THEADVENTURESADVENTURES COUNTCOUNT ORYORY Music by CAST: PRODUCTION: Count Ory: Nicholas Sharratt Musical Director: Nicholas Jenkins Raimbaud, a friend of Ory: Benedict Nelson Director: Harry Fehr Ory’s Tutor: Steven Page Designer: Max Dorey Isolier, Ory’s brother: Kate Howden Lighting Designer: Christopher Nairne Two cavaliers, friends of Ory: Benjamin Ellis* Assistant Director: Jack Furness and Guy Elliott* Assistant Musical Director: Jeremy Cooke Countess Adele: Anna Devin Production Manager: Rene (Freddy) Marchal Ragonde , a friend of the Countess: Louise Winter Costume Supervisor: Felicity Langthorne A lady, another friend of the Countess: Costume Assistant: Jo Ray Claire Barton* Hair and Make-Up: Maisie Palmer Alice, a villager: Zoe Freedman* Production Assistant: Sophie Horan *Vocal student at Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance Senior Stage Manager: Sasja Ekenberg Deputy Stage Manager: Marian Sharkey Blackheath Halls Chorus Assistant Stage Managers: Mimi Palmer-Johnston Blackheath Halls Orchestra and Rosanna Grimes Pupils from Greenvale School Community Stage Manager: Sarah Southerton Pupils from Charlton Park Academy Technical Assistant Stage Manager: Pupils from Year 5 at St Margaret’s Primary School Oliver Ballantyne Pupils from Year 4 at Lee Manor Primary School Project Manager: Rose Ballantyne Assistant Project Manager: Alice Murray BLACKHEATH HALLS TEAM: General Manager: Keith Murray Publicity and Programme Designer: Community Engagement Manager: Rose Ballantyne Colin Dunlop Operations Manager: Hannah Benton TRINITY LABAN PROJECT TEAM: Technical Manager: Malcolm Richards Programme Manager: Anna Wyatt and Marketing and Box Office Co-ordinator:Kyle Jarvis Helen Hendry Development Officer:Helma Zebregs Project Leader: Joe Townsend Bookkeeper: Debra Skeet Administrator: Caroline Foulkes Running time: 2hrs and 30mins We have been staging community at Blackheath WELCOME Halls since July 2007. This will be our eighth summer opera. Welcome to this performance of Rossini’s colourful comic opera The We have also staged 2 children’s operas in February 2013 Adventures of Count Ory – a tale of intrigue, disguise and seduction, and April 2014. performed in a brand new English translation by . This is the eighth fully staged community opera to be presented by Blackheath Halls, led by a professional production team and with a stunning professional cast. As in previous years, the opera brings together so many different sections of the local community – an adult chorus, local school children, including students from two local special schools, and the Blackheath Halls Orchestra, working alongside students from Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance and six highly acclaimed professional opera singers. We are delighted to welcome back to Blackheath Halls Nicholas Sharratt, who plays the title role of Count Ory, and who was last seen here as Lensky in the 2011 Blackheath Opera, Eugene Onegin. Two other singers making a welcome return to the Halls are Kate Howden as Isolier and Louise Winter as Ragonde, both of whom will be remembered for their great comic performances in the 2012 opera Cendrillon. The role of Countess Adele is performed by as Banquo in Macbeth, Jack Schwab as Sammy in The Little Anna Devin, with Benedict Nelson as Raimbaud and Steven Page as Ory’s tutor. July 2013. Sweep with the children’s chorus, ‘I am forever encouraging people April 2014 Blackheath Halls is an integral part of Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance and to join in the following year and ‘I have been inspired so much by benefits greatly from its close association with them. The involvement of Trinity Laban experience what we have all working with such talented people. students is a very important part of the annual community opera, regularly winning excellent experienced.’ I am so grateful for this wonderful reviews. This year a number of individual roles within the opera are performed by vocal studies Macbeth Chorus member opportunity, and do hope that I will students, including Zoe Freedman, Claire Barton, Guy Elliott and Benjamin Ellis. We also have be part of some more in the future.’ vocal students from Trinity Laban performing as our mini chorus. Performer in The Adventures of Count Ory is directed by Harry Fehr, with musical direction by Nicholas Jenkins, both of whom have previously worked together on the Blackheath Halls highly successful productions of Elixir of Love, Eugene Onegin, and Cendrillon. Stage and Costume Designs are by Max Dorey, with Lighting Design by Christopher Nairne. Previous Blackheath Operas have received great critical acclaim. Anna Picard, in The Independent on Sunday described the Halls’ opera project as ‘one of the calendar’s most heartening events’ and Graham Rogers in The Stage said ‘there can few more worthy uses of Arts Council England grants’. The success of this project is very much due to the dedication and support of so many people who freely give of their time and energy in so many different ways. The community opera epitomises exactly what the Halls were originally built for, as it is at the heart of the local community. Charne Rochford as Macduff with Children’s Chorus sing the finale inThe members of the community chorus in Little Sweep, April 2014 We are most grateful for the generous financial support that we have received for the Macbeth, July 2013. ‘In her own words she is now more community opera from Arts Council England, the Borough of Lewisham, the Samuel ‘The whole atmosphere was very confident in interacting with people Gardner Memorial Trust and the Hearn Foundation, as well as the many individual members inclusive; it brought home to me and expressing herself. She also of the local community, who have supported this project. what “community” really meant.’ said the project helped her to truly I hope that you will enjoy watching our extremely talented company of performers in Community Chorus member appreciate teamwork.’ The Adventures of Count Ory, and that you may be inspired to join us in next year’s Parent of participant in The Little Sweep community opera. Thank you for your support, and I look forward to welcoming you to the Halls again in the Blackheath Halls Opera blog http://blackheathhallsopera.wordpress.com/ near future. tells the story about our opera with contributions by the creative team and the performers, lots of photographs and reviews. Blackheath Halls Opera can be followed on Twitter @Blackheathopera. Keith Murray General Manager THE ADVENTURES OF COUNT ORY 3 Schools’ involvement in Blackheath Halls Opera You will have the delight of seeing lots of local children and young people performing in The Adventures of Count Ory tonight. These children and young people have been working hard on their performance since the beginning of June.

Our performers this year are Year 5 from St Margaret’s Lee Primary School (15 and 18 July), Year 4 from Lee Manor Primary School (16 and 20 July) and students from Greenvale School (15 and 18 July) and Charlton Park Academy (16 and 20 July).

