Handkerchiefs at the ready, Oxford Opera Company’s Kids Go Classical! concert last night was a joyful, life-affirming and magical evening, which often reduced us to tears.
To set the scene 148 local children performed in the revered Sheldonian last night, taking us on a whirlwind tour of opera classics with so much enthusiasm and gusto, that it had us cheering and weeping in equal measure.
Beaming from ear to ear, the applause erupting around them, the participating 8-16 year-old’s provided a timely reminder of all the good going on in the world at a time of such global unrest, as the benefits of community and teamwork were ably demonstrated through the music.
An enormous labour of love for Oxford Opera Company, which has been going into local schools to introduce pupils to the joys of opera, while offering them the opportunity to participate in last night’s concert READ ABPOUT IT HERE, those that volunteered gave it their all, their young voices soaring to the rafters of The Sheldonian, where the likes of Verdi, Mozart, Bizet, Mascagni and Humperdinck were serenaded with an innocence and zest that bewitched us all.
Of course a concert of this magnitude needed some guidance, CEO Stuart Pendred and the brilliant Oxford Chamber Orchestra, stepping in to provide the structure from which the children could launch, Stuart thrilling us as Escamillo in Carmen’s Toreador, the children entering the arena for the first time during the chorus.
To give them a bit of breathing space Oxford Chamber Orchestra opened with a vibrant rendition of Rossini’s Semiramide Overture to warm us all up.
After that the floor was their own, Oxford Opera Youth Company leading the way, the orchestral accompaniment dialled down to ensure we could hear the youthful voices taking on these ambitious and beloved songs with great panache, their passion evident on their faces as they hit the high notes and sang in a myriad of different languages to the packed out audience.
Aided by conductor John Warner, who kept the concert’s pace racing along, introducing each piece with great humour and insight, Oxford Chamber Orchestra‘s huge skillset set the tone, raising the bar for the juniors to follow, as we sat enthralled throughout.
Thanking everyone afterwards Stuart said: “It’s lovely when the reality outweighs the dream. It’s such a privilege to work with you. I’m so proud,” and as we left, still buzzing, I remembered Oxford Opera Company‘s mantra ‘we are stronger together’ which at Kids Go Classical! was proved beyond measure.
For details on Oxford Opera Company and its youth programme go to https://oxfordopera.uk and don’t forget that Oxford Opera is staging The Marriage Of Figaro at Oxford Playhouse on October 9-10 with tickets going on sale soon.
