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A summer’s day. A picnic. And a story of five friends trying to make sense of life and love. Is it finally time to grow up?
Told through brilliantly evocative music including the famous Habanera from Carmen and Verdi’s timeless Drinking Song from La Traviata, OperaCocktail will move, entertain and delight.
OperaUpClose is a national touring opera company with storytelling, partnership, and innovation at its heart. Intimate in scale, mighty in impact.
OPERACOCKTAIL CAST:
Felicity Buckland- Carmen/ Mezzo
Felicity trained at the RNCM and on ENO’s Opera Works programme. Felicity’s 2023/4 season appearances included Flora La Traviata at ENO (cover); Rosina The Barber of Seville (Bradford Opera Festival); Amneris Aida (Kentish Opera); Meg Page Falstaff (West Green House Opera), and concert performances of Mendelssohn Elijah, Beethoven Symphony No.9, and world premiere scenes from Windrush by Desmond Oliver.
Aaron O’Hare- Freddie/ Tenor
Irish tenor Aaron O'Hare transitioned from baritone in 2021, having previously sung with leading companies across the UK and Ireland. Aaron joined Garsington Opera's Alvarez Young Artist's programme in 2016 and was a member of the Opera Holland Park Young Artists in 2018.
Claire Wild- Tanya/ Soprano
Claire is passionate about opera and bringing it to new audiences. She has performed across the UK and Europe. Notable performances include Baba Yaga Wolf Witch Giant Fairy (Royal Ballet & Opera); Tinkerbell Peter Pan, the dark side (Teatro Comunale di Bolzano); Lilli Vanessi/Katharine Kiss Me, Kate, Emma Khovanshchina,Elle La voix humaine (Welsh National Opera); Caridad The Skating Rink (Garsington Opera); Gretel Hansel and Gretel‚ Zerlina Don Giovanni and title role L’enfant et les sortilèges‚ (Opera North).
Greg Hearle – Lenny/ Clarinet
Greg studied at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama and the Royal College of Music. He subsequently was a 2018 fellow of Southbank Sinfonia, an orchestra made up of graduates from around the world. Now based in North London, Greg freelances throughout the UK with orchestras such the RPO, BBCSO, Britten Sinfonia, and Royal Northern Sinfonia.
Elspeth Wilkes- Joe/ Piano
Elspeth has performed at the Royal Opera House, the Royal Albert Hall and several West End theatres and has worked with BBC Wales, the Royal Ballet and the Royal Shakespeare Company. Elspeth is the conductor of Thurrock Choral Society and assistant conductor of Barnes Choir and Putney Choral Society and is a member of the Bridgetower Chamber Ensemble.