Current Repertoire:
 |
|
| |
| About Swansea City Opera |
| |
Background Information |
| Swansea City Opera was formed with financial assistance from City & County of Swansea and incorporates elements of Opera Box Limited, a smaller, well-accredited, touring opera company, established in 1989. Opera Box was chosen by the City & County of Swansea to form the basis of their new flagship company because of the high standards of its productions and musical values, and its fifteen years experience in touring quality opera to theatres of all sizes.
Touring and Repertoire Information
Since its launch in May 2004, Swansea City Opera has toured to 91 venues across the UK. The company’s repertoire so far has included Cosi fan Tutte, The Barber of Seville, The Pearl Fishers, and most recently, the rarely performed, The Daughter of the Regiment by Donizetti. Performances of all operas have proved extremely popular, attracting substantial audiences and amply fulfilling SCO’s role as ambassador for the City and County of Swansea.
| Support from City & County of Swansea
The following are some words of support from Gerald Clement, the Council's Cabinet Member for Culture, Recreation and Tourism:
 
As Cabinet Member for Culture, Recreation and Tourism at City & County of Swansea,I am proud and delighted to be supporting Swansea City Opera and its educational arm, The Opera School Wales. Our commitment was inspired, in part, by the need to broadcast the name and culture of our City outside Wales. This fact, combined with the company's high standards of artistic and musical excellence, will make the City's flagship opera company an important ambassador for Swansea throughout Britain and abroad.
Councillor Gerald Clement
Cabinet Member for Culture, Recreation and Tourism
City & County of Swansea
A word from the Directors of SCO
We are thrilled that the City & County of Swansea have had the confidence and foresight to strengthen not only the cultural life of the city but also the whole of Wales by supporting this exciting new company into its fourth season. With its substantial support the Council has shown a very positive commitment to addressing the issues of social inclusion in respect of opera in its area and beyond, and we are proud to be its ambassador.
Swansea City Opera is a new touring opera company which tours throughout the UK. Particular emphasis is be placed on touring within Wales, especially Objective 1 and Communities First areas, where performances are given at a subsidised cost. This is being achieved by touring repertoire in as adaptable a way as possible, in the magnificent Swansea Grand Theatre for example the company is fifty strong but in more intimate venues it reduces to around fifteen. This new initiative of an adaptable approach to opera enables theatres of all sizes to provide opera at an affordable price on the doorstep of people throughout the Principality, Swansea City Opera really will be taking opera to the people.
We are also acutely aware of the need to develop and encourage young talented singers in Wales and so by working in partnership with The Opera School Wales (TOSW) we are able give these young artists that much needed practical experience at the beginning of their careers. Swansea City Opera offers real development opportunities to promising young Artists of the School, by giving chorus/understudy or solo work on the tour.
Finally we must also stress our commitment to education work. Not only work with young school children but also in the community as a whole. Opera is a great tool for building self confidence, teamwork, awareness and basic social and life skills. An important by-product of this education work is dispelling the myth that opera is only for the privileged few and emphasising that this great art form can be enjoyed by everyone.
Swansea City Opera has been formed to meet these needs with the inspired forethought and support of the City & County of Swansea, a Council at the heart of Communities First and Objective 1 areas. With its commitment our aspirations are now a reality.
Brendan Wheatley | Bridgett Gill
Artistic Directors
|
|
|