We began our work with the schools by gathering them all together for an introductory session. The day started by introducing the team and explaining everyone’s responsibilities. Harry Fehr, our Director, then told the story of the opera. The children were asked to form ‘tableaux’ of some of the crucial scenes and displayed some excellent acting ability. Harry then described his staging concepts along with Max Dorey, our Designer this year. The children and young people were particularly interested in what they were going to have to wear for their performances. The introductory session ended with Nick Jenkins, our Musical Director, warming up their voices and singing a few snippets of the opera.

Throughout June Harry, Nick and I, along with Jeremy Cooke on piano and Jack Furness supporting Harry visited each school 3 times and rehearsed with each class individually. We were so impressed with how much the children retained from session to session and how involved they were in the rehearsals. Their teachers also gave us tremendous support with this and backed up lots of our work in the time between sessions.

Then the fun really started!! The schools came to Blackheath Halls for a full day on Tuesday 8 July to practice everything that they had learnt on the real stage with the real principal singers. The children also watched the other school performing their exact moves which is an invaluable part of the learning process. New Sussex Opera’s 2014 production is nso At the final two rehearsals the children came together with the adult chorus and put on Weber’s Oberon. The magnificent overture their costumes for the first time. Tonight they are getting a chance to perform everything is frequently played, but the neglected they have learnt demonstrating how hard they’ve worked. I’m sure they will make you feel opera itself contains some of his most really proud. We are so lucky to have such wonderful teachers, schools and pupils in our delightful music. area and it is a great privilege for Blackheath Halls and our opera team to work with them. The story is a sequel to Shakespeare’s Our particular thanks go to the class teachers from the primary schools, Claire Soares and OBERON A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Oberon, Emily Hall, and the two coordinating teachers from Greenvale and Charlton Park Academy, Romantic opera in 3 acts King of the Fairies, guides Sir Huon of Rachel Dunlop and Elizabeth Whittick. However, we know that there are so many other people supporting us with the schools’ involvement in the opera: all the other staff at the in the original English Bordeaux on his epic quest to seek the participating schools and of course all the hard working parents and carers who ferry hand in marriage of the beautiful Reiza, their charges back and forth on so many occasions and work so hard behind the scenes. daughter of the Caliph of Baghdad. Lewes Town Hall We were so impressed with the clothes that the children managed to source for the production and are very grateful for the hard work that has clearly gone in to this. We very Wednesday 19 November 7.30pm NSO Chorus, St Paul’s Sinfonia, much hope that seeing the performance tonight will make it all feel worthwhile. Devonshire Park , Eastbourne conductor Nicholas Jenkins, Sunday 23 November 3pm director Max Key. Cast includes Please take some time this evening to look at all the wonderful art work around Blackheath Sally Silver Reiza, Adrian Dwyer Sir Huon. Halls that has been produced by the children. I know you will learn lots about the opera Cadogan Hall, London SW1 from the displays. Thanks again to the teachers for this and to Liz Glasser who supports Tuesday 25 November 7pm “First class singing by any standards” - the schools for us with this aspect of the project. Rupert Christiansen www.newsussexopera.org New Sussex Opera is a registered charity no. 279800 Community Engagement Manager THE ADVENTURES OF COUNT ORY 5

BIOGRAPHIES Claire Barton A Lady Jeremy Cooke Assistant Musical Director

Claire Barton (mezzo-) is from Dunedin, New Zealand and studied Jeremy Cooke was born in Colchester, Essex. Educated at Oxford University Performance Voice at Otago University. She was an Emerging Artist with New and the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, he has subsequently worked Zealand Opera in 2008-9 and moved to London in 2011 to take up a Kathleen extensively in the world of opera and vocal music generally. He is very pleased to Roberts Scholarship at Trinity Laban Conservatoire. In 2013, she sang the be working with Blackheath Halls Community Opera. role of the Third Lady in Brent Opera’s production of , was a chorus leader in Macbeth with Blackheath Halls Community Opera, appeared as a soloist in a concert of Ivor Novello songs with Oxbridge Opera Company at the Buxton Gilbert and Sullivan Festival and was a chorus member for British Youth Opera’s production of . Previous roles include: Mrs Slender, Salieri’s (Opera Otago), Max Dorey Designer Katisha, Mikado and Mad Margaret, Ruddigore (Really Authentic Gilbert and Sullivan Performance Max is currently one of two Assistant Designers at the RSC. He trained in Trust). Claire will be singing the role of Mrs Partlet in The Sorcerer in August for the Oxbridge Opera Company. This will be Claire’s first performance since she and her husband welcomed Theatre Design at Bristol Old Vic Theatre School, and has a BA English Literature the arrival of her first child in March. In what little spare time she now has, Claire enjoys losing at and Theatre Studies at Leeds University. In 2013 he was a finalist in the Linbury chess, visiting castles and arguing about politics over tea and cake. Prize for Stage Design, held biannually by the National Theatre, during which he worked with the National Theatre of Scotland.

Theatre includes: I Can Hear You (RSC/Royal Court) This Is Not An Exit (RSC/ Anna Devin Countess Adele Royal Court) Black Jesus (Finborough); The School for Scandal (Waterloo East); The Duke in the

A former member of the Jette Parker Young Artist programme at the Royal Darkness, Marguerite (Tabard Theatre. Both nominated for an Off West End award for Best Set Opera House, Covent Garden, the Britten-Pears YAP and the National Opera Design); Oedipus (Blue Elephant); Disco Pigs (Tristan Bates); The Good Soul of Szechuan (Bristol Studio, Irish soprano Anna Devin is fast becoming established as one of today’s Old Vic Studio); Macbeth (Redgrave Theatre); ’s Love, Bad House (NSDF); Black Comedy, brightest young . Playhouse Creatures (Stage@Leeds). Max has also made puppets for Travelling Light’s Peter Pan (Bristol Old Vic); Cinderella (St James Theatre); Pinocchio (Tobacco Factory); Birmingham Rep Opera appearances in 2013/14 have included a return to Scottish Opera Young Company’s 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea; Ravenrock Theatre’s Phaedra’s Love and The as Zerlina () and to House as Flowermaiden View From Down Here, which he wrote and directed (Carriageworks). (Parsifal) as well as Anna’s debut at the Handel Festival Göttingen as Clotilde in and her critically acclaimed performances of Bedford’s Through His Teeth at the ROH Linbury Studio. Max was a student at St Margaret’s, Lee (Lee Church of England as was) between the years 1990 - 1994, when his family moved away to Oxford when he was 7. His dad used to run the Gladiator stall Further ahead, she returns to the ROH main stage as Nanetta (Falstaff) in 2014/15, joins the at the summer fete and put up the Blackheath christmas lights. He is thrilled to be working again English Concert under Harry Bicket as Oberto (Alcina) on tour in London, Madrid, Vienna, Paris and Michal in a new production of with Glyndebourne Touring Opera. with his childhood school and home.

