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Issue #11
T u t t i V o c e !
April ‘08
The News Letter for North Norfolk Chamber Opera
Hello again! Remember me? Can’t believe this is the first newsletter I’ve been asked to send out since October last year!!
So, may I wish you all a Very Merry Christmas, a Happy New Year…er...and a Happy Easter..!!
So much has happened in the last 6 months it’s difficult to know where to begin….
In late October, and again in November we enjoyed our “Not So Grand Opera” Concerts, at North Elmham and Thorpe Market
respectively, under the baton, (oooer!) of Maggi, ably assisted by Jan. Great, fun evenings, with lots of serious and “not so” serious
items, which, along with the chips, seemed to go down well with the audience!
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In late November we had our now traditional Tombola stall at “The-Annual-Holt-Festive-Lights-Switch-On-Evening-Ceremony-Do…….”
(phew!). Despite the rain, (and our raffle tickets turning into a kind of disgusting luminous pink papier mache mush!), we still managed to
raise the magnificent total of -: £ 2 0 7 . 5 0 ! !
Start collecting items NOW for this year’s stall!
It was with very great sadness we learned in January that our good friend Peter had lost his battle with Lymphoma. As I’m sure most of
you know, Peter was a very keen and active member of NNCO, and other local groups. He will of course be best remembered for his
creation of Henry VIII in ‘The Song in the Blickling Garden’. Our thoughts and sympathies go to Sal & Jonathon, now living in Sussex.
In Peter’s memory a collection was taken after our most recent show, “Don Giovanni”. With money still coming in, it looks like the Society
will have raised about £100.00 for the Lymphoma Association. Many thanks to all who helped raise this money, especially Kay.
Well Done to everyone involved in making Don Giovanni such a resounding success!
After a lot of hard work, all our efforts paid off, and we were greeted with rapturous applause from probably the biggest audiences we have
seen in many a year! Our grateful thanks go especially to Jeff and Marjory for imparting their expertise, and we look forward to working with
them both again – although both have said, (for the time being), they would like a well earned rest!
Although the final figures are yet to be balanced, with a grant from the Norfolk Opera Trust, it looks as though we will have broken even on
Don Giovanni – a fantastic result!
And for those of you who missed the Reviews in the ‘North Norfolk News’, and from Sue Dupont, (our NODA Rep), read on…..
What a splendid evening for ear and eye with this meticulously crafted production from Jeff Davies, and how good to see Marjory Baker in charge of the
music with her return to the Norfolk side of the East Anglian border, an excellent combination
In the title role, Huw Jones had the fine looks, the swashbuckling manners, the seduction, the stylish philandering of the young nobleman, and the voice
ideal for this part. Well supported in all his rakish plots by Leporello with a speed of notes and excellent diction helped by good timing, Clive McCombie
really made this role his own with splendid voice. In this very well balanced cast, the music displayed to great advantage with the sympathetic
rendition of Des Holmes’ Don Ottavio and the dark strength of the Commendatore from Chris Sullivan. On the lighter side, Nick Bird (Masetto)
worked in relaxed manner with a charming and seductive Zerlina from Beverley Baker, both excellent on the vocal and acting fronts. As Dona Anna,
Janette Davidson had style and stage presence and definitely all the notes to high quality, her performance of “You know now for certain” was quite
magnificent and delivered with inspired passion; (Kobbe states that ‘never elsewhere did Mozart write music for the soprano voice which is so extremely
heavy and taxing’). And Jayne Birch as Donna Elvira excelled in voice, in style, in anger and passion, in sorrow and joy, a brilliant performance of lyrical
soprano shining through. And one should not forget the chorus, especially in that outstanding Finale which sent the audience home revelling in this wonderful score.
Thank you. Sincerely, Sue. (For NODA – Eastern Area 5)
First impressions can be misleading. For it seemed the North Norfolk Chamber Opera had been a bit over-ambitious as the orchestra struck up a slightly wobbly
opening overture to Mozart’s massive four-hour opera. But enter stage right Leporello, played by Clive McCombie, and Donna Anna, by Janette Davidson, and the
production went from strength to strength.
For a group of amateurs, the standard of singing and acting was astounding. Without exception, the lead voices were strong and the audience was treated to some
great operatic performances and moving arias Having been slightly dubious about seeing the opera in English, it was much easier to become engrossed in the story
of the wicked philanderer Don Giovanni, without having to squint at a translation in the dark.
