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    • 2023 Carmen
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    • 2017 The Magic Flute
    • 2016 Macbeth
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    • 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.

White Rock Theatre Box Office link...

What's on for us in East Sussex - Hastings, Battle, Winchelsea and Bexhill...
Forthcoming OSE events

2024 remaining plans

PicturePhoto of Marcio da Silva
​Following our last major opera fully-staged opera production, here is our next: -

OSE presents... ​


Friday 18th October: 'Castaway: '
An evening of Marcio da Silva's favourite eight pieces of music and how it inspired his life.  Marcio is  Musical Director for Opera South East,  and is the founder, Artistic Director, and conductor of the Hastings Philharmonic Orchestra, the HPO Singers, and HPO Songbirds, and the music director of the Billingshurst Choral Society and the Hastings Philharmonic Choir
This is primarily  aimed at OSE Members, Friends & Benefactors but all are welcome.
  • Fri  18th Oct 2024 - Parish Rooms, Christ Church, London Road, St Leonard's-on-Sea, Hastings at 7.30pm
  • Tickets at £10 in advance, or two tickets for £15;
    £12 on the door.  Accompanied under 16s free.  
    Online tickets: link to TicketSource coming 
    soon .
    Cash sales: call 0
    7968 448479‬
OR 





Our next fully-staged opera production: L'Elisir d'Amore, by Donizetti, 26-27 April 2024

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Rehearsal photos - The Elixir of Love

Full set is here.  Feel free to share on social media.  Please acknowledge Peter Mould for the photos - thank you Peter. Photos are dated Weds 24 April 2024
​https://stagesnaps.smugmug.com/Music/OPERA/OPERA-SOUTH-EAST/THE-ELIXIR-OF-LOVE-Dress-Rehearsal-Wednesday-24th-April-2024
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Carmen 2023 rehearsal photos.photos courtesy of Peter Mould

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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."

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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Official announcement - our Musical Director

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OPERA SOUTH EAST - 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 Ken Roberts, who announced his intention to relinquish this responsibility and retire last year 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, 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.  
 
Auditions for principal roles will be held on Sunday, 19th November, in St Leonards on Sea, and further details will shortly be announced.


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Carmen 2023, photos courtesy of Peter Mould
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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 have a production this weekend?

Past production - Eugene Onegin - 2018

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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

​The Magic Flute 2017

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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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