2020/21 MICHAELMAS & MAINSHOW ANNOUNCED |
Our Michaelmas show 2020/21 will be the 2019 chamber opera Denis & Katya by Philip Venables and Ted Huffman, whilst our Lent term main show this academic year will be Carl Maria von Weber's German Romantic classic Der Freischütz.
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Applications open now for Michaelmas and main shows |
CUOS is now accepting applications for potential Michaelmas Shows AND the Mainshow 2020. Those interested in applying can find out more on the 'Your Show' page and we encourage anybody interested in being involved in putting on a show to contact the committee with any questions.
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May Week Show 'The Twin Brothers' |
Our May Week show this year will be Schubert's The Twin Brothers, performed in English on Saturday 15th June at the Cambridge Union. Audition information coming soon.
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★★★★1/2 review for 'Carmen' |
Our Lent 2019 Mainshow Carmen was described by Varsity as 'captivating from beginning to end'. As both the Director and the Musical Director are committee members, CUOS is especially delighted that this production did so very well. Read all about it here
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★★★★★ Review for 'Il Signor Bruschino' |
Congratulations to the cast and team behind our Michaelmas production of Rossini's Il Signor Bruschino who received a five star review from the Tab, describing the show as a 'truly magnificent production...not to be missed'.
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2018 Michaelmas show 'IL signor Bruschino' tickets on sale now |
Our Michaelmas show, Rossini's Il Signor Bruschino will be performed 19th-21st November, 8:30pm in Emmanuel College Chapel in the original Italian. A libretto is provided in the ticket price.
Tickets £12/£10/£6 https://operasoc.tessera.info/ |
MOzart Double Bill: Bastien Und Bastienne/Der Schauspieldirektor |
CUOS is delighted to announce that two of its Junior Committee, Eleanor Burke and Oliver Cope are staging a double-bill of two rarely performed Mozart Operas with Trinity College Music Society.
8:00pm, Tue 13th November 2018 at Trinity College Chapel Tickets on the door: £8/£5/Free for TCMS members |
May Week Show: Bernstein's Trouble in Tahiti |
CUOS is excited to announce this term's May Week Show will be Leonard Bernstein's Trouble in Tahiti, with director Eleanor Burke and musical director Oliver Cope, taking place at 2:30pm & 7:30pm on Friday 15th June 2018, in the Frankopan Hall, Jesus College. Stay tuned for updates on where you can get your tickets!
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★★★★ ½ Review for Donizetti's L'elisir d'amore |
Congratulations to the cast and crew of our 2018 Mainshow, Donizetti's L'elisir d'amore, which was greatly enjoyed by all who came. The opera received a particularly glowing review from Varsity, who noted that it was a "sentimental and superbly executed show – what more could any opera lover possibly ask for?", with The Daily Express also remarking the production was "outstanding and far, far better than one expected".
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ANNOUNCING OUR 2018 LENT MAINSHOW |
CUOS is delighted to announce our Lent mainshow will be Donizetti's L'elisir d'amore. Performances will be held from the 22nd - 24th February 2018 in West Road Concert Hall, with Edward Reeve as Music Director, and Judith Lebiez as Director. This mainshow forms CUOS' largest project of the academic year, providing an extremely exciting opportunity for students at all stages in their operatic lives to work at a large scale and in a professional hall. More information on this entertaining production will be available soon!
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2017 CUOS GALA CONCERT |
On the 16th November we were thrilled to host a second popular Gala Concert. After drinks and canapés in the beautiful surroundings of Emmanuel College Old Library, the gala began in the Queen’s Building, with students past and present, accompanied by Edward Reeve, performing operatic ensemble and solo favourites ranging from Handel to Verdi and Mozart to Puccini. A particular highlight was a sneak peak at next term's mainshow, Donizetti's L'elisir d'amore, with two of the principals performing a duet from the show.
The Society is grateful to our president Dame Fiona Reynolds for hosting the evening, and to an anonymous donor, who generously covered the costs of funding this gala, ensuring that all money raised go directly to support the work of the society in putting on more first-class productions in future. Thank you to everyone who attended for supporting us and being part of a really special night! |
2017 MICHAELMAS SHOW - HOLST'S SAVITRI |
Can one woman outwit even Death? From the 8th - 11th November at 11pm, the ADC Theatre was transformed into an opera house for Holst's Savitri, a late night dramatic retelling of the ancient Sanskrit epic, the Mahabharata, a tale of human passion and spiritual devotion is given a stunning and evocative musical soundscape by the English composer Gustav Holst. Receiving 8/10 from The Cambridge Student, and 4* from Varsity, special congratulations must go to all involved in making the venture such a success!
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2017 MICHAELMAS SHOW - HANDEL'S RADAMISTO |
On the 27th and 28th October, Trinity Chapel played host to a dramatic retelling of Handel's Radamisto, a tale of lust, intrigue, and reconciliation between warring dynasties (led by Frankie Postles and Jack Hawkins) set in Classical Thrace. Particularly striking were the costumes and make up (designed by Gwen Davis), which drew on baroque and steampunk influences, amongst others: check out our gallery for highlights. Congratulations to the cast, crew, and orchestra on pulling off such an achievement in just under three weeks!
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2017 MAY WEEK SHOW - BERKELEY'S A DINNER ENGAGEMENT |
The 24th June saw the Fitzpatrick theatre of Queens' College transformed into a kitchen for CUOS' production of Berkeley's A Dinner Engagement. A light-hearted story, perfect for a hot summer's day, saw the impoverished Earl and Countess of Dunmow (Louis Wilson and Anita Monserrat) attempt to cook a meal whilst attempting to set their daughter (Eleanor Burke) up with a visiting prince. Congratulations to the cast and crew on a hilarious show that left the audience in fits of laughter!
