Oxford Contemporary Opera Festival.
Following the sell-out success of Marilyn Forever, the Oxford Contemporary Opera Society returned with a festival of three short operas, all written, directed, produced and performed by students. Composed by Hani Elias, Zerlina Vulliamy and Israel Lai the operas are centred on a contemporary narrative, featuring an adaptation of Camus’ The Outsider, an opera about sexual harassment in the workplace and an opera inspired by the conflict currently happening in Hong Kong. The festival featured some of the best student performers and crew in Oxford, run under the general direction of Zerlina Vulliamy.
Reviews
“All three operas were sophisticated musical reflections on contemporary issues, and strong promotions of opera as a socially relevant and emotionally powerful art form.”
“The three pieces, all providing a unique tone and atmosphere, proved to be a wonderful synthesis of what contemporary opera has to offer.”
“The Oxford Contemporary Opera Festival demonstrated both the critical and emotional power of opera, and its creative potential within the modern world; it also highlighted the hard work and talent of everyone involved in its production, be they cast, crew or composers. Following the success of this inaugural festival, I, for one, hope to be seeing this event for many years to come.”
The Outsider by Hani Elias (libretto by Marnie Shutter)
Indebted to Camus’s L’Étranger, The Outsider is an opera which delves into an array of themes pertinent to today’s social climate. It is an opera which seeks to invert tradition and to uproot dominant doctrines of the Western world – an opera which challenges contemporary authority figures and holds them up to the light. Watch on as an audience of journalists, while this twenty-first century adaptation of the original novel’s trial scene juggles the words of Donald Trump and reflections of Simone de Beauvoir around current, global issues.
Susanna by Zerlina Vulliamy
The eponymous heroine of this opera takes her inspiration from the character of the same name from Mozart’s The Marriage of Figaro. Updated to a modern office, Susanna is now an ambitious young woman working in an office with her fellow worker, Figaro, who is clearly interested in her. When she begins receiving inappropriate texts from a mysterious number (later revealed to be their boss - or the Count), Susanna begins to doubt herself and her actions. This opera was my attempt at updating a classic opera into a modern setting, showcasing a relatable and realistic female character who experiences something that many experience on a daily basis.
“We are given signs across the piece of a thoughtful composer with a sense of humour: ‘Susanna’ offered at once raunchy comedy, lyricism, and a snappy formation of feminist resolve” - Oxford Opening Night.
Bou6 by Israel Lai (libretto by Miuccia Chan)
‘There is no riot, only tyranny,’ said a black banner, erected in the heart of the Legislative Council of Hong Kong on 1 July 2019. Freedom fighters, predominantly in their early twenties and teenage years, had broken into the building to send the message that this legislative body had failed in its job to represent the people and the interests of their society.
Like the movement it was inspired by, this opera is hardly just about the recent crisis—it is a dialogue with all tyrannical structures that exist in our societies. Each character on stage represents a group of people or a concept; the story aspires to be a mirror for all Tyranny, Riot, Condemners, and Departed in society to gaze upon, and only those who scrutinise their reflections with eyes open will be able to understand the intended meaning in its entirety. It re-contextualises ideas of government, anarchy, and truth - what truly happens in the opera is left to the imagination.
Bou6 is the Jyutping romanisation for a character that means violent, and is used in the slogan for the words for both riot and tyranny. 6 is also a reference to June, where the story is set.
For all who fight for HK, in spite of those who fight against.
Cast and Crew
Producer - Friederike Pank
Assistant Producer - Alice Wilson
Costume - Anton Blackburn
Set Designer - Alice Penrose
Assistant Set Designer - Louise Hossien
Lighting Designer - Alice Williams
Marketing - Natasha Mallett, Emilie Edelenbos
Poster Design - Nick Budd
The Outsider
Marie Sartre - Lorelei Piper
Moselle de Beauvoir - Anna Townsend
Sandrine Boucher - Paradis Farahati
The Judge - Chris O’Leary
Composer - Hani Elias
Librettist - Marnie Shutter
Director - Lou Lou Curry
Assistant Director - Suzie Murray
Musical Director - Chris O’Leary
Assistant Musical Director - Toby Stanford
Susanna
Susanna - Tamsin Sandford-Smith
Figaro - Charlie Baigent
Composer/Librettist/Director - Zerlina Vulliamy
Assistant Director - Samanwita Sen
Musical Director - Leo Geyer
Assistant Musical Director - Charlotte Corderoy
Bou6
Tyranny - Zhao Ng
the Departed - Anna Townsend
Riot - Maxime Cugnon de Sévricourt
Condemner - Oliver Black
Composer/Assistant Musical Director - Israel Lai
Director - Toni Scharle
Assistant Director - Ellie Harrington
Musical Director - Lucia Švecová