New Era for Midland Opera Company
Birmingham's only non-professional company to stage grand opera has hit a new high note in its 62-year history with a brand new identity.
Midland Opera is the new name for Midland Music Makers, the company sponsored by Birmingham-based Stoford Developments that is renowned for giving people the chance to fulfil their dreams of singing in a full-scale opera either as a principal or in the chorus.
With singers, actors, dancers and technicians drawn from across the region, the name Midland Opera has been chosen to better reflect its prime purpose of producing challenging and adventurous fully-costumed operas sung in English.
Bizet's ‘Carmen’ will be the first production to be staged under the new name at Birmingham's Crescent Theatre from November 4-8. Directed by Bristol theatre studies graduate Elisa Amesbury and featuring Stourbridge singer Lorraine Payne in the title role, the show is the third to be sponsored by Birmingham-based Stoford.
Malcolm Oakes, co-chair of Midland Opera, said: “These are thrilling times for the company as we move forward with a more succinct and memorable name that says exactly what we do and where we do it. We hope it will also reflect our reputation as a leading regional opera company run by friendly, enthusiastic and talented non-professionals.”
He added: “Midland Opera aims to continue to flourish and expand with new members always welcome. Chorus places are still available for bass and tenor singers in Carmen - although anyone interested should be familiar with the opera, musically competent and ready for a challenge!”
The move has been accompanied by the appointment of Pat Nixon as only the second president in the company’s history. Pat, from Lichfield, has taken over the position from the late Arthur Street who lived in Solihull and founded Midland Music Makers in 1946.
She said: “I find it a great honour to follow Arthur as president because he was responsible for instilling my livelong love of opera. The company that he created has provided me with great companionship and the opportunity to sing roles that many professionals wouldn’t get the chance to do in a lifetime.”
Pat began singing with the company in the 1950s. After her first major role in Herold’s ‘Zampia’ in 1963, the former PR manager for Ansells Brewery played title roles in many great operas including her favourite, Puccini’s ‘Turandot’. She has also performed principal roles with the company in rare works including the UK's first-ever production of Wagner's first opera ‘Die Feen’ (The Fairies).
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