I found myself feeling for the unrequited Donna Elvira, played by Jayne Burch, as she passionately sang her heart out and the witty Leporello bought light relief to
what is quite a heavy story with rape, murder and hell. The chorus scenes were particularly spectacular, with colourful costumes and exciting fervent singing
backed up by the orchestra who got into their stride by the end.
In Italy many towns put on their own opera in their town square in summer, and following this performance, I think Holt would be well equipped to introduce this tradition.
Annabelle Dickson - North Norfolk News 3rd April, 2008.
PLEASE SIR, I WANT SOME MORE….OPERA & CHIPS!
Rehearsals are already underway for our next concerts, provisionally planned for September 27th and October 4th, one of the events being at
“Tracks”, North Elmham, the other venue possibly at the WI Hall, Cromer….Watch this space..
Maggi and Jan have been very hard at work putting together a programme which will include choral and solo items from “Oliver”,
“South Pacific”, “King’s Rhapsody”, and “West Side Story”, as well as some Ivor Novello, Mozart and other Classical pieces. If YOU
have any other suggestions of music you have always wanted to perform, just let Maggi know!
As always more MEN are urgently required – ANY OFFERS!?
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN THAT OUR ANNUAL GENRAL MEETING
WILL BE HELD AT THE LOADES HALL, METHODIST CHURCH, HOLT AT 7:30pm ON MONDAY 12th MAY.
(Followed by a shortened “Please Sir…” rehearsal)
We need at least two more committee members – please let Des know if you wish to stand (01485) 578236.
The Society cannot function without an active committee
SUBS (presently £25) WILL FALL DUE AT THE MEETING - PLEASE MOLLY HAVE YOUR PAYMENT A.S.A.P!
S P R I N G 2 0 0 9 .
The Auden Theatre has been booked for the week commencing 23rd March 2009, and it is with great pleasure that we can announce
Geoff Davidson has agreed to MD…..
Great Scenes from Grand Opera – (with Narrator)
Geoff says…. “Here's an outline of a programme for March. It should satisfy allcomers with bags for chorus, loads of action, and I'm going to ask
Jenny Bugg and her dancers to join us for the Party scenes and the Polovtsian Dances. The costume bill will be the biggest expenditure so we need to
keep costs down wherever possible. Some updating of operas will therefore result :
“The Letter Scene” from Mozart's “Marriage of Figaro” for example could well find itself set in an American high security prison called Shawshank……..”
We’ll probably do 4 performances, and we are very lucky to have acquired –at enormous expense - the services of the esteemed “Yamaha Symphony Orchestra”!
Part One
La Traviata - Verdi
Scene One (Party Scene)
Violetta Soprano
Alfredo Tenor
Marquis Bass
Flora Soprano
Baron Baritone
Doctor Bass
Gaston Tenor
Guests Chorus/dancers
El Amor Brujo – Manuel De Falla
Ritual Fire Dance Dancers
The Marriage of Figaro - Mozart
Letter Scene Act 3
Countess Soprano
Susanna Soprano
Gloriana – Benjamin Britten
Final Scene
Queen Elizabeth 1 Soprano
Lady Essex Mezzo soprano
Mountjoy Baritone
Raleigh Bass
Cecil Baritone
Voice of Essex Spoken (off)
MacBeth – Verdi
Scene One
MacBeth Baritone
Banquo Bass
Witches Lady’s Chorus/dancers
Messengers Men’s chorus
Part Two Eugene Onegin Waltz Scene Onegin Baritone Captain Bass Lenski Tenor Guests Chorus and Dancers Tosca - Puccini Scarpia death scene (Act Two) Scarpia Baritone Tosca Soprano L’Elisir d’Amore– Donizetti Act 2 scene Adina Soprano Nemorino Tenor Polovtsian Dances – Prince Igor - Borodin Chorus and dancers
Due to the shortage of men – Geoff would like ALL principals, where practical and possible to take part in ALL the choruses. It's all hands to the pumps, and he hopes everyone will cooperate in this. Geoff vows to keep everybody busy and not hanging about!
Auditions will probably be at the at Pre-Prep on -: Sunday 21st September. Ladies 11.30am - 1pm. Men 1.30pm - 2.30pm – See future newsletters for confirmation of these details…. NORWICH POPS SALON ORCHESTRA – presents “MELODIES FOR YOU” Including pieces from “South Pacific”, “My Fair Lady”, “The Sound of Music”, and Beethoven’s “Fur Elise”. CROMER PARISH CHURCH SATURDAY 24th MAY at 2pm STAR GUEST SINGER- Jayne May-Sysum (Soprano)
