LATEST NEWS
Join us for our Wednesday Watch -new weekly videos on YouTube London Early Opera – YouTube
Our latest album Handel’s Queens is out now:
“Superb album” Classic FM July 2019
“Handel has never sounded better” BBC Music Magazine 5 Stars *****
and we were thrilled to have been shortlisted for nominations for the Gramophone Awards 2020
“The playing is so beautifully focused…Splendid in every respect.”
“This is as polished an account as any on account of Sophie Bevan’s unerring sense of decorum for what each movement requires.”
“A dazzling disc.”
“the performances all boast star quality”
“Cuzzoni and Faustina’s rivalry in 1720s London allegedly culminated in a bust-up during Bononcini’s Astianatte, in front of royalty. Both Bevan and Crowe sing from the opera, and together they perform a duet from Alessandro. Crowe draws the long straw with Cuzzoni’s show-stoppers from Giulio Cesare and Scipione, but Bevan’s sweet tone and instrumental style shine in lesser works for Faustina.”
LISTEN/ WATCH/ BUY
Fundraising for London Early Opera.
Oxford Youth Choirs – Saturday at Noon Series.
Living Room Live Concerts
Bridget Cunningham’s plays Bach and Handel live from home during the COVID-19 confinement.
Bridget Cunningham talks to Fiona Jessica-Wilson about Handel’s singers
London Early Opera has made an impact around the world for outstanding performances imaginative programmes, award winning research of baroque music, acclaimed CD recordings and for nurturing international singers and musicians in the baroque style.
Our Artistic Director, Bridget Cunningham coaches and directs from the harpsichord and researches the music with a group of leading historians and musicologists from around the world creating our own new editions and scores. Our emerging artists scheme The Handelians focuses on the development and education of exceptional singers and musicians inspiring the future generations – one of Handel’s passions.
LEO is expanding its recording series with Signum Classics exploring Handel’s colourful life, influences and experiences which inspired his magnificent musical legacy. Handel in Italy Volumes 1 & 2, Handel in Ireland, Handel at Vauxhall Volumes 1 & 2 and Handel’s Queens LEO was shortlisted for nominations for Gramophone Music Award 2020:
“Handel has never sounded better” 2019 BBC Music Magazine 5 Stars *****
Since 2008 our diverse performances range from Handel’s Semele, Acis and Galatea, Messiah, Bach’s Easter Oratorio, Trafalgar Day Concert with Jamie Crick, a 400th Anniversary concert of Monteverdi‘s 1610 Vespers at Southwark Cathedral, Couperin’s Leçons de ténèbres, several performances at the London Handel Festival, Handel Hendrix and the Foundling Museums, a recording for period instruments of the Shropshire Lad by George Butterworth and a live broadcast for BBC Radio 4 on the River Thames celebrating the 300th anniversary of Handel’s Water Music with a world premiere BBC commission.
LEO are currently fundraising for £10,000 towards future concerts, educational work and world premier recordings to support our musicians in need.
We have no overheads or office costs and all donations given go directly towards music making – musical research, editions, education, recordings and performances.
London Early Opera established in 2008 and is a UK Registered Charity No. 1143989 working in partnership with the French Association CréAquitaine.
Music – the ultimate learning and sharing opportunity
Our emerging artists educational scheme The Handelians focuses on the development and education of exceptional singers and musicians inspiring the future generations – one of Handel’s passions.
Singers and musicians from LEO offer coaching sessions focusing on musical issues, technique, historical performance practice, repertoire as well as career advice. We also offer outreach workshops for schools and conservatoires based on the National Curriculum or purely for enrichment.
LEO can help students build a lifelong love of music and bring authenticity and originality to the forefront and introduce pupils and early music enthusiasts to instruments, styles and this wonderful cultural heritage.
The Handelians have formed an exciting stylish young chamber group specialising in the music of Handel and other baroque composers. A new project for this programme is being led by leading soprano Anna Gorbachyova – Ogilvie who has performed the title role of Handel’s magical opera Alcina at the Bolshoi Theatre in Moscow, 2019. She is joined by baroque violinists Marguerite Wassermann and Maxim Del Mar, Joanna Patrick -baroque viola, Camilla Morse-Glover – baroque cello and Callum Anderson on the harpsichord with other players to explore exceptional new repertoire.
Lecture Recitals and Research – sharing and learning
Our Artistic Director, Bridget Cunningham and various members of LEO have given specialist lecture recitals on music and art for the Royal Academy of Arts, Handel Hendrix Museum, Royal College of Music and the National Gallery. We also make and feature on videos, talks and podcasts for online forums and platforms such as Vocalista, the Oxford Youth Choirs ‘Saturday at Noon’ series and Living Room Live. And have our own YouTube Channel
London Early Opera https://www.youtube.com
All of our artists are leading exponents of baroque research and work closely with other musicologists, historians, editors and researchers as we believe that music is the ultimate learning and sharing opportunity.
Past Educational Events
One of LEO’s theorbo player Cesar Queruz played for young pupils with learning difficulties at the Jack Tizard school. The Deputy Head said “It was a really positive, enjoyable experience for the children and for the staff.” Teaching assistant Suzanne said “Some of the children would not be able to travel to concerts and live music is such a stimulus for our kids.” One of the pupils Jamie, summed up what he thought of the LEO musician “more!” Other successful whole day Baroque Music Creative Workshops have been presented at Streatham & Clapham High Junior School and other educational establishments.
Bridget Cunningham opened the Royal Academy of Arts exhibition, London Watteau and Handel: 18th Century Music in London and Paris and gave a lecture recital with musical highlights from the Baroque Era – the time of Watteau and Handel – capturing the spirit of the stunning music performed in both fashionable cities at Burlington House, where Handel lived.
LONDON EARLY OPERA
ROSE FARM
6 FRINTON ROAD
THORPE LE SOKEN
ESSEX
CO16 OHS
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Your generous donations can be enhanced by our recovery as a charity of Income Tax through the UK Gift Aid Scheme.
GIFT AID DECLARATION FORM Complete and return this to us by post to:
Rose Farm,
6 Frinton Road,
Thorpe-le-Soken,
Essex, CO16 0HS
England
info@londonearlyopera.org
EASYFUNDRAISING You can also support London Early Opera when you shop online with many retailers. Through EASYFUNDRAISING and AMAZON SMILE you will need to choose the charity ‘The London Early Opera Company Ltd and then continue shopping at NO extra cost to you.
Donations can be made directly to:
Clydesdale Bank THE LONDON EARLY OPERA CO LTD
Sort Code 82-60-13 Account 50156135
London Early Opera Charity No. 1143989
Please contact us on the email address above if you would like any more information and if you may be able to support us with future events. Thank you!
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