Opera), Fiesco in Verdi’s Simon Boccanegra (Fulham Opera), and Raimondo in Donizetti’s Lucia di Lammermoor (Fulham Opera). Future performances include Collatinus in Britten’s The Rape of Lucretia (Palace Opera), Marchese in Verdi’s La Traviata (Nevill Holt Opera), Il Re in Verdi’s Aida (Winslow Hall Opera) and a return to the Teatru Manoel to sing as Truffaldino in Strauss' Ariadne auf Naxos.
Career highlights have included Bluff in Mozart’s Der Schauspieldirektor at the Teatru Manoel in Malta, Leporello in Mozart’s Don Giovanni for Clonter Opera, covering Reinmar in Wagner's Tannhäuser for Longborough Opera Festival, performing as Bartolo (Il Nozze di Figaro) and Basilio (Il Barbiere di Siviglia) a young artist with Mid Wales Opera, Sparafucile in Verdi’s Rigoletto (Regents Opera), Fiesco in Verdi’s Simon Boccanegra (Fulham Opera), and Raimondo in Donizetti’s Lucia di Lammermoor (Fulham Opera). Future performances include Collatinus in Britten’s The Rape of Lucretia (Palace Opera), Marchese in Verdi’s La Traviata (Nevill Holt Opera), Il Re in Verdi’s Aida (Winslow Hall Opera) and a return to the Teatru Manoel to sing as Truffaldino in Strauss' Ariadne auf Naxos.
Grainne Gillis - Squib
Gráinne Gillis is an Irish-American dramatic contralto based in London. In 2019/20 roles include Aksinya in Lady Macbeth of Mtsenk for Fulham Opera; Zia Principessa in Suor Angelica and Lucia in Cavalleria Rusticana for North Wales Opera Company; Ruth in The Pirates of Penzance at the Cork Opera House, and Vampyrmeister/Suse in Der Vampyr for Gothic Opera (nominated for an Offie). Gráinne also was the lead in an episode of the Pleiades Project’s ‘24’ series, a dramatization of the Arie Antiche. During the Covid pandemic, Gráinne has been involved in a couple of online projects to be released in 2020, including No Room No Room No Room for Opera Harmony which was aired on Operavision. She is thankful to be supported this season by Help Musicians UK.
Gráinne Gillis is an Irish-American dramatic contralto based in London. In 2019/20 roles include Aksinya in Lady Macbeth of Mtsenk for Fulham Opera; Zia Principessa in Suor Angelica and Lucia in Cavalleria Rusticana for North Wales Opera Company; Ruth in The Pirates of Penzance at the Cork Opera House, and Vampyrmeister/Suse in Der Vampyr for Gothic Opera (nominated for an Offie). Gráinne also was the lead in an episode of the Pleiades Project’s ‘24’ series, a dramatization of the Arie Antiche. During the Covid pandemic, Gráinne has been involved in a couple of online projects to be released in 2020, including No Room No Room No Room for Opera Harmony which was aired on Operavision. She is thankful to be supported this season by Help Musicians UK.
Ilona Suomalainen - Accordion
Born in Helsinki, Finland, accordionist Ilona Suomalainen performs as a freelance accordionist across the UK, working with orchestras including the Philharmonia, Aurora Orchestra, Opera Holland Park, BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra and Welsh National Opera. A diverse performer, she recently played in the West End production of 'Fiddler on the Roof' and featured in a UK tour with pop singer 'Irit' supporting Lisa Stansfield. Before moving to London, Ilona won first prize at the Finnish National Youth Accordion Competition and in 2011, her accordion trio BCH won the Chamber Music, Accordion Orchestra and Overall categories at the International Accordion Competition in Pula, Croatia. A passionate teacher and educator,
Born in Helsinki, Finland, accordionist Ilona Suomalainen performs as a freelance accordionist across the UK, working with orchestras including the Philharmonia, Aurora Orchestra, Opera Holland Park, BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra and Welsh National Opera. A diverse performer, she recently played in the West End production of 'Fiddler on the Roof' and featured in a UK tour with pop singer 'Irit' supporting Lisa Stansfield. Before moving to London, Ilona won first prize at the Finnish National Youth Accordion Competition and in 2011, her accordion trio BCH won the Chamber Music, Accordion Orchestra and Overall categories at the International Accordion Competition in Pula, Croatia. A passionate teacher and educator,
Elspeth Wilkes - Musical Director
Elspeth Wilkes studied at King’s College, London, Trinity College of Music and the Royal Academy of Music. She has performed at St John’s Smith Square; Royal Opera House; St Martin-in-the-Fields as well as recitals in Spain, France and South Africa. Elspeth has worked with BBC Wales, Royal Ballet, Royal Shakespeare Company and Southbank Sinfonia amongst others. She regularly works as repetiteur/musical director with Opera up Close, Opera Brava, Merry Opera Company and Opera de Bauge. Elspeth is the conductor of Thurrock Choral Society, assistant conductor of Barnes Choir and a member of the Bridgetower Ensemble.
