Music Rehearsal

Anne-Marie played for us again and Geoff conducted the rehearsal, Caroline being away. Got through some of Act 2 Finale etc. Pretty good I thought - Neil's music is not easy but it is very tuneful and should make a good impression on our adoring public. More next week.

Casting Note.

I think that Sir Gayford Jantzen is to be played by John Forrest - what a trouper !!

Snark

The casting so Far

From Neil's Email

The grouping may look strange, but this is how people are paired up atthe end in true G&S fashion. Not necessarily in this order.D, E and F are free to choose their own names as long as they begin withD, E and F. This will aid the reading of diagrams for the stage-work inNo. 16. (Although I'd sort of like to keep Evadne as a nod in thedirection of Dr. Hinge and the late Dame Hilda Bracket).So here it is:
Earl - Geoff Allan
Ermintrude - Sarah Bignell
George - James Craw
Nancy - Sarah Fraser
Arthur - Andrew Armstrong
Alice - Allison Edwards
William - Matthew Baker
Elizabeth - Jessie Copper
Mrs. Manion - Linda Mumford
Sanderson - Nick Grundy
Adele - Katharine Boyd
Jarvis - Tony White
Beatrice - Ellie John
Igor - Chris Bailward
Chloe - Charlotte Allan
Kearsley - Lloyd Davies
Daphne - Tina Firth
Rumworth - Nick Presdee
Evadne - Scilla Copper
Walkden - TBA
Francesca - Naomi Booth
Sir Gayford Jantzen (a guest) - TBA
Underhenchman - TBA

3rd Rehearsal - The Auditions - 3

Three Little Mai .. no wrong opera - we want a man !!








Three little .. no but could be three Williams/Igors etc.

3rd Rehearsal - The Auditions - 2

The Author - steely eyed looks for any errors in the notes !!



















Jessie manoeuvres her way round the patter song with
exquisite timing.



















Sarah ! where are the notes ?

3rd Rehearsal - The Auditions - 1

Over several ladies applied for the leading roles !!















Can I be Igor please !!


















Caroline keeps a stern musical eye on the score !

2nd rehearsal

This went well too - Caroline put us through our paces, scales etc. then we were off. Neil keeps apologising about the inner parts but they are fun to sing. Don't panic mate we'll get there. We have sung through quite a lot of Act 1 and a bit of Act 2. Next week - auditions !!

Geoff

Milborne Port Opera - The Lost Continent

Milborne Port Opera - The Lost Continent
I'm still trying to put together a full list of email addresses but when I sent out my last comuniquee I had 2 returned, including one where the person involved wrote down their details for me and I copied them faithfully! The frustrations of being a Producer. It is certainly the easiest way to communicate with everyone once the system is up and running, although I suspect a lot of people don't check their Inbox very regularly.

The first rehearsal was very encouraging. A few more people still needed but we could just about manage with what we have. I'm confident that we shall have a good show next Easter and that we shall enjoy the journey.

Chris

Rehearsal 1, 7 Sept 2006

First rehearsal went very well I thought. Nice to see some returnees to the MPO fold - particularly Mike Mortimore and the lovely Jessie Copper. A new face was Tina - probably a soprano. Chris and Neil did their introductions, Anne Marie arrived and off we went. I took the chorus through the opening and ending of Act 1 plus a couple of others. All went well but Neil's scoring package has the same sort of fault as Noteworthy Composer in that chromatic notes often get the wrong accidental e.g. D# instead of Eb. This makes some of the lines a bit hard to read. still once we got the sense of the music it all proved pretty good. Chris thinks that with those who turned up last night plus a few others (e.g. Tony White and John Forrest) we will have a good show. Caroline was at a prom last night but hopefully will be there to take the baton next week.
Geoff

Pre Rehearsals

Neil has spent about the last 2 years writing The Lost Continent. During this summer a small group of us have sung through some of the numbers and have read through the libretto. Caroline D'Cruz has made some suggestions for changes to the SATB harmony parts but apart from that it is as Neil has created it. We are all excited about starting rehearsals tonight.
One worry is - have we enough sopranos ?
I think that I (JGA) am taking this first rehearsal as Caroline is at a Prom - here we go !!
Geoff

Last Year's Opera

Last Year's opera was "The Gondoliers" and this is the logo.

This blog is about ... The Lost Continent

"The Lost Continent" is a new musical, book, lib and music by Neil Edwards. The world premier will be performed by Milborne Port Opera at Easter 2007. This blog will record the progress of rehearsals until the big day arrives.

Main Web link http://www.milborneportopera.co.uk

Geoff