It seems like yesterday that we said farewell to Louth, but NewLOG is set fair to continue performing as we enter our new era. We are delighted to announce two exciting productions for this season, which we hope you will enjoy performing or attending:
Spring 2027
For Spring 2027, we will continue our programme of performing repertoire operas that do not always get the attention they deserve in the UK. This year, we will give a semi-staged production of Bedrich Smetana’s delightfully exuberant romantic comedy The Bartered Bride. One of the cornerstones of Czech opera, it was first performed in Prague in 1866 and has remained a popular work throughout Europe ever since. It’s a charming and cheerful story of boy-meets-girl, boy-loses-girl, boy-regains-girl, set in a rural village populated by colourful characters, and it’s brimming with rollicking choruses and folk dances. And then, in Act III, the circus comes to town!
Performances will take place in London in Spring 2027 (details TBC) but look out for the intro meeting and auditions before Christmas. We plan to give The Bartered Bride using the wonderful, witty translation by Kit Hesketh-Harvey. The performances will be conducted by Alex Carpenter and directed by Chris Cann in the semi-staged format that has been so successful in our recent London productions like Carmen, Hugh the Drover and Die Fledermaus, though with more chorus action… to say nothing of circus skills!
Summer 2027
We are delighted to announce that we have once again been invited to perform at the International Gilbert and Sullivan Festival in Buxton in 2027. We will perform Princess Ida, or Castle Adamant, one of Gilbert and Sullivan’s most dramatic operas, not produced by the company since 2010. We will present Princess Ida at the Buxton Opera House on Monday 2 August. Rehearsals will begin in the Spring after The Bartered Bride, with a London preview before we go to Buxton. We are delighted to return to the Festival, where NewLOG has received great acclaim in the past, to keep up our high reputation for performing the Gilbert and Sullivan operas.
Watch this space for future announcements, particularly regarding The Bartered Bride and we hope to see you all very soon.
With best wishes,
Alex, Chris, Eirian, Fay, Steve & Tony
The NewLOG Board
