Chris Elliott: Featured Galleries and Collections

L'Elisir d'Amore

placidod (at) hotmail.co.uk (Chris Elliott) — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 19:00:00 GMT

Elixir of Love - Donitzetti - Lancaster Grand Theatre - Saturday 22 March 2008
Adina - Sarah Helsby-Hughes ______ Gianetta - Samantha Chambers ________ Marietta - Serenna Wagner
Nemorino - Nick Hardy ____________ Belcore - Francis Church _______________ Dulcamara - Richard Woodall
Producer/Conductor - Chris Gill _____ Director - Dean Taylor
This performance was the culmination of a succesful tour of historical venues in which Sarah Helsby-Hughes and Serenna Wagner shared the roles of Adina and Marietta to equal acclaim.

Nemorino, a simple Italian peasant lad, has fallen in love with wealthy landowner, Adina. But her head is firmly turned by the arrival of army sergeant Belcore in the village. Nemorino enlists the help of travelling quack doctor Dulcamara and his mysterious Elixir of Love but then has to enlist with his rival to pay for it! Things come to a head when the regiment is given its marching orders and wedding plans are accelerated. Meanwhile Nemorino is suddenly attracting the ladies. Could it be the Elixir?

Heritage Opera is a professional opera company performing in historic venues across the UK: http://www.heritageopera.co.uk/

" ..it seems Lancashire has at last acquired a high-quality opera company of its own." Opera Now July/August 2008

Lanchashire Evening Post's review - http://www.lep.co.uk/theatrereviews/The-Elixir-of-Love-.3909223.jp

Note: All photos are copyright of Chris Elliott and can be reproduced only with my permission. This is normally available on condition that I am credited as photographer. - Chris Elliott (PlacidoD@hotmail.co.uk)

Magic Flute

placidod (at) hotmail.co.uk (Chris Elliott) — Sun, 03 Aug 2008 11:09:00 GMT

Heritage Opera's Mozart - Magic Flute - is touring the UK North West 1st to 18th August, 2008.

Photos below are from the dress rehearsal. Further details from the website: http://www.heritageopera.co.uk
Pamina - Serenna Wagner__________ Tamino - Ulisis Llorca ____________________ Queen of the Night - Sarah Helsby-Hughes
Papageno - Thomas Eaglen _________ Sorastro - David Palmer__________________ Papagenna/1st Lady/Spirit - Samantha Chambers
Monastatos - Adrian Lawson________ 2nd Lady/Spirit - Wendy Sharrock_________ 3rd Lady/Spirit - Sioned Ellis
1st Priest/Slave - Eric Cymbir_________ 2nd Priest/Slave - Luke Thomas
Producer/Conductor - Chris Gill ______ Director - Sarah Helsby-Hughes

Heritage Opera is a professional opera company performing in historic venues across the UK

" ..it seems Lancashire has at last acquired a high-quality opera company of its own." Opera Now July/August 2008

Note: All photos are copyright of Chris Elliott and can be reproduced only with my permission. This is normally available on condition that I am credited as photographer.

La Traviata 11th & 12th January 2007 Lowther Pavilion, Lytham

placidod (at) hotmail.co.uk (Chris Elliott) — Fri, 19 Jan 2007 13:09:00 GMT

REHEARSAL SHOTS Nov/Dec 2006 - PERFORMANCES 12 & 13/01/07 - Lowther Pavilion, Lytham St. Anne's, Lancashire.
Jane Evans, who was too play the lead role of Violetta, was hospitalised just days before the production. Pat Pictor formerly of Opera North cleared her schedule to step into the role but sang from the orchestra pit with a member of the chorus - Barbara Butcher - who was familiar with this production acting on stage.

North Star Opera produces high quality opera in the North West of England with a small cast of invited singers (me among them).

Website www.northstaropera.co.uk

Recent productions La Traviata 12 & 13/01/07, Opera Gala 03/08/07

Next - Christmas Extravaganza - Sunday 16/12/07

For 2008 - "Puccini - Love, Passion, Death" - a revival of this splendid 2004 production which always deserved a wider audience**

** "With this intriguing title North Star Opera explored aspects of Puccini who was a master at comprehending the complex emotions of life and death. A cleverly executed programme showed four extended scenes from the best known Puccini works, which were all concerned with the conflicting strong emotions of the title."

