British Youth Opera

British Youth Opera (BYO) is an opera company in the United Kingdom. It aims to give young singers, conductors, directors and production staff training and experience through workshops and full-scale operatic productions at venues such as the Peacock Theatre, Hackney Empire and Opera Holland Park in London.[1][2][3]

British Youth Opera
AbbreviationBYO
Established1987
FounderDenis Coe MP
TypeOpera Company
Legal statusCharity
HeadquartersLondon Coliseum
Websitebyo.org.uk

History

British Youth Opera was started by Denis Coe, MP in 1987, to give high-standard performance opportunities to singers straight out of music college. Denis was a member of the board of the National Youth Theatre and had seen that the practical experience participants were receiving was greatly enhancing their opportunity for entering the profession. In the days before the opera companies had young artists’ programmes, British Youth Opera was conceived as a ‘bridge’ organisation, to offer young singers performance opportunities in a fully professional but nurturing environment, in which they could train on the job and perform before a paying audience of the public, and before industry professionals whose influence could help them in their ongoing careers. Alumni have gone on to advanced training courses at the Royal Opera House and the National Opera Studio, and to professional careers. Alumni include Peter Auty, Lucy Crowe, Rosemary Joshua, Katarina Karnéus, Sally Matthews, Christopher Maltman, Claire Rutter, Nicky Spence, Matthew Stiff, and Mark Stone.[4][5][6][7]

The company gave the first London performances of Flight by Jonathan Dove in 2008[8] and the European premiere of The Enchanted Island by Jeremy Sams in 2018.[9]

Funding and partnerships

British Youth Opera is a registered charity and since 2002 has been core funded by Arts Council England. Charles, Prince of Wales is its patron. In 2021 it was announced that Dame Sarah Connolly had replaced Dame Felicity Lott as President, and vice-presidents include Sir Bryn Terfel.[10]

British Youth Opera works in collaboration with Southbank Sinfonia.[11]

References
  1. Pritchard, Stephen (2 October 2020). "British Youth Opera: training tomorrow's stars amid the reality of today's pandemic". Bachtrack. Retrieved 9 December 2021.
  2. "We've got a venue!". British Youth Opera. 26 January 2021. Archived from the original on 26 January 2021. Retrieved 9 December 2021.
  3. "British Youth Opera To Debut At Opera Holland Park". Opera for All. 19 April 2021. Retrieved 9 December 2021.
  4. "Silver service: British Youth Opera". Classical Music. 6 October 2012. Archived from the original on 29 October 2015.
  5. Church, Michael (7 September 2006). "Don Giovanni, British Youth Opera, Peacock Theatre, London". The Independent. Retrieved 9 December 2021.
  6. Jeal, Erica (13 September 2004). "The Cunning Little Vixen". The Guardian. Retrieved 9 December 2021.
  7. Christiansen, Rupert (10 September 2015). "British Youth Opera: Footlights Fannies not welcome". Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 9 December 2021.
  8. Hugill, Robert. "Flight, Opera Holland Park: A review by Robert Hugill".
  9. Ashley, Tim (3 September 2018). "The Enchanted Island review – British Youth Opera weaves magic". The Guardian. Retrieved 9 December 2021.
  10. Vukosavljevic, Dejan (5 November 2021). "Dame Sarah Connolly Appointed New President of British Youth Opera". Opera Wire. Retrieved 9 December 2021.
  11. Hugill, Robert (15 August 2021). "Making the most of opportunity: a brilliant young cast in Rossini's early farsa with British Youth Opera". Planet Hugill. Retrieved 9 December 2021.
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