An alumna of the Royal Irish Academy of Music, Guildhall School of Music and Drama, and National Opera Studio, Anna Devin has garnered awards including the Maggie Teyte and Miriam Sasja Ekenberg Senior Stage Manager Licette Scholarship, Stuart Burrows International Voice Award, Singers’ Prize at the Gerald Moore Awards and the Audience Prize in the London Handel Singing Competition. She is also an Sasja is 32 years old and was born and raised in Denmark. She trained in Stage Associate Artist with Classical Opera. Management at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama and graduated in July 2013. She has previously worked for Wexford Festival Opera, of Copenhagen and ITV. This is her first production at Blackheath Halls.

Besides her work she is a big boxing fan and she is convinced that the Danish boxer Mikkel Kessler will beat the English boxer Carl Froch at their hopefully next re-match.

6 THE ADVENTURES OF COUNT ORY THE ADVENTURES OF COUNT ORY 7 BIOGRAPHIES Guy Elliot Cavalier Harry Fehr Director

Guy’s recent opera performances include; Belshazzar (Belshazzar/Handel) for Harry studied philosophy at the University of Nottingham and was a member of Trinity Laban Opera, Chorus Leader (Macbeth/Verdi) for Blackheath Opera, Don the Royal Opera’s Young Artists Programme. While there, he directed productions Ottavio (Don Giovanni/Mozart) & El Remandado, (/Bizet) for Puzzle of Die schöne Müllerin and La serva padrona in the Linbury Studio Theatre. Piece Opera, Tamino (Die Zauberflöte/Mozart) & Eisenstein (Die Fledermaus/ Since leaving the programme, he has directed Der fliegende Holländer, Strauss) for G&T Opera Scenes. Orlando, Il matrimonio segreto and (Scottish Opera), the world As a concert soloist, Guy has performed; Mass in B Minor & St. John Passion premiere of Craig Armstrong’s The Lady from the Sea (Edinburgh International (Bach) with the ORNC choir and Southern Sinfonia, The Creation (Haydn) with Trinity Laban Festival/Scottish Opera), Così fan tutte (Opera Holland Park), La finta giardiniera (Buxton Chorus and Orchestra, Messiah (Handel) with the Stoneleigh Choral Society and Stimmung Festival), (Teatru Manoel, Valletta), Stephen McNeff’s Gentle Giant (ROH2 in (Stockhausen) at the Queen Elisabeth Hall. the Linbury Studio Theatre), Henry Fielding’s The Lottery (Bury Court Opera/L’Avventura), Così fan tutte (Diva Opera at Wilton’s Music Hall) and Cinderella, Eugene Onegin and The Elixir of Love Guy is currently in 2nd year at Trinity Laban and holds a choral scholarship at the chapel of the Old (Blackheath Halls Community Opera). He has directed students in productions of Die lustigen Royal Naval College. Weiber von Windsor (GSMD), Le nozze di Figaro (RWCMD) and Rinaldo (Trinity Laban), and Current and upcoming projects include the role of Aladdin in The Jinnie by Louis Mander for Tête à in several programmes of scenes (GSMD and RCS). He has been revival, associate or assistant Tête Opera Festival. Guy is also looking forward to receiving the Leith Hill Award for 2015. director on over twenty productions for the Royal Opera, most recently reviving its production of La traviata in Guangzhou, China.

Plans include further work for Scottish Opera and his debut production for Welsh National Opera. Benjamin Ellis Cavalier

Having recently moved to London from Edinburgh, Ben currently studies with Peter Knapp and Helen Yorke at Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Zoë Freedman Alice Dance where he is completing his first year of postgraduate study. Zoë began her Master’s at Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance in Opera roles have included Morales in Carmen (Bizet), Masetto in Don Giovanni September 2012, studying with Alison Wells. Part of her studies has included a (Mozart), and Dr. Grenville in La Traviata (Verdi) with Edinburgh Grand Opera, Mentor Scheme with the ENO Chorus. Duncan in The Okavango Macbeth (Tom Cunningham) as part of the Edinburgh Recent operatic performances include Diana in Cavalli’s La Calisto with Hampstead Festival Fringe, and various solo characters in the edited production of King Arthur (Purcell) Garden Opera, in opera scenes at Trinity: Nanetta (Verdi - Falstaff), Countess with Edinburgh Studio Opera. Ben has also sung a varied selection of concert roles, including (Mozart - Le Nozze di Figaro), Sophie (Strauss - Der Rosenkavalier), and Madame soloist for Edinburgh Grand Opera’s Verdi Bi-Centenary Gala, baritone soloist in Herz (Mozart - Der Schauspieldirektor); also 2nd Boy in Mozart’s The Magic Flute with Brent Opera, Rossini’s Petite Messe Solenelle, (also an Edinburgh Festival Fringe performance), and in various and various scenes on the Birkbeck opera course. capacities with the Edinburgh-based Rose Street Ensemble and the Quadlibet Chorale. Solo recitals have included performances of Scottish songs both traditional and contemporary at St She was a finalist in the Elisabeth Schumann Lieder Competition at Trinity in 2014. She has also sung Mary’s Cathedral (Edinburgh), and several concerts at the Edinburgh Society of Musicians. Since in masterclasses with Joan Rodgers, Ryland Davies, Matthew Rose, Brindley Sherratt and Ian Page. moving to London he has given recitals in the Chapel () and Before studying singing she achieved a First from the University of Warwick in English and Theatre St Martin’s–within-Ludgate, and has been involved in the development of contemporary opera It Studies. She is a TCM Scholar and is also grateful for the support of the Kathleen Trust, the South Makes No Difference by Simone Spagnolo. Square Trust, the Split Infinitive Trust, Trinity Laban Postgraduate Bursary Fund and her parents.