Thanks to Alan Shepherd who assisted with the photoshoot.

Carmina Burana - Bridgewater Hall, Manchester 29th April 2007

placidod (at) hotmail.co.uk (Chris Elliott) — Wed, 02 May 2007 17:36:00 GMT

An evening of music to celebrate Conductor James Eastham’s 25th Season with Salford Choral Society:
Wagner - The Mastersingers of Nuremberg - Overture & Wach Auf Chorus, Mozart - The Magic Flute - The Birdcatcher’s Song, Parry - I was Glad
Carl Orff - Carmina Burana
Soloists: Simon Keenlyside - Baritone, Amy Freston - Soprano, Barry Banks - Tenor
Choirs: Altrincham Choral Society, Blackburn Music Society, Keighley Vocal Union, Nelson Arion Male Voice Choir, Salford Choral Society, Trebles of Oldham Hulme Grammar School for Boys Choir
Orchestra of the North - Leader Andrew Orton
Conductor - Dr JAMES EASTHAM

And Encore: After the concert the conductor and regular accompanist, Roderick Barrand, entertained on the piano in the foyer.

Read the MEN online review here: http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/entertainment/music/classical_and_opera/s/1005/1005758_salford_choral_society__bridgewater_hall.html

TO VIEW PHOTOs: Simply click on "Slideshow" OR click on individual shots (Clicking again on the shot may produce a larger image depending on your screen size). If you run your mouse pointer around the screen you will quickly find any other features that you may need. You can download any photo to your own PC for your own slideshow or to print until I lock them in a few weeks time.*** You can send a link to the Gallery or individual photos by email to friends.
You can order prints if you wish. They will come from the US. I have never ordered them. Let me know if you try!
(***Email me if you want me to unlock photos at a later date.)

These photos will remain on line permanently for you to view here.

You can view my other online photos (mainly opera) by shortening the URL above to - http://PlacidoD.Zenfolio.com

These photos remain my copyright but you may link to them for use in your blog or website or other personal use connected with amateur classical music making. Please acknowledge my copyright when reproducing and, if possible, include reference to this site.
For commercial use (or if you wish me to photograph your event) please contact me.

Chris Elliott - chris@elliotmail.demon.co.uk

Verdi Requiem - Bridgewater Hall - 15/04/07

placidod (at) hotmail.co.uk (Chris Elliott) — Wed, 23 May 2007 09:47:00 GMT

2007 is the 50th year as a professional musician of JOHN HUW DAVIES. A performance of the Verdi Requiem at the Bridgewater Hall, Manchester on 15th April 2007 celebrated this 50th anniversary. It was also an opportunity for the singers and players, with whom he has enjoyed making music, to perform the Requiem in one of the country's most recent and best concert halls.

The choir of over 250 singers and orcheastra - the North Wales and North West Festival Choir and Orchestra come from choirs with which John Huw is presently involved as well as singers who have taken part in his summer schools, master classes and other courses.

John Hugh began his career as a singer and broadcaster, singing in many major concert halls in Britain and abroad, giving recitals for BBC Radio 3 and working regularly on programmes for BBC Radio, TV and ITV. As a conductor he has given broadcasts with the BBC Singers and the BBC Northern Singers, with his own Monteverdi Singers, and regularly conducts the major choral and orchestral works. He taught at Trinity College of Music and the University of North Wales, and gives many courses each year for solo and choral singers.

Four superb soloists graced the night:-
Jayne Carpenter - Soprano, Mary Lloyd Davies - Mezzo, Matthew Minter - Tenor, Mark Rawlinson - Bass

And ... to add to his pleasure his wife and daughter were on stage with him playing in the orcheatra.

Philidelphia

placidod (at) hotmail.co.uk (Chris Elliott) — Thu, 25 Jan 2007 11:22:00 GMT

A new comedy musical written by James Eccleshare. It is aimed at youth theatre groups.

The Philidelphia is a downmarket cafe. The musical explores the characters of the regular visitors against the background of a music talent competition and a devilish subplot.

There is a CD of the musical due for release on 22/10/07 which uses some of these photos on an illustrative booklet that comes with the CD.

Best Shots

placidod (at) hotmail.co.uk (Chris Elliott) — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 21:12:00 GMT

A collection of shots which I think have some merit PLUS some older shots of some digital photographic significance.