Elspeth Wilkes studied at King’s College, London, Trinity College of Music and the Royal Academy of Music. She has performed at St John’s Smith Square; Royal Opera House; St Martin-in-the-Fields as well as recitals in Spain, France and South Africa. Elspeth has worked with BBC Wales, Royal Ballet, Royal Shakespeare Company and Southbank Sinfonia amongst others. She regularly works as repetiteur/musical director with Opera up Close, Opera Brava, Merry Opera Company and Opera de Bauge. Elspeth is the conductor of Thurrock Choral Society, assistant conductor of Barnes Choir and a member of the Bridgetower Ensemble.
Simon Gleave - Stage Director
Simon is a performer, writer, director and teacher. He graduated in 2012 from Trinity College (University of Toronto) before spending 2 years at Ecole Internationale de Théâtre Jacques Lecoq, finally receiving his MA Acting from Drama Centre, London in 2016. He currently works as Associate Artist of David Glass Ensemble as performer (Mortgage and Bleak House), writer (Alchemy of Extraordinary) and teacher in the UK, China and internationally; as co-director and performer with Created a Monster on their silent piece Conspiracy of Orphans (Rich Mix, Voila! and Akropoditi Dance Festival 2020); as dramaturg of Heliotopia, Korina Kokkali's dance-theatre piece premiered at Poreia Theatre in 2019; and is writing and co-directing son theatre’s first piece, Let Go Home to be premiered in 2021.
Simon is a performer, writer, director and teacher. He graduated in 2012 from Trinity College (University of Toronto) before spending 2 years at Ecole Internationale de Théâtre Jacques Lecoq, finally receiving his MA Acting from Drama Centre, London in 2016. He currently works as Associate Artist of David Glass Ensemble as performer (Mortgage and Bleak House), writer (Alchemy of Extraordinary) and teacher in the UK, China and internationally; as co-director and performer with Created a Monster on their silent piece Conspiracy of Orphans (Rich Mix, Voila! and Akropoditi Dance Festival 2020); as dramaturg of Heliotopia, Korina Kokkali's dance-theatre piece premiered at Poreia Theatre in 2019; and is writing and co-directing son theatre’s first piece, Let Go Home to be premiered in 2021.
Coming up...
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The Duchess of Padua
a parlour opera in four acts after the play by Oscar Wilde January/February 2021 OXFORD Friday 29 January at 19:30 THE OLD FIRE STATION 40 George Street, Oxford OX1 2AQ HUNGERFORD Saturday 30 January at 20:00 ARTS FOR HUNGERFORD The Croft Hall, Hungerford RG17 0HY LONDON Tuesday 2 February at 19:30 Wednesday 3 February at 19:30 Thursday 4 February at 15:00 and 20:00 Friday 5 February at 19:30 THE COCKPIT Gateforth Street, London NW8 8EH A Gothic drama of revenge, passion and murder turned into a ‘parlour opera’… In this early play by Wilde, the beauty of his verse mattered more than the realistic portrayal of character and the credibility of the drama. At times melodramatic, at times sentimental, with everything in between, this adaptation faithfully follows the twists and turns of Wilde's extraordinary plot and reveals it to be more modern than it seems. Designed to make a big impact in small spaces this is a grand, ‘Italian-style’ opera with arias, ensembles, a love-duet, and a death scene condensed for just four voices and piano duet. The performance lasts about 1 hour 40 minutes including interval Words - Oscar Wilde Music - Edward Lambert Direction - Eleanor Burke Conductor - Thomas Payne Duchess - Lizzie Holmes (soprano) Guido - Natasha Agarwal (mezzo-soprano) Duke - Daniel Joy (tenor) Moranzone - (bass) |
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