8 THE ADVENTURES OF COUNT ORY THE ADVENTURES OF COUNT ORY 9 BIOGRAPHIES Jack Furness Assistant Director Nicholas Jenkins Musical Director

Herald Angel Award winner Jack Furness studied music at Cambridge Nicholas Jenkins studied at Merton College, Oxford, Trinity College of Music, University, where he received double first-class honours. Whilst at University, and the GSMD. He is Music Director to New Sussex Opera and the University Jack founded Shadwell Opera. As Artistic Director, Jack has directed In the of Greenwich, and was recently Interim Chorus Master to Netherlands Penal Colony; ; A Midsummer Night’s Dream; Siren Song; The Opera, Amsterdam. He began his career as a singer and chorus master, and Magic Flute (RBS Herald Angel Award 2009); and Cosi Fan Tutte. Other work has trained choirs including Choral Society, ENO Chorus, Estonian includes Falstaff for Opera Integra, I Found My Horn by Jasper Rees with the Philharmonic Chamber Choir, Chorus, Choeur des Marlowe Society, and Eugene Onegin for the Ryedale Festival Opera. Musiciens du Louvre – Grenoble, Netherlands Radio Choir, and Philharmonia Chorus. He was also regularly assistant conductor to Marc Minkowski, at Paris Opera, Paris More recently, Furness directed two short opera films for Shadwell Opera, broadcast on Channel 4, Châtelet, La Monnaie, Aix-en-Provence and Salzburg Festivals. which were watched by over 400,000 people. After Blackheath Opera, Jack has been selected by National Theatre Wales for their two week Summercamp residency. He has conducted many operas including Cendrillon, Elixir of Love, Eugene Onegin, Macbeth, Noye’s Fludde (Blackheath Halls), Don Quichotte (La Monnaie), L’Ile de Tulipatan, Der Jasager (Opéra de Jack has assisted at the Royal Opera House, , , Scottish Opera, Lyon), Turn of the Screw (Dartington Festival), Edgar, L’Étoile, Hugh the Drover, , Mireille, Wexford Festival Opera, and at Bard Summerscape Festival in New York State, assisting directors Poisoned Kiss, Die Rheinnixen (New Sussex Opera), as well as a staged Rossini including Sir David McVicar and Yoshi Oida. (Berlin, Bregenz Festival, Paris Opéra-Comique). When not directing opera, Jack doesn’t know what to do with himself. He generally tries to avoid Plans include conducting Oberon (New Sussex Opera), Petite Messe Solennelle (Nimes, Perpignan); that eventuality at all costs. Before he discovered opera, Jack sang, ran a jazz night, and once also Chorus Master for Benvenuto Cellini (ENO), L’Étoile (Netherlands Opera), Mazeppa (Netherlands represented Fiji in the Disarmament Commission of the Model United Nations in The Hague. Radio Choir), Die Fledermaus (Opéra-Comique); and Assistant Conductor to Sir Simon Rattle for Manon Lescaut and Der Rosenkavalier (Baden-Baden).

Kate Howden Isolier

Australian mezzo-soprano Kate Howden was awarded a BMus (Hons) from Felicity Langthorne Costume Supervisor Trinity College of Music, where she studied with Ameral Gunson and Alistair Felicity graduated from Bristol Old Vic Theatre School in 2012. Costume Young, and an MA with DipRAM from the Royal Academy of Music, where she Supervision work includes Sister Act (Pimlico Opera), Dancing at Lughnasa continues to study with Elizabeth Ritchie and Jonathan Papp on the Royal and Hard Times (Bristol Old Vic Theatre School); Costume Assisting includes Academy Opera course. She is supported by the Matthew and Sally Ferrey Holy Warriors, Antony and Cleopatra and Macbeth (Shakespeare’s Globe), scholarship and the Jennie Blythe scholarship. L’Ormindo (Royal Opera House) A Midsummers Night Dream and A Much Opera credits include Cendrillon (Cendrillon, Royal Academy Opera), Bianca (The Rape of Ado About Nothing (White Horse Theatre); Costume making work includes Lucretia, RAO), Hansel (Hansel and Gretel, Opera Holloway, Edinburgh Fringe), Cherubino (The Dark Woods and Deep Snow, Tallest Tales from the Furthest Forest (Northern Marriage of Figaro, Harrow Opera) and Annio (The Clemency of Titus, Hampstead Garden Opera Stage), Scottsboro Boys (Young Vic Theatre). and Riverside Opera). Felicity is currently trying to knit a Doctor Who Scarf for her brother’s birthday in May, which has Kate is grateful for support from the Australian Music Foundation (with the Riddiford Trust), the been on the back burner for so long it’s now a Christmas present. She also loves to make strange Countess of Munster Musical Trust, the Tait Memorial Trust, the Josephine Baker Trust and the sock monsters and sells them at markets whenever she gets the time. Opus 50 Charitable Trust. This year she was the winner of a Help Musicians UK Licette Award for French song.

Kate looks forward to roles in Suor Angelica and Gianni Schicchi at RAO next year. She is excited to be returning to Blackheath after playing an ugly sister in their Cendrillon, this time in the much more glamorous role of….a teenage boy.

