Friday 21st and Saturday 22nd April 2023
Opera South East presents...
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Director: Eleanor Strutt
Conductor: Marcio da Silva Opera South East are pleased to announce their forthcoming production of Donizetti's comic opera, The Elixir of Love, in two acts at the White Rock Theatre, Hastings.
Following her success with Opera South East's production of Carmen in April 2023, Artistic Director, Eleanor Strutt, who first came to prominence to Hastings audiences with her collaboration in Prologue Opera's production of 'Becoming Carmen' in the autumn of 2022, returns to the south coast to set this production of The Elixir of Love in the seaside resort of Hastings. In the early 1950s, the local council have decided to promote the town as a seaside resort, producing colourful leaflets and posters, all aimed at convincing potential holidaymakers that the town offers a glamorous alternative to what were still straitened post-war circumstances. The star of the advertising campaign is the wealthy and attractive Adina, who loves being the centre of attention. She is pursued by two would-be suitors: the simple Nemorino, and the cocky sergeant Belcore. When the spiv "doctor" Dulcamara, visits the town with his miracle cures, Nemorino asks if he has an "Elixir of Love". Ever the salesman, Dulcamara repurposes a bottle of cheap wine to the credulous Nemorino. But then, magically, the "Elixir of Love" seems to have its desired effect.... Following Ken Roberts' retirement after last April's production of Carmen, Opera South East have appointed Marcio da Silva as its Musical Director and Conductor. Marcio is well known to Hastings audiences having made a huge contribution to the musical life of the whole town, offering an impressive range of high-quality choral, orchestral and chamber music performances each year since his arrival in Hastings just over a decade ago. Opera South East is also delighted to welcome Helen May to the cast for this production, who plays the role of Adina, with John Twitchen as the hapless Nemorino, with Richard Woodall as Dr Dulcamara, Oshri Segev as Belcore and Eleanor Westbrook as Adina's friend, Gianetta. Accompanying the cast in this production will be members of the Sussex Concert Orchestra, who continue their long association with Opera South East. Cast your mind back to those sun-drenched beaches of the 1950s and enjoy the nostalgia of long ago! Directed by Eleanor Strutt, and conducted by Kenneth Roberts who was joined by the Sussex Concert Orchestra in the pit for this wonderful feast of music and drama, and of course the chorus of Opera South East singing on stage, with Principal performers as below...
Pre-show TalkThere was be a pre-show talk from the Director Saturday April 22nd 2023. This is free and open to all ticket holders from both evenings and lasts about 20 minutes.
The Director - Eleanor Strutt
Director Eleanor Strutt makes her debut with Opera South East and comes highly regarded having directed an acclaimed and powerful production of Becoming Carmen for Prologue Opera at The Stables Theatre in Hastings last November.
Eleanor graduated with a first in Music from King’s College London, and a distinction for her MMus in Vocal Performance at Trinity Laban, studying with Joan Rodgers, Alison Wells, and Robert Bottreil. 
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2023 rehearsal photos
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NODA's Best Opera awardWe were thrilled to receive this Best Opera in 2019 from the National Operatic and Dramatic Association for our 2018 production of Eugene Onegin, and since then our 2019 production of La Traviata has was selected for Musical accolade of excellence in NODA District 3 |
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The CastPrincipals
Deirdre Arratoon
Carmen Rising Irish Mezzo-soprano, Deirdre Arratoon, known for her voice that is 'rich, velvety and full of expression' is based in the UK. Deirdre feels lucky to perform regularly in both the UK and Ireland, She was delighted to make her main stage debut at Wexford Festival Opera in 2022 as Fairy in Alma Deutscher's Cinderella. Another highlight of 2022 was performing the mezzo-soprano roles in Verdi's Requiem at Arundel Cathedral, West Sussex. Deirdre has an exciting year of performances scheduled for 2023. Future roles include contracts with Grange Festival Opera – performing chorus and covering for the role of Dorabella in Mozart's Cosi fan tutte. Deirdre will perform with Opera Collective Ireland, as Older Woman in Jonathan Dove's Flight which will tour performances in Galway, Dublin and Cork. Later in October and November Deirdre will appear in Wexford Festival Opera's 2023 season as Isabella in Rossini's L'italiana in Algeri. 
