Join the Opera and Help to Create ‘A Town that Sings’
In HIP Issue 169 [Barefoot Opera: Back in Bloom] Fiona McGarry wrote about the background and development of Barefoot Opera’s ambitious Bloom Britannia project. Now, with Lockdown easing, she looks at how their Bloom … with us campaign is gearing up for rehearsals which restart after Easter.
Those who participated in 2019 describe the “exhilaration” of being in this community project – it lifted their spirits, improved their wellbeing and brought them a sense of novelty and satisfaction. “It’s a step outside your normal,” says Julie Tucker-Williams. It’s special for professional singers too: Bev Lee Harling feels that being part of such a large group gives her “this really warm sense that we’re all connected together… I just think it’s wonderful to be able to share that music with everybody.”
If you thought that opera was only for people who eat caviar on toast for breakfast, think again. Paul Toon, a member of Barefoot Opera’s Seaview Choir, was surprised to find that the project wasn’t at all elitist: “I always thought [opera] was for the toffs and the posh people, but having done some of the work with Jenny, it’s just opened my mind up to a different genre of music.”
And Barefoot Opera are also keen to stress the inclusive nature of the project: people of all ages and backgrounds and all levels of singing ability are welcomed. You just need to be enthusiastic and willing to set time aside each week to take part.
Singing coach and director, Jenny Miller, will guide and support participants through the rehearsals ready for performances in the Autumn. The idea is that “participants learn singing techniques as they learn how to sing the opera.” Justin Greenland, now 18, has been involved with the project since the start and points out that “you don’t have to worry about sounding like a dying cat,” because all of you are singing and you might not be the only one.
Justin’s journey shows how the project can expand people’s horizons. He is now interested in having a career in music, performance and singing. Like Paul, he was originally under the impression that opera wasn’t very accessible to normal people. He first watched an opera – Don Giovanni – on a school trip. He says: “I was NOT impressed – I didn’t think it was for me … but after participating in Bloom Britannia, I soon realised that opera isn’t just ‘over the top’ singing. It can be anything you want it to be!”
One of the reasons that opera tends to appeal to a ‘niche’ market is that it’s normally expensive to watch and stage. But amazingly, Bloom Britannia is free to everyone. Julie Tucker-Williams urges potential recruits to take advantage of this and points out that this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to work with professional musicians:
“What they’ve given you is singing lessons, stagecraft – all those sorts of things… you turn up and become part of the community there. You don’t have to sign up for anything and you don’t have to pay for the rehearsals. You just enjoy and get what you can from it – it’s there.”
• Want to find out more? Go to their website for details or email [email protected] for an information pack.
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