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5* REVIEW FOR THE RAKE'S PROGRESS |
Congratulations to all the cast and crew of our 2017 Mainshow, Stravinsky's The Rake's Progress! We were thrilled to receive a 5* review from Cambridge Theatre Review, and a 9/10 review from The Cambridge Student. As said by CTR, "Excellent performances from all those onstage, a fantastic orchestra and deft direction and design make this show unique and highly memorable".
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2017 MAINSHOW - STRAVINSKY'S THE RAKE'S PROGRESS |
We are thrilled to announce that our Mainshow this year is Stravinsky's The Rake's Progress. With performances in West Road Concert Hall 23rd-25th February, this wickedly dark opera is really not one to miss...
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2016 CUOS FUNDRAISING GALA |
CUOS was thrilled to host its first fundraising Gala Concert on the 22nd November. A champagne reception in Emmanuel College's Old Library was followed with a formal showcase of CUOS' finest singing talent from the last few years. Students past and present, accompanied by Edward Reeve, performed a selection of operatic ensemble and solo favourites, including pieces by Monteverdi, Mozart, and Verdi.
We would like to thank our Senior President, Dame Fiona Reynolds, for hosting the evening, and an anonymous donor for providing the champagne and canapes. Thank you to everyone who attended for supporting us and being part of a really special night! |
2016 MICHAELMAS SHOW - THE DESCENT OF ORPHEUS TO THE UNDERWORLD |
On the 18th and 19th November, CUOS transformed the atmospheric Round Church into the Underworld for a stunning production of Charpentier's beautiful but little-known opera, The Descent of Orpheus to the Underworld. Orpheus, sung by Dominic Edwards, attempted to rescue his beloved Euridice from Pluton, The God of the Underworld, charming him with music after she passes away at their marriage celebrations.
In suitably beautiful surroundings, The Descent of Orpheus to the Underworld was the perfect opera for a cosy winter's evening. Congratulations to the cast and crew on a wonderful Michaelmas show. |
2016 EDINBURGH FRINGE - OWAIN PARK'S THE SNOW CHILD |
We're very excited to hear that Owain Park's chamber opera, The Snow Child, is going to be performed as part of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. Owain's opera was first staged earlier this year with two other student-written operas as part of the CUOS Short Stories production, and we're thrilled to get the opportunity to see it performed again.
As well as being a student-written production, the show stars several CUOS regulars and is really to be missed. Be sure to catch it in Edinburgh, 22-26 August! |
2016 MAY WEEK SHOW - PUCCINI'S GIANNI SCHICCHI |
We are very much looking forward to our May week show, Puccini's wonderful Gianni Schicchi. This beautiful and hilarious work is sure to be the perfect end to the academic year, performed in the Cambridge Union's Debating Chamber.
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2016 MAINSHOW - BRITTEN'S A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM |
Oberon walks out onto the street. He takes a drag on his cigarette. His eye liner has smudged a little... Britten's A Midsummer Night's Dream, a masterful operatic adaptation of the Shakespearian classic is brought into a contemporary urban setting in this brand new production. Specifically created for the West Road stage, this is the Cambridge University Opera Society's biggest show of the year, featuring a cast showcasing the highest talent of singers within the University on the cusp of professional careers.
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FIVE-STAR REVIEW FOR BERNSTEIN'S CANDIDE |
Our colourful production of Leonard Bernstein's Candide played to enthusiastic audiences at the Queens' Fitzpatrick Hall. The production was well-reviewed, receiving a five-star rating from Varsity. To read it, click here.
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CUOS MAINSHOW DON GIOVANNI SUCCESS |
We are delighted to report that the four-show run of Mozart's Don Giovanni was a fantastic success with a sellout performance on the final night. The opera received an 8/10 review from The Cambridge Student, a four-star review from Varsity and a five-star review from The Tab. We are thrilled with the success of this performance and would like to congratulate all the cast and crew involved for such a tremendous show.
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STUNNING REVIEWS FOR THE CUOS PRODUCTION OF CURLEW RIVER |
Over the weekend some of Cambridge's finest young singers took to the stage and gave two truly incredible performances of Britten's Curlew River. With The Cambridge Student giving it 7/10, and Varsity describing it as 'a simple tale, beautifully executed', all we have left to do is congratulate the team on a wonderful production!
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CUOS RECEIVE A FIVE-STAR REVIEW FOR THEIR OPERA GALA WITH MAGSOC |
We are delighted to see that the joint efforts of MagSoc (The St. Margaret's Society of Queens', Queens' music society) and CUOS were enjoyed by all in our Opera Gala Concert on Saturday night. Varsity Review gave the evening a superb five-star rating; praising the efforts of the choir, soloists and orchestra. We are thrilled that the event was such a success and we hope there will be many more in the future!
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HIGH PRAISE FOR THE CUOS PRODUCTION OF THE MAGIC FLUTE |
CUOS are very proud of the successful run of Mozart's The Magic Flute in the ADC this term. With five sell-out performances and people queuing on the night in the hope of return tickets, it was a delight to see opera being appreciated with such enthusiasm by so many. The cast and crew succeeded in creating a production that consistently wowed audiences, as can be seen in the particularly glowing four-star review in Varsity newspaper. CUOS hope that this is the beginning of a long and fruitful partnership with the ADC theatre as the venue helped make every evening such a fantastic experience for audience, cast and crew alike.
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As you can see CUOS has undergone a massive image change. With a new logo and website CUOS is bringing itself firmly into the twenty first century. There are even rumours that we will soon be joining Twitter! Take a look around the new website so that you can see all the new features and if you have any suggestions on how we can keep on improving do not hesitate to get in touch!
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