10 THE ADVENTURES OF COUNT ORY THE ADVENTURES OF COUNT ORY 11 BIOGRAPHIES René ‘Freddy’ Marchal Production Manager Benedict Nelson Raimbaud René Marchal has spent 29 years as a workshop manager at English National Benedict Nelson studied at London’s Guildhall School of Music and Drama and Opera (ENO). He has toured productions throughout the UK as well as in Russia, the National Opera Studio. He was an inaugural Harewood Artists at English Norway, Spain, Germany, Holland, Ireland, Greece and North and South America. National Opera where his roles included the title role , Belcore L’elisir He has also toured a Production Manager of A Diary of One Who Vanished d’amore, Figaro Barber of Seville, Valentin Faust, Demetrius A Midsummer directed by Deborah Warner. Night’s Dream and Evangelist/Watchful/First Shepherd The Pilgrim’s Progress. He designed for the ENO Baylis Programme production of Hansel and Gretel Recent engagement in 13/14 included recital appearances with Roger Vignoles and as well as Jazz and other Baylis Community projects. He also taught Graham Johnson in Madrid and Leeds, Brahms’s Requiem with the Hallé, Weill’s prisoners to build the set for a production of Street Scene at HMP Brixton where ENO principals Das Berliner Requiem with L’Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France, Bach’s B Minor Mass with the and prisoners performed side by side. René is now a freelance Production Manager. Aurora Orchestra respectively and Ned Keene for Opera North and Opéra de Lyon, Other recent highlights include the role of Algernon Moncrieff in the UK stage premiere of Barry’s The Importance of Being Earnest at the Royal Opera House, the staged Britten Christopher Nairne Lighting Designer at and the ROH, Brander Damnation de Faust with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra Having decided 5 years ago to cast off his life as a Maths teacher in order to under Dutoit, Helmsmann Tristan und Isolde with the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra and turn his theatre lighting hobby into a full-blown career, Christopher has since Stranger The Lady from the Sea for the Edinburgh International Festival and Scottish Opera. designed for plays, musicals, opera and cabaret all over London and the UK (and In recital he has recorded Britten songs with Malcolm Martineau to critical acclaim and made his occasionally further afield). Most recently, he was LD for Handel’sBelshazzar for solo debut last season at the . Trinity Laban, here at Blackheath Halls. Next season Nelson will make role debut as The Count in at ENO. Other Other operas he has lit include: (Linbury Studio, Royal Opera House), Vivienne forthcoming highlights include Britten’s Noye’s Fludde with La Maîtrise de Radio France, Orff’s (Hampstead Garden Opera), (Arts Theatre), La Calisto In the Penal Colony The Carmina Burana with the Gulbenkian Orchestra and Handel’s Messiah with Orchestra de Cadaqués. Crocodile (Riverside Studios), Albert Herring (), (Ryedale Festival Opera) and OperaUpClose’s La Bohème, which won the 2011 Olivier Award for Best New Opera Production. Steven Page Ory’s Tutor Recent theatre work includes: Sense and Sensibility (Watermill Theatre), Johnny Got His Gun, Our Steven already had a career as a Trade Mark Attorney and was studying singing Ajax, The Busy Body and Someone Who’ll Watch Over Me (Southwark Playhouse), Desdemona: A Play privately‚ when he was awarded a Scholarship to study at the National Opera About a Handkerchief and The School for Scandal (Park Theatre), Dracula (for Theatre Royal Bath), Studio in London. The Ghost Hunter (UK tour), Fiesta: The Sun Also Rises and Celebrity Night at Café Red (Trafalgar He has appeared as Don Alfonso Cosi fan tutte (Welsh National Opera and ENO‚ Studios) and Boy in a Dress (UK tour). He was also Re-lighter for Complicite’s 2013 UK tour of Lionboy. Speaker The Magic Flute (ENO)‚ Pirate King Pirates of Penzance and Nick Shadow The Rake’s Progress (Scottish Opera)‚ Sir Richard Cholmondeley The Yeomen of with the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, Captain Corcoran Mimi Palmer-Johnston Assistant Stage Manager the Guard HMS Pinafore with Carl Rosa, and the title role in a highly acclaimed production of Sondheim’s Sweeney Mimi has just finished her degree at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, Todd for Opera North‚ where he has also sung Sir Roderick Murgatroyd Ruddigore, Sharpless and specialising in Stage and Costume Management. During her time at Guildhall, she Benoit/Alcindoro. For the BBC Proms at the Albert Hall he has performed in Tippett’s The Mask of has successfully stage managed ’s , The Adventures of Pinocchio Time and in Elgar’s The Apostles. as well as a Baroque Double Bill (Arne’s The Cooper and Stradella’s San Giovanni Engagements abroad include Sweeney Todd in Australia‚ Papageno (Dublin)‚ Pizarro Fidelio (Paris)‚ Battista) in the new Milton Court Theatre. She was also Deputy Stage Manager Prus Makropoulos Case (Lyon‚ New York and Berlin) and Candide (Paris‚ Milan and Japan). on Marathon ‘33 and has assisted on several shows, including Mozart’s Le nozze di Figaro and The Laramie Project. Outside Guildhall Mimi has had the pleasure of Steven took part in the filmTomorrow , which appeared at the Cannes Film Festival, playing working on Matthew Bourne’s Swan Lake and with Birmingham Royal Ballet, both at Sadler’s Wells, an opera singer, singing the role of Sweeney Todd in a prison. Theatre work includes Parade (Donmar as well as working at The Globe and The Almeida. Mimi is very excited to be joining the team at Warehouse), Oedipus (National Theatre with Ralph Fiennes) and After (Old Vic with Ian Blackheath Halls Opera, and is looking forward to a summer of opera! Charleson and Richard Griffiths).

12 THE ADVENTURES OF COUNT ORY THE ADVENTURES OF COUNT ORY 13 BIOGRAPHIES Nicholas Sharratt Count Ory Louise Winter Ragonde

Born in Nottingham, Nicholas studied Commerce at Birmingham University, Louise Winter studied at the Royal Northern College of Music. She made her and singing at the RNCM and the National Opera Studio. début in 1982 with Glyndebourne Touring Opera as Dorabella Così fan tutte and subsequently sang Tisbe La Cenerentola, Zerlina Don Giovanni, and Rosina He has been a guest artist for Glyndebourne, Grange Park, Garsington, English Il barbiere di Siviglia for the company. Roles for Glyndebourne Festival Opera Touring Opera, Early Opera Company, , Scottish Opera have included Sesto La clemenza di Tito, Edwige Rodelinda, Varvara Katya and Opera North; and worked with Sir Mark Elder, Sir Simon Rattle, Sir Andrew Kabanova, Pauline Queen of Spades and Olga Eugene Onegin, which she sang Davis, Christian Curnyn, , John Wilson, Nicholas McGegan, with the Royal Opera House and . Her roles for Stuart Stratford and David Parry. English National Opera include the title role Carmen and Marguerite La Damnation de Faust. For He has sung Parry Jones A Serenade to Music at the BBC Proms (LSO); Tirsi La Danza at Frankfurt Opera she has sung Brangäne Tristan und Isolde, Venus Tannhäuser, Preziosilla La Forza Wigmore Hall; Hotel Porter (QEH/Philharmonia); Messiah at Cadogan Hall; del Destino and Lady Macbeth in Ernst Bloch’s Macbeth for Frankfurt Opera. She has performed Sam/Ghost Patrol (Stuart Macrae) at the Edinburgh Festival and Camille/Merry Widow (RFH/ with many of the world’s leading orchestras and conductors, including the CBSO with Sir Simon Philharmonia). Current plans include Fernando/Il furioso all’isola di San Domingo for ETO, Rattle, the BBC Symphony Orchestra with Sir Andrew Davis, the Hallé Orchestra with Mark Elder, Lucano/Coronation of Poppea for Opera North and his debut for WNO as John in the UK and the under Sir Charles Mackerras. Plans include Marcellina Le Nozze di premiere of Richard Ayres’ Peter Pan. Figaro at the Royal Opera House and Madame Larina Eugene Onegin for Garsington Festival.

