East End Opera - Current Projects

Current Projects

East End Opera is involved in a number of projects and intiatives. Choose from the menu below to find out more, and keep coming back to see what else we're up to:

- Our Voice One Voice

- Opera Sunday

- Opening up Opera

- The Opera Club

- The Opera Collective

Our Voice One Voice

The Our Voice One Voice workshops were the brainchild of some of the young people who have worked with EEO over the past year, in particular on the Newham Vocal Pathways Course. They were so keen to have more lessons, workshops and performance opportunities that they applied to the Newham Youth Opportunity Fund and were successful in their bid for funding for these classes.

The workshop series (which includes solo lessons and theatre visits) will run until the end of March 2009, but with extra funding we hope to be able to continue until July.

Interested?
We welcome new participants to the workshops - participants must be aged between 13 – 19 years old and either resident in, or working or studying in, Newham. Young people under 18 will be asked to provide proof of parental permission of their participation in the workshops.

Group workshops take place on
Thursdays 4pm – 6pm
Saturdays 11am – 1pm

Venue
St John’s Church Hall
Stratford Broadway
E15 3PJ

Just drop in and try a workshop. No experience necessary!

Find out more
Visit the Our Voice One Voice page for news about the workshops and future performances from the participants, and biographies and pictures of some of the people involved.

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Opera Sunday

Following on from the success of the Opera Show and Tell concert in June 2007 we have launched a regular series of informal Sunday afternoon concerts where singers perform scenes and arias from some of the best-loved operas by composers such as Mozart, Puccini, Bizet and Rossini, and the audience has the opportunities to ask questions and speak to the performers about their studies, careers and lives as professional opera singers.

We hope the next Opera Sunday concert will take place in Spring 2009 - details to be announced soon.

To be added to the mailing list please contact:
Shirley Keane
07989 976053
info@eastendopera.co.uk

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Opening up Opera

In association with Newceys, East End Opera has run the Opening up Opera course for five terms at Stratford Circus.

Opening up Opera is a first-step introduction to opera - the aim of the classes are to encourage people who would like to try opera but have previously been put off by the standard preconception that opera is inaccessible. The course includes an optional visit to see an opera performed at the English National Opera, and entry to the Opera Sunday afternoon concert held at Stratford Circus.

Over six weeks in fun, relaxed classes we take a look at how to distinguish the main opera voice-types i.e. Soprano, Mezzo soprano, Tenor and Bass. The course will look at the history of opera and it’s development from Baroque and the early beginnings in Italy through to contemporary opera, but with particular focus on the voices, story and music of Madam Butterfly. The classes include listening exercises and encourages group discussion on our own likes and dislikes of opera.

Course details:
Meetings: We hope the next course will run in Spring 2009
Time: tbc
Venue: tbc
Cost of course: tbc

An optional visit to an English National Opera performance will take place in Spring 2009

For more details and to enrol please contact:
Shirley Keane
07989 976053
info@eastendopera.co.uk

Previous visits have been to Manon Lescaut at Opera Holland Park, Rigoletto, La Boheme, Carmen and Madame Butterfly by the English National Opera. We are extremely grateful to these companies for their support of our visits.

Statements from previous participants:
“Thanks to you I have listened to my first Leontyne Price CD. I loved it!”
“Great group rapport and professional teaching made this a really enjoyable course.”

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The Opera Club

The Opera Club is inspired by previous course members who would like to continue developing their interest in opera and who enjoy the passionate discussions that developed as a result of attending the performances.

Open to anyone, EEO will book and organise for a group to attend a performance of an opera. This will be followed a short time later by the group getting together for a follow-up analysis and discussion. (We will try to keep it friendly!!)

Cost will only be the price of the ticket.
East End Opera does not profit from arranging these opera trips.

Next visits to be announced soon.

To join the mailing list please contact:
Shirley Keane
07989 976053
info@eastendopera.co.uk

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The Opera Collective

East End Opera’s long-term aims include the development of a strong, committed, professional ensemble. With this in mind we have created The Opera Collective.

Led by artistic director Shirley Keane The Opera Collective is an interactive practice session for professional singers.

The ongoing workshops encourage singers to take their solo practice out of the studio and to share their experience and talents with their peers by working together on opera scenes, duets and ensemble with experienced accompanists.

The Opera Collective offers singers the opportunity to

* Explore new repertoire
* Develop acting skills
* Increase motivation
* Generate new contacts
* Create performance opportunities

For details of times and cost please email a copy of your CV to info@eastendopera.co.uk

Please note The Opera Collective is for professional standard singers.
You must have attended a third level vocal course or have equivalent professional experience.

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