Matthew Scott Clark
Don José, Corporal of Dragoons A tenor from Brighton, & alumnus of the Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama, taught by Eric Roberts & Adrian Thompson. Roles: Defendant – Trial by Jury (Winterbourne Opera); Basilio/Curzio – Le Nozze di Figaro (RWCMD); Bardolpho – Falstaff (RWCMD - conductor: Carlo Rizzi); Tolloller – Iolanthe (Chichester Festival Theatre, conductor: Martin Handley); Remendado - Carmen (Kentish Opera); Georg Dibdin/Robert Green - Der Vampyr (Gothic Opera); Monostatos - The Magic Flute (Arcadian Opera); Alexis - The Sorcerer (Grim's Dyke Opera); Knusperhexe - Hänsel und Gretel (Westminster Opera); Teddy Deakin - The Ghost Train (The Assembly Project & St Magnus Festival, Orkney); & Albéric - Le Loup-Garou (Gothic Opera). Up & coming roles include the title role in Gounod's Faust with New Sussex Opera for their tour of the county this June; & Basilio & Curzio in Le Nozze di Figaro with Westminster Opera at the Chateau d'Panloy in France this August. Matthew would like to dedicate these performances of Don José to his parents Julia & Barry Clark. 
Jon Openshaw
Escamillo, a toreador Jon has performed professionally with Longborough Festival Opera, Garsington Opera, Opera South, Opera Up Close, Barefoot Opera, Surrey Opera and Heritage Opera among others. Roles performed include Don Giovanni (Don Giovanni), Guglielmo (Cosi Fan Tutte), Bartolo (Barbiere di Barbiere di Siviglia), Dulcamara (Elisir d’Amore). Jon’s professional concert engagements have so far included Pilate in Bach’s St John Passion, Beethoven’s Choral Symphony, Brahms’ Requiem, Faure’s Requiem, Handel’s Messiah and Samson (Harapha), Haydn's Creation, Nelson Mass and Harmoniemesse, Mozart's Requiem, Puccini’s Messa di Gloria, Rossini’s Petite Messe Solenelle, Stainer’s Crucifixion and Vaughan Williams' Five Mystical Songs and Fantasia on Christmas Carols. Jon continues to study singing privately with Neil Baker, having previously studied with Susan McCulloch. Heis based in Horsham, West Sussex, where he works as a singing teacher and choir director, both privately and with West Sussex Music. www.jonopenshaw.co.uk 
Helen Bailey
Micaëla, a village maiden Helen Bailey is originally from Middlesbrough and is based in Tonbridge. After graduating from Liverpool John Moores University with a First in English Literature, she studied on postgraduate courses at Trinity College of Music and The Royal Academy of Music, specialising in opera. She has sung and covered principal roles for many opera companies including Buxton International Festival Opera, Dama, Macbeth, Blackheath Halls Opera Giannetta, The Elixir of Love, OperaUpClose, Elizabeth I, Mary Queen of Scots, Red Earth Opera, Vitellia, The Clemency of Titus, Ryedale Festival, Pamina, The Magic Flute, Kentish Opera, Santuzza, Cavalleria Rusticana, Midsummer Opera, title role of Jenufa, and Pop-Up Opera, Veronique, Docteur Miracle. Helen is a regular soloist with a number of choral societies in Kent and Hampshire. Forthcoming engagements include Verdi’s Requiem with Sevenoaks Philharmonic Choir and Mendelssohn’s Elijah in Romsey Abbey. www.helenbailey.org 
Oscar Smith
Zuniga, Captain of Dragoons Oscar Smith is now based in Hastings, East Sussex after studying Vocal Studies at Chichester University, training as a classical vocalist and specialising in Extended Vocal Techniques during the year he spent studying towards a Masters. As well as being a Vocalist, Oscar also plays regularly as an accordionist, pianist and organist and works as a Musical Director and conductor for various choirs and musical ensembles. Upcoming productions include, Bloom Britainniawith Barefoot Opera, The Magic Flutewith Ensemble Orquestra and Fiddler on the Roof with Battle Light Opera Group 
Joe Edmunds
Dancaïro, a smuggler Joe is a classical baritone based in West Sussex. He has a vast amount of experience in Musical Theatre and recently taken steps into becoming a classical singer studying at the University of Chichester. Joe has played a variety of roles including Albert Lennox in The Secret Garden, Oliver Warbucks in Annie and performed in The University of Chichester's Opera Scenes playing roles such as Don Giovanni, Don Alfonso, Figaro and Count Almaviva under the direction of world-renowned bass-baritone Jonathan Veira. Joe currently sings in the University Chamber and Otter Consort choirs, recently performing the Fauré Requiem and Haydn's Little Organ Mass at Arundel Cathedral. Joe also performs in the University's Sleepy Lagoon band recently crooning Sinatra fan favourites such as Strangers in The Night and Love is a Many Splendid Thing.