Nick has been lucky enough to be involved in two previous productions at Blackheath, Nemorino in The Elixir of Love and Lensky in Eugene Onegin, and is properly made-up to be back again this year. He lives in the Essex countryside with his wife and 2 children. COSTUME Marian Sharkey Deputy Stage Manager

Marian is a graduate of the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, with a BA in Technical and Production Arts, and has had a passion for music since DESIGNS childhood. Working with her local youth theatre led to studying at the RCS, where she was Deputy Stage Manager on the plays Twelfth Night and Tartuffe, and on the operas Die Zauberflöte and A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Marian has also worked with the Buxton Opera Festival on a community production of James and the Giant Peach, was DSM on British Youth Opera’s 2012 production of The Bartered Bride, and recently worked with Scottish Opera as DSM on their production of Macbeth. Future plans include a return to RCS as an employee to work on one of their operas, and a return to Scottish Opera for a tour of Scotland’s Highlands and Islands again with Macbeth.

Outside of theatre Marian also enjoys playing the piano, buying more books than she has shelves for, sitting in the sun reading some of those books and is currently attempting to develop an interest in running...

14 THE ADVENTURES OF COUNT ORY THE ADVENTURES OF COUNT ORY 15 SYNOPSIS While her brother is away at war, the Countess has shut herself inside her As the Countess considers her lucky escape, news arrives that her brother castle, refusing any contact with men. With their husbands also fighting, and the soldiers are on their way home. Ory has just two days to plot her women friends and their children have joined her. another way to get into the castle.

Excited by the challenge, Count Ory has set his sights on the Countess, and is determined to get inside the castle by whatever means possible. INTERVAL

ACT 1 ACT 2 Raimbaud, in disguise, calls the local people together; a religious hermit That evening, inside the castle, the Countess and her friends reflect on is coming that way, and will hear their prayers. Ragonde explains that her their lucky escape from Ory. Suddenly, a storm rises. A group of women friend, Countess Adele, is suffering from some inexplicable melancholy, pilgrims are heard outside, asking for sanctuary, and they are invited in. and hopes that this holy man will be able to help her. The first to enter is Ory, in a new disguise. He fervently thanks the The hermit appears; it is Count Ory in disguise. Ragonde asks that he Countess for her kindness and hospitality. might see the Countess later that day. Refreshment is brought in for the pilgrims, who are none other than Ory’s Ory’s brother, Isolier, arrives in the village with Ory’s tutor. The tutor is friends and his reluctant tutor. They are enjoying their disguises, but are irritated that, yet again, his pupil has given him the slip. On hearing that disappointed to discover there is no wine laid on. Suddenly Raimbaud the hermit arrived in the village at just the time that Ory went missing, he enters; he has explored the castle and found the wine cellar. They drink grows suspicious that this holy man might be none other than his charge. and make merry until the return of the Countess obliges them to resume a He leaves to get backup. pious air. The pilgrims are shown to their rooms.

Isolier is in love with the Countess but, like all men, has been spurned by A noise is heard at the gate. It is Isolier, bringing news that the soldiers will her. Not realising he is Ory, Isolier asks the hermit for help in winning her be home by midnight. On being told that a group of women pilgrims have over. He tells him of a plan he had to disguise himself as a pilgrim, asking been offered shelter in the castle, Isolier deduces that they must be Ory for shelter in the Countess’s castle. The hermit quietly takes note of this and his friends – having taken his idea. The Countess is terrified, but Isolier idea, then promises to tell the Countess that she must abandon her vow promises to protect her until her brother returns. renouncing men. Isolier turns out the lights, and Ory gropes his way into the Countess’s Ory, still in disguise, listens to the Countess as she tells of her mysterious room. By pretending to be the Countess, Isolier manages to keep Ory sorrow. As promised, he tells her she should give herself to love. However, away from her until, at last, the sound of the returning soldiers is heard. as she turns to Isolier, the hermit reveals that this man is the brother of the Fearful of her brother, Ory begs for mercy from the Countess for him and infamous Count Ory. Wanting nothing to do with that family, the Countess his friends. She grants it, and Isolier leads them to a secret passage. They rejects Isolier. leave just in time for, almost immediately, the Countess’ brother and the As Ory and the Countess are about to go inside together, the tutor returns other soldiers arrive. The women give thanks for their safe return. with a group of Ory’s friends. Not understanding the situation, they inadvertently give Ory away, and his disguise is revealed.

16 THE ADVENTURES OF COUNT ORY THE ADVENTURES OF COUNT ORY 17 Greenvale Year 5 Year 4 School St Margaret’s Lee Manor School

Teachers Lee Teacher Liz Whittick Emily Hall Teacher Marie Dixon Claire Soares Pupils Pupils Adisa Pupils Tiffany Martin Angie Francisca Aidoo Becky Simpson Ruby Eddie Bingham Jack Clow Hattie Rollo Crispin Tiffany Farley Kayin Josie Critchley Samantha Farley Joseph Emily Davis Charlie Kebell Rufus Bethany Dixon Judy Challo O’Mari Great Eriata Lucian Clodwell Gap Gaupool Safiya Katie Godden Matthew Jessica Lane Charlton Park Lia-May Eddie Lindsey Harrison Academy Lucas Loveday Jade Aisha Mannah Richie Teachers and Joshua Mannah Luca Support Staff Jareth Maynard Bobby Rachel Dunlop Lucy McCrone Vicky Katie Toal Lucas Murtagh Leon

Dearenee Nelson-Brandford Jadesola Pupils Daisy O’Leary-Pye Lily Claire Carroll Olga Pasternak Sebahat Ketlin Namaganda Stefan Pasternak Daisy Osio Orororo Olivia Popiolek James Charlie Torrison Emmie Proctor Rachel Rajkumar Luke Caitlin Reeves Mashal Brodrick Rigg Noura Hettie Shaw Ruby Neo Walters Romain Julianna Wane Ashleigh

