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    • 2023 Carmen
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    • 2017 The Magic Flute
    • 2016 Macbeth
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    • 2014 Carmen
    • 2013 Madam Butterfly
    • 2011 Pinafore
    • (more pages coming but it'll take a while to get back to 1980!)
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Welcome to Opera South East

Opera South East is based in Hastings and is one of the few companies in the South East to regularly perform opera with full chorus and orchestra. 

We attract established singers and musicians as well as young professional performers at the start of their career.  At its heart is a chorus of enthusiastic and friendly amateur singers under professional music and artistic direction. 

We welcome new members of all ages interested in any aspect of opera performance, be that on or off stage.

Join us!

Forthcoming OSE events

Gilbert & Sullivan Gala
OSE  Presents ... 

"A rollicking romp"​

The chorus of OSE, and invited guests, unite in taking a musical journey through the topsy turvy world of Gilbert & Sullivan.

There will be three performances over three consecutive nights at three different venues:
  • Friday 25th April 2025   -  St. Thomas the Martyr Church, Winchelsea 
  • Saturday 26th April  2025 -  Emmanuel Centre, Harrier Lane, Battle
  • Sunday 27th April 2025   -  St. Peter's Church, Bexhill
 
Be transported into this mystical world of fun and frivolity, and enjoy an evening with Gilbert & Sullivan.

Tickets are priced at £15 and may be purchased in advance from:
  • Winchelsea Farm Kitchen, 11-12 High St, Winchelsea TN36 4EA
  • Emmanuel Centre, Harrier Lane, Battle, TN33 0FL
  • Second Spin, 14 Sackville Rd, Bexhill-on-Sea TN39 3JL, or
  • online from Ticket Source - www.ticketsource.co.uk/opera-south-east
Tickets online from Ticket Source
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Carmen 2023 rehearsal photos.photos courtesy of Peter Mould

Announcement: Marcio da Silva

PRESS RELEASE - September 2023

Opera South East is delighted to announce that with immediate effect Marcio da Silva has been appointed Musical Director/Conductor of the Company, taking over the baton from Kenneth Roberts, who announced his intention to relinquish this responsibility after almost fifty years at the helm.

Chairman, John Rycroft, says, “The Company owes so much to Ken who, with a few close friends and colleagues, set in motion the beginnings of what today is recognised as a major player in the operatic world. Ken's single-minded drive to achieve this is a tribute to his overall skill and ability. To know we shall be in very capable hands of Marcio da Silva is a real bonus. Over the last decade he has made a mark on the musical life in Hastings and the surrounding area and has built up an enviable reputation.
 
Following Ken Roberts's decision last autumn to 'pass' on the baton of Opera South East, and with a stunning performance of Bizet's Carmen in April at the White Rock Theatre, Hastings,  the Company is pleased to announce that Marcio da Silva will be taking over the podium next April with a performance of Donizetti's L'Elisir d'Amore/The elixir of Love, with artistic direction provided by Eleanor Strutt.  As in previous years musical accompaniment will be provided by members of the Sussex Concert Orchestra. Performance dates at the White Rock Theatre, Hastings are Friday/Saturday 26th/27th April 2024.  
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Join our OSE Chorus as a new singing Member

Calling all New Chorus - Consider joining our Chorus line for rehearsals for our next concert or opera production - see Join our chorus and apply
Join our Chorus

Recent Operas - 2019 - La Traviata

Awarded 'Highly Commended' by NODA on 19 April 2020

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2022 rehearsals for The Mikado are (again) in progress after a second year of delays due to Covid, courtesy of Mark Duncan
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Our previous fully-staged opera production was Carmen 21-22 April ​2023

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Carmen 2023, photos courtesy of Peter Mould

Awards for OSE!

We are thrilled to announce today (19 April 2020) that OSE has today been awarded a Highly Commended accolade by NODA's South East Region (National Operatic and Dramatic Association) in the Best Opera category for 2019 performances for our production of La Traviata. Congratulations to the OSE cast of chorus, principals, the dancers, to Fraser Grant, Kenneth Roberts, to the Sussex Concert Orchestra, to the back-stage crew, and to all who have helped with admin and other support. Principals were Kristy Swift, Julia Bovee, Karen McInally, Harry Kersley, Arthur Coomber, Alexander S-Roberts, Oscar Smith, John Rycroft, David Woloszko, Jack Naismith, and Maya Godlonton-White.
The official NODA presentation is of course delayed due to the pandemic.
Well done all of you! 
We also won Best Opera for our 2018 production, Eugene Onegin
and won an Accolade of Musical Excellence for our 2015 Carmen.
Link for more info...

OSE on BBC Radio 4

Monday 4 April 2022 - we got a mention on BBC's The Unbelievable Truth - 2 mins 50 secs in!  OK, so it wasn't a 'truth' and was purportedly based in Southend, but fun nonetheless.  Did they know we had a production that weekend?  Thank you!

Past production - Eugene Onegin - 2018

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​The Magic Flute 2017

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Audience comments from 8 April 2022 - The Mikado

"I've seen the Mikado several times but I think this was the best for characterisation and character."

2016 Macbeth Act 2 Finale after Banquo’s assassination, with ailing Macbeth and embarrassed dinner guests, photos courtesy of Mark Duncan

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@OperaSouthEast With thanks to Glyndebourne for tweeting us

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Azucena and the Count Di Luna with the chorus of soldiers, Act 3 No.10 Scena and Terzetto, Il Trovatore, April 2015

Video Clip from Il Trovatore Sitzprobe with the SCO

​(by kind permission of members of the Sussex Concert Orchestra)
Mari Wyn Williams singing from Act IV of Il Trovatore with the Sussex Concert Orchestra - Monday 20th April.  Recorded on an iPhone without a proper mic but OK actually!  If the video picture is not buffering well then we suggest you download the video and play it locally for best results - free to download for non-commercial purposes (copyright OSE 2015)
Carmen, 2014 - Gemma Morsley (Carmen) and Barnaby Beer (Zuniga)
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H.M.S. Pinafore, 2011

Rent a Choir !

If you have a wedding or other event for which you'd like to hire a choir of say 15 then consider Opera South East.  A regular event would typically cost £500, plus £100 for an organist.  Contact our Chairman...
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Orpheus and Eurydice, 2009
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With special thanks to The Sussex Concert Orchestra for your continued support of OSE
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Domain & email kindly provided by Laton Technical  

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