Opera at Bearwood - Justin Lavender - BBC Interview

Wokingham based Opera at Bearwood welcomes new musical
director and presents this summer's production - Bizet's Carmen
British tenor Justin Lavender has been appointed the new musical director of
Opera at Bearwood based in Wokingham. Justin who has sung with many of
the world's leading opera companies including Covent Garden, La Scala and
Vienna State Opera, says 'I know about orchestral vocal music -- it's been my
life, and I've worked with the best conductors and singers' he explains. ' So to
be invited to direct an opera company that's ready for change is the ideal
opportunity to use this experience for the benefit of Opera at Bearwood's
audiences and members'.
Commenting on Justin's appointment, Opera at Bearwood's chair Carol Hughes
said: 'This is a significant step for us as we go into our 21st year. Justin not only
brings a wealth of experience of working as an internationally acclaimed
soloist, but as a professional singer, teacher, and musician, he has already
made a huge contribution to the quality of our music and general production.'
Founded in 1993, Opera at Bearwood presents one main operatic production a
year in the theatre of Bearwood College, Sindlesham near Wokingham where
Opera goers are cordially invited to picnic 'Glyndebourne-style' in the
picturesque grounds each evening prior to curtain-up or for the matinee
before or after the show.
Opening on Tuesday 16th July at 7.30pm Carmen runs for 5 nights until
Saturday 20th July with an additional matinee performance at 2.30pm on
Saturday 20th July.
This year's cast of principals sees the return of some Opera at Bearwood
friends and professional singers but also the injection of a number of new
singers at early stages in their professional operatic careers. We also are very
pleased to announce the inclusion of a children's chorus in this year's
production with boys and girls joining us from local groups including the choir
of St Michael's and All Angels Church, Sandhurst.
Carmen is an opera in four acts by the French composer Georges Bizet. The
opera tells the story of the downfall of Don José, a naïve soldier who is
seduced by the fiery Gypsy, Carmen. José abandons his childhood sweetheart
and deserts from his military duties, yet loses Carmen's love to the glamorous Bull Fighter Toreador Escamillo, after which José kills her in a jealous rage. The
depictions of proletarian life, immorality and lawlessness, and the tragic
outcome in which the main character dies on stage was originally highly
controversial but the "Toreador song" from act 2 is among the best known of
all operatic arias and Carmen's Habanera in Act 1 will be familiar to many.
Bizet's music has been widely acclaimed for its brilliance of melody, harmony,
atmosphere and orchestration, and for the skill with the emotions and
suffering of the characters are represented musically.
The production team includes Justin Lavender as musical director and Eileen
Pinkarchevski as Producer.
For more information visit: www.operaartbearwood.com
For further media enquiries please contact: David Saunders on 07540 468361
or [email protected]
For tickets contact the box office by telephone on 07580 352006 or 0118 9676699 or by e-mail [email protected]