Bringing Opera Back to the people of Morecambe
This month, we’re returning to our history as a grand venue for classical music, as we invite local children and families to experience ‘Opera Magic’.
Devised and performed by London Opera Festival, one of the UK’s most prestigious travelling companies, ‘Opera Magic’ aims to introduce 2,000 local children to the magical world of opera.
Scores of local schools have already been invited to join the fun on Thursday 21st and Friday 22nd November, and tickets are selling fast for a public show on Saturday, 23rd November. The one hour performance starts at 11.30am and is suitable for children aged 5 years and above. Tickets are ‘pay what you decide’ and can be booked online here.
Once a renowned venue for classical music, Morecambe Winter Gardens has hosted many celebrated musicians including the composer Sir Edward Elgar, the tenor Richard Tauber, the soprano Julie Andrews, and the D’Oyly Carte Opera company performing the operettas of Gilbert and Sullivan. The D’Oyly Carte Opera Trust has kindly sponsored the 3 performances at the Winter Gardens, giving the opportunity for hundreds of local children to hear live opera for the first time. The project has also received support from The Thistle Trust, the Midland Hotel and Morecambe Town Council with venue support through the Winter Gardens Young Creatives, funded through Arts Council England.
London Festival Opera has appeared in theatres and concert halls in the UK, across Europe, and as far afield as Marrakesh, Mumbai, Harare, Barbados and Hong Kong. Engagements have included a private performance in the presence of the late Queen Elizabeth II, charity performances for HM The King (when Prince of Wales), the President of France, the Prime Minister at 10 Downing Street, the Ambassador at the British Embassy in Paris, and as a guest company in one of Italy’s greatest opera houses, La Fenice in Venice.
The company aims to break down the misconception that opera is an elitist art form and to give children and other new audiences the opportunity of hearing live opera of a high artistic standard. Opera is about passion, drama and humour and is for everyone.
The baritone Philip Blake-Jones, founder and Artistic Director of London Festival Opera, spent his childhood in Morecambe and is a former pupil of St Patrick’s in Heysham and Our Lady’s High School in Lancaster. He went on to study at London’s Royal Academy of Music before embarking on a professional career, making his debut with Glyndebourne Festival Opera. He is a former principal and recording artist with the D’Oyly Carte. His passion now is to pass on a love of opera to the next generation and to help break down the misconception that it’s an elitist art from. Philip is thrilled to be returning to the Winter Gardens where he competed in the Morecambe Music Festival and had inspiring performance experience with the Morecambe Amateurs and Morecambe Warblers as a child.
Read more about the history of classical music at Morecambe Winter Gardens here.