Rebecca Hughes
Mercédès, companion of Carmen Rebecca achieved a Degree and Postgraduate Diploma in Vocal Performance and Opera at Birmingham Conservatoire and Licentiate of Trinity College London. Whilst at the Conservatoire she won a Kathleen Ferrier Trust award and a Music Sound Fund award. Rebecca has performed with Grange Park Opera and New Sussex Opera among other touring opera companies, playing roles such as Romeo - I Capuleti e i Montecchi (Bellini), Mad Margaret – Ruddigore (Gilbert & Sullivan), Friquette – Belle Laurette (Offenbach) As a soloist, she has performed in many major works including Handel's Messiah, Bach's St John’s Passion, Mozart's Requiem, Haydn's Nelson Mass, Mendelssohn's Elijah, Rossini's Stabat Mater and Petite Messe Solennelle, with a number of choral societies. These include Seaford, Shrewsbury, Hailsham and Norwich, The Royal College of Organists, The Royal Free Singers, Derby Cathedral Choir and the Choir of St John’s. Future engagements include Seibel – Faust with New Sussex Opera and The Fairy Queen with Eastbourne Gilbert and Sullivan society. Rebecca spends most of her time singing, teaching and giving vocal workshops to choral societies in and around East Sussex. 
Becca Mitchell
Frasquita, companion of Carmen Rebecca is a Science graduate who undertook her vocal training at Trinity College of Music, graduating with a Distinction in her Postgraduate Performance Diploma. Whilst a student she won a number of awards and sang a variety of principal roles including Lucia in Britten’s The Rape of Lucretia, Papagena in Mozart’s The Magic Flute and Cunegonde in Bernstein’s Candide. More recently, she has performed the roles of Mimi in Puccini’s La Boheme and Pamina in Mozart’s The Magic Flute for Matchbox Opera, as well as performing as a soloist with various choral societies in and around Kent. Rebecca combines her singing engagements with teaching Biology in Tunbridge Wells and is really excited about her first role with Opera South East. 
Will O'Brien
Moralès, Corporal of Dragoons Will lives in Tunbridge Wells and is making his debut with OSE. This is Will’s third time performing in The Mikado. In 1998, he played a random Japanese citizen. In 2014, he played Koko in a production with Brent Opera. He has also played Guglielmo and Don Alfonso (Così Fan Tutte), Leporello and Masetto (Don Giovanni), Papageno (The Magic Flute), Sergeant Belcore (L’Elisir d’Amore), The Father (Hansel and Gretel), Lindorf and Coppélius (Les Contes d’Hoffmann), Publio (La Clemenza di Tito), Betto and Marco (Gianni Schicchi) and The Earl of Mountararat (Iolanthe). Will Studied Opera performance at Morley College and later at the Associated Studios (both in London). Will has a degree in astrophysics. A fuller biography on Will can be found here... HPO Songbirds - Alfie, Ana Maria, Anastasia, Anastasija, Antônio Balkan, Artur, Ava, Christopher, Eva, Evie, Ioachim, Julia, Lara Ayla, Leanne, Olivia, Ramon
Street Urchins Hastings Philharmonic Orchestra's Children's Choir was founded by Marcio da Silva in June 2021 with support from the Lottery Community Fund 
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Notes for EditorsOpera South East now welcomes Eleanor Strutt to direct this April's production of Carmen.
