Regents Opera September 2026 Newsletter
WAR REQUIEM - this Sunday in Croydon!
Chorus rehearsal on Sunday in full swing
Dear All,
Greetings from London, where on Sunday we had a magnificent final chorus-only rehearsal for our War Requiem concert on Sunday at the Fairfield Halls in Croydon.
It’s been both challenging and hugely uplifting to get to know, and work on this, one of the most important pieces of choral music of the 20th-century. We have the added excitement of the chamber orchestra, symphony orchestra, organ and soloists and soloists, before bringing it to you on Sunday. I do hope many of you who have not yet done so are thinking about buying your tickets very soon. It’s a big hall, and we’d love to see a massive audience for this amazing piece!
Andrew Tortise
Tenor
Felix Kemp
Baritone
Philippa Boyle
Soprano
I am, as you can probably tell, really quite excited about conducting this piece, and bringing it to you all. It’s a 7.30pm start, and is about 90 minutes long. It is epically dramatic, yet with moments of quiet beauty.
And then, on 1st November, ELEKTRA!
Only a short while after the final Amen of the Britten has died down, we begin our rehearsals for Elektra, at Blackheath Halls, in collaboration with New Palace Opera. Catharine Woodward, fresh from her Isolde success at Longborough, sings the title, and I will be waving a stick once again. A gentle, subtle piece, like the Britten, known it’s quiet introspection…. oh wait…
Parsifal news!
We’ve been having some great conversations with Sir David and his designer Robert Innis Hopkins, and we’re very much hoping to have tickets on sale to Donors, Patrons and Friends in early November. The cast will be assembled soon - it’s already looking stellar.
If you would like to become a Friend or a Patron, please click here!
Here’s wishing you a noisy autumn with us!
Ben
With grateful thanks to Big Yellow Storage in Fulham for looking after our stuff!
