About This Show
On 31 July 2018, SWAP’ra, a newly-established charitable organisation supporting women and parents in the world of opera, will present its inaugural gala concert at Opera Holland Park. Highlights of the event include: Mary Bevan, Janis Kelly and Diana Montague performing a scene from Der Rosenkavalier; Jennifer Johnston and Lee Bisset performing a scene from Rape of Lucretia; Anne Sophie Duprels and Catherine Wyn-Rogers performing the ?Angelica and Principessa’ duet from Puccini’s Suor Angelica; and Madeleine Pierard and Catherine Carby performing ?Mira, O Norma’ from Bellini’s Norma. The evening will also feature the UK premiere of the final quartet from Mark Adamo’s Little Women. The scene will feature Lucy Schaufer as Jo, Rebecca Caine as Beth, Jenni France as Amy and Karen Cargill as Meg. Other stars performing in this all-female event include Kitty Whately, Sarah Tynan, Gillian Keith, Anna Patalong, Giselle Allen, Anna Devin and Jeni Bern, with the evening being hosted by star of stage and screen, Fiona Shaw. The gala is a celebration of the incredible wealth of female talent in the opera industry. A series of semi-staged scenes conducted, directed, performed and accompanied by some of the UK’s best-loved artists, will feature music from opera favourites such as Mozart’s Le nozze di Figaro, Puccini’s Madama Butterfly, and Tchaikovsky’s Eugene Onegin as well as contemporary work by female composers Elena Langer, Roxanna Panufnik and Josephine Stephenson. The gala will showcase nearly 40 soloists, from rising-stars to some of the leading figures in opera. Funds raised by this inaugural SWAP’ra gala will help to enable the organisation to make significant change in the industry.