This year marks OSE's twenty third birthday and, under our earlier name of Hastings Opera, our fortieth birthday and this will be our 66th fully-staged operatic production.
Kenneth Roberts was Conductor at the very start of OSE, and has not missed one production in all these years; he will be joined by the Sussex Concert Orchestra in the pit for this wonderful feast of music and drama. OSE have produced Carmen four times before:
2023 rehearsals of Carmen
Chorus and dancersNatalie Ades, Sue Beaney, James Caspian, Kate Collyer, Melody French, Harry Gentry, Abi Gladstone, Tina Goddard, Maya Godlonton-White, Gerald Hewson, Bethany Hill, Molly Hill, Pat Horwill, Jackie Irwin, Maureen James, Brian Knight, Jackie Knowles-Baker, Sophia LeFevre-White, Ann Lyon, Talitha McIntyre-Burnie, Ruth Menzinger, Sonny Monaghan, Gillian Muhlemann, Anna Orlova, Lesley Pilbeam, Maggie Roberts, John Rycroft, Paul Streets, David Swinhoe, Sarah Taylor, David Thompson, Vivienne Watts, Liz Webb
2023 Carmen Dancing Girls, courtesy Peter Mould
The Sussex Concert OrchestraConducted by Kenneth Roberts: -
Violin 1
OSE - The Company, CarmenDirector - Eleanor Strutt
Conductor - Kenneth Roberts Stage Manager - Kath Keep Stage Manager for White Rock Theatre - Adam Harkin Assistant Stage Manager - Set Construction/Design - Kath Keep Lighting Design - Eleanor Strutt Lighting Technician - Properties - assisted by Malcolm Atfield and Margaret Smart Wardrobe - Kate O'Hearn Assisted by - Ann Lyon and Pat Horwill Make up and hair - Under supervision of Celina Zomer Programme - John Rycroft Artwork - Julia Bovee Website - Greg Solomon Programme design and printed by - Simon Page 
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Kenneth Roberts, Music Director and SCO Conductor
Kenneth Roberts
Conductor/Musical Director
Kenneth Roberts was born in Hastings and educated at York University where he gained BA and MA degrees in music. He works as Musical Director for numerous companies at home and abroad and has conducted over 250 opera, ballet and other theatrical productions. He has played and conducted at many prestigious venues including The Royal Albert Hall, The Festival Hall, The Britten Theatre, Kensington Palace and Hampton Court. His second opera, Mister Butterfly, which he wrote in 1994 was premiered in Hong Kong and subsequently performed at the Edinburgh Festival, and featured in a documentary shown by BBC television and BBC World Service Satellite.
Between 2001-2011 he worked at the University of New Hampshire, USA, where he directed a new African Musical which he was commissioned to write and also composed music for an award-winning ‘international’ children’s piece. He was also musical director and conductor for Plymouth State University’s Educational Theatre Collaborative. In 2002 he fulfilled a commission from the Purcell School in association with the Vaughan-Williams Trust as part of their centenary celebrations to mark the birth of Sir William Walton and in 2005 he completed a commission to write a ballet based on the novel The Trumpet Major by Thomas Hardy. In 2010 he also contributed music for the recently published musical version of 'Pollyanna' and also became a BIFF (British and International Federation of Festivals) adjudicator.
His highly acclaimed reduced orchestral arrangements of operatic scores by Mozart, Rossini, Verdi, Puccini and others are currently being played all over the world and are available from www.smallscores.com. In between times he has enjoyed giving his series of lecture recitals around the country at music clubs, and on cruise liners on subjects ranging from Mozart to ‘Jelly Roll’ Morton and has just released a CD of piano music entitled ‘Around the World in 80 Minutes’.