18 THE ADVENTURES OF COUNT ORY Trumpet Liz King Orchestra Philip Smith Lyndsay Thwaites Deb Browne Maggie Ellis First Violin Pamela Karantonis Lucia D’Avanzo-Lewis Trombone Pauline Shimell Miriam Carrera Richard Miller Rae Broom Alex Coupe John Bell Rebecca Sharman Sarah Fraser Martin McHugh Rita Craft Ann Lorek Timpani Rose Ballantyne Valeria Riso Nico Metten Sonia Ennals Amy Smith Susan Howe Percussion Suzi Clements Second Violin Anel le Bruyn Gemma Dickinson Andrew Latta Peter Dempsey Adam Higgs Nahum Cahouna Alix Adams Emma Fry Alun Butler Sarah Mansfield Count Ory Choir Cherry Potts Philip Smith Soprano Lukasz Wajda Susanne Albert Viola Adele Harris Alice Robinson Tony Valsamidis Sarah Malcolm Ayeesha Waller Guy Elliott Malcolm Sentance Caroline Foster Christopher Seaden Josie Aston Carolyn Williamson Richard Whitfield Nim Di Ricci Cas Magill Tony Brewer Cello Diane Gasson Steffan Rees Doreen Grandon Andy Layne Meg Dinkeldien Doris Negrier Benjamin Ellis Marianne Hardisty Fiona Gardiner David Culpan Paul Meins Fiona Sanderson David Mears Marco Russo Gillian Smith George Lusty Helen Warner John Baldwin Double Bass Kathleen Boyle Nick Simpson Christina Cooper Maggie Mullarkey Paul Bolton Terry Heard Maureen Wood Simon Phillips Keith Pinnock Mona Bagheri Terence Cowling Rebecca Swann Flute Rosie Taylor Pauline Savage Ruth Devine Penny Gunstone Sarah Bulford Mini Chorus Oboe Sheila Twitchett Soprano Lydia Brookes Vicky Smith Marrianne Town Smith Anne Sykes Kirsty McLean Alto Jessica Thayer Clarinet Barbara Kolator Chris Hatton Elizabeth Goldman Alto Liz Glasser Gill Grant Milda Fontanetti Jackie Rice Eva Ribbing Bassoon Jane Cooke Georgina Thorburn Hannah Benton Jane Ferguson Sue Rayner Jagruti Hassan Costume support French Horn Jo Newman Robin Brewer Jon Frank Judith Stephenson Rita Craft Hannah Key Kate Bone Jane Ferguson Kate Lomas Alex Joyce Set support Laura Sparkes Stefan Mather David Culpan Leslee Dryland

20 THE ADVENTURES OF COUNT ORY Ory’s Story

Trinity Laban’s Composition Project as part of Blackheath Halls Community Opera 2014

Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance has been working closely with musically talented pupils from Addey & Stanhope School to compose modern-day responses to the opera Count Ory. Project leader Joe Townsend and two Trinity Laban students have visited the school for five creative sessions in which the young musicians worked on their compositional, vocal and drama skills in order to create a unique ten minute performance. Ranging from a new love song composed in response to the Countess’ melancholic disposition to a reggae band’s jam composed in response to the games of Count Ory and his friends – this project really has seen no boundaries! Addey & Stanhope participants

Saezar Omer Alex Fevrier Sheila Mansaray Ines Proenca Raisa Aly Esther Kudou Musatu Kargbo Tito Ogunsakin Alana Morritt Callum Malcom-Kelly Emma Falola Jacob Taiwo Khoi Bawmkhai Micah Mugalu Jamilah Sesay Kemi-Louise Moore Jamila Mohammed Nicole Vi Aneeka Burgess Matthew Aguilar Shaun Nketiah Andres Valencia Yen Hoang Jheymili Mendoca Teacher: Matthew Teager Britney Aulestia Student leader: Claire Habbershaw Marien Addo Dinu-Mihai Stefan

22 THE ADVENTURES OF COUNT ORY From Paris to Blackheath – the adventures of Rossini’s The composer Gioachino Rossini (1792–1868) was born in Pesaro in North-East Italy, and became the most successful opera composer in the world during his lifetime. He is famous for composing 39 operas, and for his love of food, which inspired several well- known recipes. Most importantly, he wrote music that is gloriously tuneful and witty, often described as the musical equivalent of Champagne, and he made a speciality of the so-called ‘Rossini crescendo’, where a passage of music starts extremely softly and gets gradually louder in an exciting way. Rossini was unpretentious about his talent, once apparently stating “Give me a laundry list and I will set it to music”. Rossini, along with Donizetti and Bellini, is one of the defining figures in a period of Italian opera from the early 19th Century now known as ‘Bel canto’ (beautiful singing), which is noted for very florid vocal writing. The scrumptious 1828 comic operaLe Comte Ory - here re-styled for Blackheath Halls as The Adventures of Count Ory - dates from a period in Rossini’s career when he was achieving major success at the Paris Opera.

Count Ory is an irrestible score, worthy of being ranked alongside Rossini’s best-loved comedies and La Cenerentola, and provides a strong contrast After its 1828 première, Count Ory maintained a toe-hold in the repertoire of the to his ‘opera seria’ (serious opera) masterpieces such as and . Paris Opera throughout the second half of the 19th Century, but then largely However, the comic subject matter of Count Ory is not what one would have expected disappeared from the world’s stages in the early 20th Century. However, revivals in from a piece intended for Paris Opera, which in the 1820s was the home of ‘Grand Florence and at the Glyndebourne Festival in the 1950s led to a change in the opera’s opera’, where works based on high-flown episodes from history or mythology were fortunes, and it is now a firm favourite with opera companies worldwide, whose the norm. In that sense two other of Rossini’s Paris Opera pieces - Moïse et Pharaon popularity seems to increase with every passing year. A 1988 production (Moses and Pharoah) and Guillaume Tell () - were more in keeping with at Dartford’s Orchard Theatre, starring Neil Jenkins and directed by Richard Jones, Parisian expectations. Count Ory’s plot, despite its origins in a French medieval tale, is made a great impression on the writer of this article. a romp, given a veneer of respectability by the involvement of distinguished librettist Rossini’s next and final opera afterCount Ory, was the epic Guillaume Tell which Eugène Scribe, who wrote the sung text in collaboration with Charles-Gaspard received its first performance in Paris in 1829. After that Rossini, at the age of just 37, Delestre-Poirson (rendered here in David Parry’s brand new English translation). stopped composing operas. Over the course of the remaining 39 years of his life he was But Rossini’s music in Count Ory is often magnificent in scale in a way that certainly effectively in retirement, writing very little except for a collection of miniature pieces was appropriate to the Paris Opera, and he provided a star vehicle for tenor Adolphe which he described as his Péchés de Vieillesse (Sins of old age), and his 1864 choral Nourrit - celebrated for his high Cs and Ds. Count Ory’s combination of broad farce masterpiece La Petite Messe Solennelle. In 1855 he moved from Italy to Paris and lived with extraordinarily inspired and uplifting music invites comparison with Mozart’s there until his death in 1868. He is buried in the Père Lachaise Cemetery in Paris. Così fan tutte. The ‘three-in-a-bed’ trio which brings Act 2 of Count Ory to its Putting on a production of Count Ory at Blackheath Halls could conceivably raise ecstatic climax is without a doubt among the finest pages in Rossini. And we in some issues: 21st Century political correctness and Count Ory have very little in Blackheath are proud to be presenting the first British performances of the original common; and the educational element of our Community Opera is a crucial feature Act 2 Finale of Count Ory, one of the revelations of Damien Colas’ new critical of the project. I leave it to you to assess whether the plot of the opera bears any edition of the piece published by Bärenreiter. more serious scrutiny than that of a ‘Carry On’ film. But what music! Furthermore, Rossini and many other opera composers of his day regularly plagiarised themselves Ory is very well written from the point of view of the orchestra and chorus, essential by re-using music from earlier pieces that might otherwise have been forgotten. components of a Blackheath Halls Community Opera production. Rose Ballantyne, About half of the music of Count Ory is taken from (The Journey Harry Fehr, Keith Murray and I pondered these questions in a suitably thoughtful to Reims), an opera written to commemorate the coronation of King Charles X of manner, before abandoning ourselves to Rossini’s genius, throwing scruples to the France in 1825. After its 1825 performances, Il Viaggio a Reims was thought to be lost winds. After the bloodshed of last year’s Macbeth, I hope that we can be forgiven for entirely, until scholars re-discovered its manuscript sources in the 1970s, leading to a indulging in a little joie de vivre! triumphant revival at the 1984 Pesaro Festival under the baton of Claudio Abbado. Enjoy the show. It is remarkable that although Count Ory contains several numbers re-cycled from Il Viaggio a Reims, the music feels absolutely right in its new dramatic context. Nicholas Jenkins. 1 July 2014

