Page 10 - Oxted Local November 2024

10 November 2024 • Oxted Local 
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La Bohème
In November, Oxted based New Aquarian Opera will
perform Puccini’s La Bohème at The Barn Theatre
Oxted. This story of love at first sight ending in tragic
heartbreak, is the opera that inspired the musicals
Rent and Moulin Rouge.
Oxted based soprano and director Melanie Vinall
wanted to bring opera back to the Barn Theatre,
Oxted and The New Aquarian Opera Company was
relaunched with a new creative team in 2019.
Post Covid, in November 2021, the first production
was the English debut of Gilbert and Sulivan’s
Improbable New Musical - Less Miserable! at Oxted’s
Barn Theatre. This retold the story of Les Mis using
original G&S music and words, but being G&S, no-
one dies, and it has a happy ending!
The second production in October 2022, was Lehár’s
operetta, The Merry Widow which was followed
last November by Mozart’s The Marriage of Figaro,
fully staged in English with a chamber ensemble,
receiving rave reviews, comparing the principal
singers to those at grand opera houses such as
Glyndebourne.
Earlier this year, as part of the Barn Theatre’s
Centenary Celebrations, Aquarian produced a
one-night Gala concert of Last Night of The Proms
favourites, which was performed with Puccini’s one
act comic opera Gianni Schicchi.
Aquarian Opera exists to present high quality, fully
staged opera in English with a live orchestra at local
community theatres. They provide a platform for
professional young singers to train and perform
lead roles vital in their repertoire and for their future
careers. Aquarian also bring onboard individuals
wanting theatre experience; the La Bohème set
has been
designed
by 18-year-
old Henry
Anderson
who has just
started at
Nottingham
University
studying
set design.
Accessibility
is important,
the cast and
crew span
the ages
from 12 to
84, they encourage multi-generational involvement
with local groups and schools, who get the
experience of sharing the stage with their wonderful
professional singers.
Next year’s main production will be Die Fledermaus,
which being an operetta, will include dancers,
anyone who saw The Merry Widow, will remember
their very complicated Can-Can and ballet. They also
have the support of an opera company in the USA,
with whom they are collaborating to perform their
new production of The Mikado, set in Scotland -
The McAdo.
Aquarian’s chorus is made up of local people,
some seasoned stage performers and some with
no previous stage experience, and they are always
happy to hear from people interested in joining
them, provided they sing in tune! Unlike the
principal singers, who are expected to turn up
knowing their music, the amateur chorus are treated
much more gently in rehearsals, with the music
taught line by line, so the ability to read music is not
required. A lot of fun is had at rehearsals and a lot of
cake is eaten in the breaks!
Above all, as a charity promoting great opera,
the experience for everyone must be enjoyable
and enriching, Aquarian believe that Opera is for
everyone.
Aquarian Opera perform Puccini’s
tragic masterpiece, La Bohème at the
Barn Theatre Oxted on 21st to 23rd
November 2024 7:30pm Tickets £25
Booking at www.aquarianopera.com