We hope soon to announce our choice of opera for 2027.
And here's a reminder that we're looking forward to welcoming not just audiences, but new singers too.
So, If you'd like to have a go at concert singing, please let us know! There's no formal audition for chorus members. We have rehearsals most Wednesday evenings in Newbury. Get in touch by kennetopera@gmail.com or FB.
We returned in January to the Great Hall in Newbury's Shaw House for our 2026 staged production. It gave British audiences a rare chance to enjoy Susannah, one of the most-performed American operas, and seen as the masterpiece of 'the father of American opera' Carlisle Floyd.
More on Susannah here.
Summer concerts come next. So far we have one date booked: we're back in Shaw House on Saturday 13 June. The concert will be in the Great Hall, but the wonderful lawns and Tudor gardens of the house will be waiting for visitors!
More dates will follow. We're all looking forward to them.
In the meantime, pictures from the 2025 concerts, which featured our own 'Opera Favourites'. From the 17th century (Purcell) to the 20th (Britten), with lots from Verdi, G&S and Mozart, and finishing with the memorable Easter Hymn from Cavalleria Rusticana. As music directors we had David Wordsworth (at Shaw House and Stockcross) and Ben de Souza (at Brimpton). Oliver Williams was once more our accompanist.
Pictures L to R above:
Owain, Great Hall; Anthony and Natalia, Stockcross; Don, Great Hall;
Below: everyone, Brimpton
For the first time, our year's main production was by Gilbert & Sullivan. We staged Iolanthe in the Great Hall of Shaw House, Newbury, our third production there. We, and our sellout audience, thoroughly enjoyed it! More here.
