The Royal Northern College of Music’s Opera Theatre in Manchester

The Royal Northern College of Music’s Opera Theatre in Manchester is a world-renowned venue for operatic performances.

Introduction

The Royal Northern College of Music’s Opera Theatre presents a variety of opera productions each year, ranging from contemporary pieces to established classics. The company works with some of the UK’s leading opera directors and conductors, and provides opportunities for its students to perform alongside professional singers.

The Opera Theatre is based at the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester, England. It was founded in 1969 and has been producing operas regularly since 1971. The company presents a mix of new productions and revivals, predominantly of works from the standard operatic repertoire. It also gives occasional performances of contemporary operas and commission new works.

History

The Opera Theatre in Manchester was established in 1858 as the Royal Caledonian Academy of Music. It was renamed the Royal Northern College of Music in 1972. The Opera Theatre is a professional training institution for opera and musical theatre performers and directors.

The Royal Northern College of Music

The Royal Northern College of Music (RNCM) is a world-leading conservatoire in the heart of Manchester. We offer an unrivalled choice of undergraduate and postgraduate programmes in music, supported by outstanding facilities and passionate, inspirational staff.

Founded in 1893, the RNCM has an international reputation for attracting and nurturing the very best musical talent from across the globe. We place great importance on developing the whole musician, offering a well-rounded training that helps our students build successful careers in all areas of the music profession – performers, teachers, conductors, composers and arrangers, students also have opportunities to take part in masterclasses, workshops, conferences and special events with some of the world’s most celebrated artists.

The RNCM is an inclusive institution where everyone is welcome. We are proud to have one of the most diverse student bodies of any conservatoire in Europe and our students come from all over the world.

The Opera Theatre in Manchester

The Opera Theatre in Manchester was built in 1980 and is the home of the Royal Northern College of Music’s Opera Theatre. The venue has a capacity of 498 seats and is located on Oxford Road, in the city centre of Manchester.

The theatre hosts a variety of operas and musicals throughout the year, as well as being a venue for conferences, lectures and other events.

Productions

The Royal Northern College of Music Opera Theatre in Manchester annually produces a mainstage opera in English with full orchestra. The aim of the Opera Theatre is to give its students the opportunity to gain experience in all aspects of opera, from singing and acting to stagecraft and design.

2017

This year, the Royal Northern College of Music’s Opera Theatre in Manchester will be performing productions of Verdi’s La traviata and Britten’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream.

La traviata tells the story of Violetta Valéry, a young woman who is dying of tuberculosis and falls in love with Alfredo Germont. However, she is forced to leave Alfredo when his father, Giorgio Germont, persuades her that their relationship is ruining his family’s reputation. Violetta agrees to leave Alfredo, but the pair are reunited shortly before her death.

A Midsummer Night’s Dream is a comedic opera that tells the story of four young lovers who get caught up in the shenanigans of the fairy king and queen. The lovers must contend with magic, mistaken identity, and unrequited love before they can finally be together.

2018

The Royal Northern College of Music’s Opera Theatre will be bringing three productions to the stage in Manchester this year.

In March, they will be performing Verdi’s La traviata, a tragic opera about a young woman who is forced to give up the man she loves for the sake of her family’s reputation.

In May, they will be putting on Mozart’s The Marriage of Figaro, a comedy about a young couple who outwit their elders to get married.

And in July, they will be presenting Britten’s The Turn of the Screw, an eerie opera based on Henry James’ novella about a governess who is haunted by the ghosts of her former pupils.

Conclusion

The Royal Northern College of Music’s Opera Theatre in Manchester is a world-class facility that has been designed to provide the perfect environment for both students and audiences alike. The theatre is imposing yet inviting, and the acoustics are simply superb. The college’s commitment to making opera accessible to all is evident in both the programming and the pricing of tickets, and it is clear that they are intent on attracting a wide range of audience members. With such a wealth of talent on offer, it is no wonder that the Royal Northern College of Music’s Opera Theatre in Manchester is fast becoming one of the city’s most popular venues.