I returned to Mostar in Bosnia & Hercegovina with English Pocket Opera Company  to perform two shows in schools with pupils from the East and West sides. This was a follow up to workshops we did there at the end of 2016 on “Romeo & Juliet”. Both performances were on June 12 at the 10th Elementary in the West and the 4th Elementary in the East. In addition to our semi-staged performance of “Romeo & Juliet” with the pupils singing the choruses and performing the main characters, the various schools attending performed songs of their own choice.

The EPOC team also included director/pianist Mark Tinkler, soprano Pamela Hay and flautist Michael Copley. Plans are already underway for a return visit later this year to do “Carmen”.

Paul will be playing Vanderdendur and various  villains in the joint Opera della luna / Iford Festival production of “Candide” at Iford on May 26, 29, 30 & June 1, 2 & 5.

http://www.ifordarts.org.uk/performances/candide/

There will be two later performances at:

The Cheltenham Festival on Thu 12 July

& Stowe School on Sun 15 July

Paul will be singing the tenor solo in
Mozart’s “Missa Brevis in C major” KV.220 (“Spatzenmesse”)
near Munich on Sunday 1 April.
Details to follow.

English Pocket Opera Company are currently taking their joyous interactive workshop, “Opera Quest”, around Cambridgeshire schools (Nov 20 – Dec 8).

The Hero’s Journey is explored via a TV singing talent show and Gluck’s “Orpheus & Eurydice”. This is the first stage of a project that will culminate in concerts next year in Cambridge & Huntingdon.

Paul is performing with sopranos Laura Pooley and Caroline Kennedy with EPOC director Mark Tinkler at the piano.

Opera Quest and EPOC’s previous show Opera Blocks are available to hire – not only within schools but also at festivals and parties. Wonderful entertainment for children of all ages (i.e. adults too!)

Paul & Caroline Kennedy will be taking audiences on an “Opera Quest” at the Celebrate Voice Festival in Salisbury. With Mark Tinkler at the piano, it will be a rare public performance of our terrifically popular school show.

See it at the Blackledge Theatre in Godolphin School, Salisbury at 2pm on Thu 26 Oct

http://www.celebratevoice.co.uk/celebrate-family-ii-opera-quest.html

Opera della luna’s “Tales of Offenbach” is on tour again.

I will be reprising my one-armed, one-legged, one-eyed Rattlebone in “Croquefer” but switching roles in “The Island of Tulipatan” – this time I’ll be giving my Field Marshal Octavius Rhomboid.

You can catch it at the following venues:

Fri 22 & Sat 23 Sept, 7.30pm Storyhouse, Chester

Tue 26 & Wed 27 Sept, 7.30pm Lighthouse, Poole

Wed 11 Oct,  Theatre Royal, Winchester

Tue 17 Oct, Civic Theatre, Chelmsford

Wed 25 & Fri 27 Oct,  7.30pm Blackledge Theatre, Salisbury
http://www.celebratevoice.co.uk/celebrate-operetta-tales-of-offenbach.html

Lots of EPOC activity coming up in June:

More OPERA QUEST workshops this time in Haringey schools.

12-15  & 19-22 June: Singfest performances of Gluck’s “Orpheus & Eurydice” with Barnet school choirs at the Finchley Artsdepot.

23 June: Promenade performance of “Romeo & Juliet” with music by Gounod, Bellini, Rota & Bernstein performed by the pupils of Argyle Primary School, London.

28-30 June: Singfest performances of “Romeo & Juliet” at the West Road Concert Hall with Cambridge school choirs.

6 & 7 July: Singfest performances of “Romeo & Juliet” at Cambridge University Union with Cambridge school choirs.

Coming next: English Pocket Opera Company are touring Barnet schools with a brand new workshop show – “OPERA QUEST!” incorporating our mini version of Gluck’s “Orpheus & Euridice”. We will be visiting 25 schools in two weeks from Feb 27, leading to concert performances with the school choirs in June.

Opera della luna are reviving last year’s successful production of Offenbach’s crazy one-acters “Croquefer” & “The Island of Tulipatan”.

Once again I will be giving my one armed, one legged, one eyed & tonguless Rattlebone as well as my barcarolling King Cacatois XXII.

Both can be seen at the following venues:

Feb 1 Lowry Theatre, Salford
Feb 2 Lowry Theatre, Salford (matinee & eve)
Feb 4 Queens Hall, Hexham
Feb 5 Theatre by the lake, Keswick
Feb 6 Theatre by the lake, Keswick
Feb 9 Lawrence Batley, Huddersfield

To see the clutch of 4 & 5 star reviews for this production go to:
http://www.operadellaluna.org/repertoire/offenbach.html

Paul will be leading opera workshops in Cambridge schools on the subject of “Romeo & Juliet” with music by a variety of composers. The workshops will run from 14-30 November and Paul will be joined by soprano Laura Pooley and director Mark Tinkler at the piano.

This will be the first stage of a project which will lead to concerts at West Road Concert Hall in 2017 with Cambridge school choirs.