A fuller biography of Ken can be found here...
Conductor/Musical Director
Kenneth Roberts was born in Hastings and educated at York University where he gained BA and MA degrees in music. He works as Musical Director for numerous companies at home and abroad and has conducted over 250 opera, ballet and other theatrical productions. He has played and conducted at many prestigious venues including The Royal Albert Hall, The Festival Hall, The Britten Theatre, Kensington Palace and Hampton Court. His second opera, Mister Butterfly, which he wrote in 1994 was premiered in Hong Kong and subsequently performed at the Edinburgh Festival, and featured in a documentary shown by BBC television and BBC World Service Satellite.
Between 2001-2011 he worked at the University of New Hampshire, USA, where he directed a new African Musical which he was commissioned to write and also composed music for an award-winning ‘international’ children’s piece. He was also musical director and conductor for Plymouth State University’s Educational Theatre Collaborative. In 2002 he fulfilled a commission from the Purcell School in association with the Vaughan-Williams Trust as part of their centenary celebrations to mark the birth of Sir William Walton and in 2005 he completed a commission to write a ballet based on the novel The Trumpet Major by Thomas Hardy. In 2010 he also contributed music for the recently published musical version of 'Pollyanna' and also became a BIFF (British and International Federation of Festivals) adjudicator.
His highly acclaimed reduced orchestral arrangements of operatic scores by Mozart, Rossini, Verdi, Puccini and others are currently being played all over the world and are available from www.smallscores.com. In between times he has enjoyed giving his series of lecture recitals around the country at music clubs, and on cruise liners on subjects ranging from Mozart to ‘Jelly Roll’ Morton and has just released a CD of piano music entitled ‘Around the World in 80 Minutes’.
A fuller biography of Ken can be found here...
The Sussex Concert Orchestra
Carmen - Synopsis
The synopsis of an opera is always worth reading before an opera performance, so do buy a programme on the night and get there in time to read it.
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Place: Seville, Spain, and surrounding hills
Time: Around 1820 Act 1 A square, in Seville. On the right, a door to the tobacco factory. At the back, a bridge. On the left, a guardhouse. A group of soldiers relax in the square, waiting for the changing of the guard and commenting on the passers-by ("Sur la place, chacun passe"). Micaëla appears, seeking José. Moralès tells her that "José is not yet on duty" and invites her to wait with them. She declines, saying she will return later. José arrives with the new guard, who is greeted and imitated by a crowd of urchins ("Avec la garde montante"). Lithograph of act 1 in the premiere performance, by Pierre-Auguste Lamy, 1875 As the factory bell rings, the cigarette girls emerge and exchange banter with young men in the crowd ("La cloche a sonné"). Carmen enters and sings her provocative habanera on the untameable nature of love ("L'amour est un oiseau rebelle"). The men plead with her to choose a lover, and after some teasing she throws a flower to Don José, who thus far has been ignoring her but is now annoyed by her insolence. As the women go back to the factory, Micaëla returns and gives José a letter and a kiss from his mother ("Parle-moi de ma mère!"). He reads that his mother wants him to return home and marry Micaëla, who retreats in shy embarrassment on learning this. Just as José declares that he is ready to heed his mother's wishes, the women stream from the factory in great agitation. Zuniga, the officer of the guard, learns that Carmen has attacked a woman with a knife. When challenged, Carmen answers with mocking defiance ("Tra la la ... Coupe-moi, brûle-moi"); Zuniga orders José to tie her hands while he prepares the prison warrant. Left alone with José, Carmen beguiles him with a seguidilla, in which she sings of a night of dancing and passion with her lover—whoever that may be—in Lillas Pastia's tavern. Confused yet mesmerised, José agrees to free her hands; as she is led away she pushes her escort to the ground and runs off laughing. José is arrested for dereliction of duty. Act 2 Lillas Pastia's Inn Two months have passed. Carmen and her friends Frasquita and Mercédès are entertaining Zuniga and other officers ("Les tringles des sistres tintaient") in