Making opera accessible.
Oxford Contemporary Opera was launched in 2019 with the aim of giving young people a platform to perform, write, direct and produce modern opera focusing on contemporary and accessible stories.
Since then we’ve premiered a full length opera in the UK about the life of Marilyn Monroe, put on a festival featuring three entirely new operas, commissioned a virtual opera and started the popular ‘Opera in Conversation’ series.
“A wonderful synthesis of what contemporary opera has to offer." - Oxford Opening Night
Marilyn Forever
In 2019, Oxford Contemporary Opera officially launched with their inaugural production of the UK premiere of Marilyn Forever, an opera about Marilyn Monroe by Gavin Bryars (libretto by Marilyn Bowering).
Oxford Contemporary Opera Festival
The Oxford Contemporary Opera Festival featured three, new, short and exciting operas all written, performed, directed and produced by students. Performed twice, the evening consisted of The Outsider (by Hani Elias), Susanna (by Zerlina Vulliamy) and Bou6 (by Israel Lai).
Opera for One
In March 2021, Oxford Contemporary Opera commissioned Opera for One: a mixed-media virtual opera about the five stages of grief featuring five new songs alongside artworks.
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