Keeping Opera Alive

Opera is telling stories through music.  It brings together music, voice, drama and story-telling, laced with emotion. It remains as valid and irreplaceable today as ever, in entertaining, inspiring, challenging and educating us.

The power of opera to entertain and inspire us makes it the pinnacle of the performing arts. However, large forces on stage and in the orchestra mean that at its grandest scale opera is extraordinarily expensive. Major opera companies rely on substantial public and private investment, which will be much reduced post-coronavirus. Audience surveys show that crucial box office income will also be significantly reduced for the foreseeable future. Although digital performance has a role, it does not provide the intense, collective experience of live performance.

OperaUpClose is uniquely placed to meet opera audiences’ and artists’ needs as the country takes tentative steps towards re-opening following the coronavirus lockdown. For ten years we have made large scale opera work for smaller venues and budgets, providing high-quality opera that is accessible and relevant for everyone, first-timer and aficionado alike.  

We reimagine the classics, reflecting contemporary issues, working with reduced numbers of singers and instrumentalists. We perform in English so our productions are immediately understandable by the audience.  We tour to parts of the country that other opera companies don’t reach. We are able to bring opera to you in safe numbers. 

The Sunday Times has hailed OperaUpClose as “leading an artistic revolution”. With your support, we can ensure this has never been more true.