Pastia's inn. Carmen is delighted to learn of José's release from two months' detention. Outside, a chorus and procession announces the arrival of the toreador Escamillo ("Vivat, vivat le Toréro"). Invited inside, he introduces himself with the "Toreador Song" ("Votre toast, je peux vous le rendre") and sets his sights on Carmen, who brushes him aside. Lillas Pastia hustles the crowds and the soldiers away. When only Carmen, Frasquita and Mercédès remain, smugglers Dancaïre and Remendado arrive and reveal their plans to dispose of some recently acquired contraband ("Nous avons en tête une affaire"). Frasquita and Mercédès are keen to help them, but Carmen refuses, since she wishes to wait for José. After the smugglers leave, José arrives. Carmen treats him to a private exotic dance ("Je vais danser en votre honneur ... La la la"), but her song is joined by a distant bugle call from the barracks. When José says he must return to duty, she mocks him, and he answers by showing her the flower that she threw to him in the square ("La fleur que tu m'avais jetée"). Unconvinced, Carmen demands he show his love by leaving with her. José refuses to desert, but as he prepares to depart, Zuniga enters looking for Carmen. He and José fight. Carmen summons her gypsy comrades, who restrain Zuniga. Having attacked a superior officer, José now has no choice but to join Carmen and the smugglers ("Suis-nous à travers la campagne"). |
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Interval of 20 minutes
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Act 3
A wild spot in the mountains Carmen and José enter with the smugglers and their booty ("Écoute, écoute, compagnons"); Carmen has now become bored with José and tells him scornfully that he should go back to his mother. Frasquita and Mercédès amuse themselves by reading their fortunes from the cards; Carmen joins them and finds that the cards are foretelling her death, and José's. The smugglers depart to transport their goods while the women distract the local customs officers. José is left behind on guard duty. Micaëla enters with a guide, seeking José and determined to rescue him from Carmen ("Je dis que rien ne m'épouvante"). On hearing a gunshot she hides in fear; it is José, who has fired at an intruder who proves to be Escamillo. José's pleasure at meeting the bullfighter turns to anger when Escamillo declares his infatuation with Carmen. The pair fight ("Je suis Escamillo, toréro de Grenade"), but are interrupted by the returning smugglers and girls ("Holà, holà José"). As Escamillo leaves he invites everyone to his next bullfight in Seville. Micaëla is discovered; at first, José will not leave with her despite Carmen's mockery, but he agrees to go when told that his mother is dying. He departs, vowing he will return. Escamillo is heard in the distance, singing the toreador's song. Act 4 A square in Seville. At the back, the walls of an ancient amphitheatre Zuniga, Frasquita and Mercédès are among the crowd awaiting the arrival of the bullfighters ("Les voici! Voici la quadrille!"). Escamillo enters with Carmen, and they express their mutual love ("Si tu m'aimes, Carmen"). As Escamillo goes into the arena, Frasquita and Mercédès warn Carmen that José is nearby, but Carmen is unafraid and willing to speak to him. Alone, she is confronted by the desperate José ("C'est toi!", "C'est moi!"). While he pleads vainly for her to return to him, cheers are heard from the arena. As José makes his last entreaty, Carmen contemptuously throws down the ring he gave her and attempts to enter the arena. He then stabs her, and as Escamillo is acclaimed by the crowds, Carmen dies. José kneels and sings "Ah! Carmen! ma Carmen adorée!"; as the crowd exits the arena, José confesses to killing Carmen. |
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Special thanksSpecial Thanks and acknowledgements to:
Mikado rehearsals at the White Rock Theatre, 6 April 2022. Filled to the brim with girlish glee - Three little maids from school. Photos courtesy of Mark Duncan.
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Audience Comments from past operasAudience reaction of OSE's production of Verdi's Macbeth (April 2016) :-
Make a weekend of it in Hastings?There's lots of hotel choice in the area, e.g.
True love triumphs for Yum Yum and Nanki Poo
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Nearly a year ago: Photos from the First Dress Rehearsal of of The Mikado at the White Rock Theatre on 6 April 2022
photos kindly by courtesy of Mark Duncan