News Archive
Posted 21 February 2012
25th anniversary operas announced
Two exotic tales for BYO's 25th anniversary season (8-15 September 2012):
The Bartered Bride, Smetana's comic masterpiece inspired by the folk stories of his native Bohemia, and A Night at the Chinese Opera, Judith Weir's colourful tale of China in the time of Kublai Khan, Marco Polo and the 'Orphan of Zhao'. Details coming soon!
Posted 12 January 2012
Gala Concert: Acis & Galatea and Dido & Aeneas
We are delighted to announce this very special concert in The Queen's Chapel on Wednesday 14 March, by gracious permission of Her Majesty The Queen.
BYO alumni will be joined by the English Chamber Orchestra Ensemble and presenter Kit Hesketh-Harvey for a specially devised programme of music by Handel and Purcell in one of the Chapels Royal in which they both worked!
Posted 9 December 2011
Auditions for BYO 2012
Applications have now closed for singers wishing to audition for BYO's 2012 workshops and summer season.
If you have any queries about auditions please email Marcella Santese.
Applications for artistic and production trainees will open in February 2012.
Posted 1 December - updated 9 December 2011
The Big Give Christmas Challenge: THANK YOU!
Thank you to everyone who tried to make a donation to BYO during The Big Give Christmas Challenge, whether you were successful or not!
Many donors were successful, although numerous issues with The Big Give's system meant that others weren't. In total, with match funding and Gift Aid, we raised over £50,000 towards our 2012 season.
Posted 26 October 2011
Auditions announced for BYO 2012
Information and application forms for singers wishing to audition for BYO's 2012 Summer Season or Opera Workshops are now available online.
The deadline for receipt of applications is Thursday 8 December.
Posted 15 October 2011
Two chances to hear BYO singers in concert
World-renowned conductor, and former Music Director of English National Opera, Sir Mark Elder, hosts our 2011 Autumn Masterclass on 24 November.
For BYO's final performance of the year, singers from our 2011 Summer Season productions of Le nozze di Figaro and The Rape of Lucretia come together for the BYO Friends' Christmas Concert on 5 December.
Posted 29 August 2011 - updated 20 September 2011
Downloadable programme - NOW ONLINE
You can now read our programme, complete with synopses, programme notes and cast biographies before you get to the theatre!
Click here to download your programme.
(PDF file, 3.3Mb, available until 20 September)
Posted 17 July 2011
Summer Season rehearsals begin
A warm welcome to all the participants who will be joining BYO rehearsals for Le nozze di Figaro and The Rape of Lucretia beginning this week.
See who's who in the casts and creative teams and book your tickets now!
Posted 23 June 2011
Masterclass with Sir Mark Elder announced (24 November)
We are delighted to welcome world-renowned conductor, and former Music Director of English National Opera for almost fifteen years, Sir Mark Elder, to host our 2011 Autumn Masterclass.
Posted 8 June 2011
Cardiff Singer of the World
Four BYO alumni were among the 20 singers selected from hundreds of applicants for the biennial Cardiff Singer of the World Competition, which begins on Sunday.
Good luck to our alumni representing England Meeta Raval (Magda, La rondine, BYO 2008), Ireland Máire Flavin (Venus, Euridice, BYO 2010), New Zealand Anna Leese (Juliette, Roméo et Juliette, BYO 2005) and Wales John Pierce (Rodolfo, La bohème, BYO 2010).
Posted 30 March 2011 - updated 22 May 2011
2011 Summer Season (3-10 September) - BOOK NOW
British Youth Opera, in association with Southbank Sinfonia, returns to the Peacock Theatre for a Summer Season featuring new productions of Mozart's Le nozze di Figaro and Britten's The Rape of Lucretia.
Posted 30 March 2011
Gala Recital with Sir Thomas Allen (24 May)
BYO President Sir Thomas Allen takes to the stage alongside singers from recent seasons - including England's representative in the 2011 Cardiff Singer of the World, Meeta Raval - for a gala recital and dinner in the magnificent Fishmongers' Hall on the banks of the Thames.
Posted 30 March 2011
Arts Council England announces National Portfolio
We welcome today's announcement that British Youth Opera will continue to receive public funding next year as part of Arts Council England's National Portfolio of funded organisations.
Posted 26 November 2010 - Updated 7 December 2010
The Big Give Christmas Challenge - THANK YOU!
Thank you to everyone who made donations to BYO in The Big Give Christmas Challenge. With match-funding and Gift Aid you raised a total of £43,504 towards our 2011 Summer Season in just two days!
Donations can still be made by clicking the button to the left but will no longer be doubled. Click here for more information.
Posted 26 October 2010
Masterclass with Dame Kiri Te Kanawa (29 November)
We are delighted to welcome one of the world's most famous sopranos, Dame Kiri Te Kanawa, to host our 2010 Autumn Masterclass.
This event was announced during our Summer Season and fewer than 20 tickets remain.
Posted 10 September 2010
Read the first reviews
La bohème in The Times (****)and at MusicalCriticism.com (****).
Euridice in The Guardian (***) and The Times (***).
Posted 1 September 2010
Downloadable programme - NOW ONLINE
Want to read the programme before you get to the theatre? Now you can!
Click here to download your programme.
(PDF file, 2.2Mb, available until 12 September)
Posted 1 August 2010
2010 Summer Season rehearsals begin
A warm welcome to all the participants who will be in rehearsals with BYO over the coming weeks.
See who's who by taking a look at our complete company lists for La bohème and Euridice, online until 1 September when they will be replaced by a downloadable version of our printed programme.
Posted 17 May 2010
2010 Summer Season (4-11 September)
BYO returns to the Peacock theatre with new productions of Puccini's Euridice, two operas providing brilliant opportunities for audiences to see and hear the next generation of opera singers.
Posted 17 May 2010
Gala Recital with Dame Felicity Lott on 5 July
One of the most admired sopranos of her generation, BYO Vice President Dame Felicity Lott, takes to the stage alongside singers from recent BYO seasons for a gala recital in the magnificent glass-roofed hall of 'The Gables' St. John's Wood.
Posted 17 May 2010
New website - phase 1 launched
Welcome to BYO's new-look website. Launched on 17 May 2010 with information about forthcoming events and the Summer Season, more content will be added over the coming months, including detailed information about getting involved as a participant.
