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THE BIRDS

29 June - 20 July 200

co-produced by The Opera Group and I Fagiolini

music by Ed Hughes
words by Glyn Maxwell
after Aristophanes

Aristophanes’ biting political satire on the search for Utopia, The Birds, takes on fresh life in Ed Hughes’s new one-act opera. The topical libretto, by award-winning poet Glyn Maxwell, draws many contemporary parallels.

The opera forms part of a programme with a distinctly avian theme presented by The Opera Group in association with Internationally acclaimed vocal ensemble I Fagiolini. I Fagiolini introduce the evening with three short Renaissance and contemporary works by Clement Janequin, Ravenscroft and Per Nøgård that merge music with the distinctive sound of nightingales, thrushes and cuckoos.

In The Birds, Aristophanes’ created a unique blend of slapstick, fantasy and political satire. When their world is shaken by a human arrival, flamingoes and pigeons resolve to build their own city in the sky and declare war on the earth beneath and the gods above.  Hawks and doves argue as the birds become the world’s only superpower.

Ed Hughes’ richly harmonic music contrasts the elemental, pre-language soundworld of the birds with more complex, shimmering harmonies for the visitor. Strongly rhythmic ritual gestures feature in both vocal writing and the percussive continuo group. 

John Fulljames’s fully-staged production of the opera is designed by Soutra Gilmour. Musical Director Robert Hollingworth directs I Fagiolini’s ten-voice ensemble, enhanced by cello, percussion and electronics and complemented by the non-singing role of the human visitor whose arrival into the birds’ idyllic existence ruffles a few feathers.

The opera was commissioned for The Opera Group by the City of London Festival with funds from The Gresham Prize, awarded by Gresham College.

Tour

Wed 29 & Thu 30 June
City of London Festival (World Premiere)
St Andrews Holborn

Sat 2 July
Salamanca Festival

Mon 4 July 4
Cheltenham Festival
Town Hall

Wed 6 July
Iford Manor
Bradford on Avon

Fri 8 July
Warwick Festival
Bridge House Theatre

Sun 10 July
Oxford Playhouse

Wed 20 July
Buxton Festival
Buxton Opera House

Composer Ed Hughes
Librettist Glyn Maxwell
Musical Director Robert Hollingworth
Director John Fulljames
Designer Soutra Gilmour