24 THE ADVENTURES OF COUNT ORY THE ADVENTURES OF COUNT ORY 25 Blackheath Halls is grateful to the following people and organisations who through their generous support have made the eighth Blackheath Halls Opera possible. Grateful thanks to: • Arts Council England for their continued and generous support of Blackheath Halls Organisations who are supporting the 2014 Blackheath Halls Opera: Community Opera; • The London Borough of Lewisham for their continued support of Blackheath Halls Arts Council England; The London Borough of Lewisham; The Fischer Fund; The Hearn Community Opera; Foundation; and The Samuel Gardner Memorial Trust. • The Hearn Foundation, The Samuel Gardner Memorial Trust and The Fischer Trust Sponsors of Blackheath Halls Opera: for their grants to the project; • Matthew Rose, Ailyn Pérez, Quinn Kelsey, Kate Howden, Miriam Murphy and Steven John Baldwin and Barbara Kolator; Geoffrey Collens; Alex Coupe and William Phillips; Maughan for launching the 2014 Blackheath Halls Community Opera with a fantastic Stuart and Laura Fraser; Alasdair Neil. Gala Night on 2nd March 2014 which raised considerable funds for the opera; • Our Blackheath Halls Community Opera Ambassadors Helena Bayliss, Geoffrey Benefactors of Blackheath Halls Opera: Collens, and Matthew Rose; In memory of Tom Ivory QC; Rachel and Ray Adams; Roger and Marilyn Ballisat; • Our wonderful professional opera singers for their generosity and commitment; Tony Bevan and Glenys Johnson; Anne Burton; Stephen and Tina Challacombe; Peter • The many enthusiastic members of the local community for taking part in this project: the community chorus; the Blackheath Halls orchestra; and all the and Susan Colvin; Peter and Maureen Cottrell; Richard and Meg Dinkeldein; participating students from Trinity Laban who have given so much time and talent Joanna Embling; Sonia Ennals and Jim Wintour; Derek and Fiona Gardiner; Valerie to the project; Gordon-Walker; Jay and Bella Hassan; Mike and Judy Hildesley; Jonathan and Yvonne • Jagruti Hassan, Fiona Gardiner and all the chorus members who have cooked and Horsfall Turner; Andrew and Elizabeth McKnight; Ian and Mary Nisse; Jonathan and baked and fed the chorus and raised considerable funds for the opera in doing so! Marjorie Ouvry; Nick and Alison Palmer; Steven and Mary Clare Parker; Francesca • Claire Soares and Emily Hall for all their help and hard work; Robinson; Mark and Cate Rowntree; David and Fiona Sanderson; Philip and • The children for their energetic participation; Jean Smith; Andrew Webster and Krzysztof Drutel; Richard and Ginny Williams. • The many staff and parents from Lee Manor Primary School and St Margaret’s C of E Primary School for all the work they have put in to supporting the project; Patrons of Blackheath Halls Opera: • The young people from Charlton School and Greenvale School for their involvement; David and Georgina Bowers; Anthony Bowne; Tom and Gill Butler; Robin and • Marie Dixson, Elizabeth Whittick, Rachel Dunlop and Katie Hoal and all the other Margaret Drummond; John and Mary Harman; Linda Hirst; Bruce and Sara Mauleverer; staff and parents from Charlton and Greenvale Schools for all their advice, support and involvement; Joan Ruddock; Howard and Sue Shields; Brian and Jane Sullivan. • Harry Fehr and Nicholas Jenkins for their vision, ideas, commitment and hard work; Supporters of Blackheath Halls Opera: • The design team for creating this set, costume designs and lighting with such vision and attention to detail; Chieko Allford; Jim and Harriett Baldwin; Joe and Jean Barnard; Mirella Bartrip; • All the other members of the team for all their support and hard work; Mary Baylis; Helena Bayliss; Hugh and Cathy Bohling; Andrew Bradshaw; Tony and • Anna Wyatt and Joe Townsend for their work on the composition project with Robin Brewer; Sean Briggs; Mary Bright; William Clapham; Mike and Jane Cooke; Addey and Stanhope School; Brian Dodsworth; Pat Doyne-Ditmas; Mike and Leslee Dryland; Mike and Rosemary • Liz Glasser for her work with teachers; Duff; Anthony Eggleston; Elizabeth Glasser; Abigail Graham; Doreen Grandon; • The children and staff at the primary schools for their wonderful display work Martin McHugh; Johnny Langridge; Jocelyn Lewis; Jeff Lock; Alison Marriott; around Blackheath Halls; Ian Paton; Richard and Joanna Perks; Steven Randall; David and Jennifer Reckless; • All the local businesses mentioned in the programme for their financial contribution; Clare Roden; Frances Simpson; Frank and Karin Smith; Derek and Lieneke Thomas; • Blackheath Halls staff for all their hard work and commitment to the project, in Lyndsay Thwaites; Harry Ungoed; Cyril and Amelia Weight; Eva Woloshyn; Clodagh particular Rose Ballantyne the Project Manager; and Robin Woodall; Helma Zebregs and Martin Smith; and many anonymous donors. • Colin Dunlop for designing all the posters, flyers and this programme to support the project; • All of you for coming to watch!

26 THE ADVENTURES OF COUNT ORY THE ADVENTURES OF COUNT ORY 27

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