Imagine – an Opera in Shields – Who Are You Kidding?
By Suzanne Coulson
When I first heard about the North Shields Opera Chorus collaborating with Tête à Tête and the Royal Northern Sinfonia, I thought someone was having a laugh. Opera? In North Shields? But, to my surprise, it’s real, it’s happening, and it’s fantastic! Experience the magnificent sounds of the Royal Northern Sinfonia and Chorus joined by our new North Shields Opera Chorus, all performing alongside three opera stars, dance company Bee Enchanted, and children from local schools.
This unique event is offering a golden opportunity for local people, whether they’ve been singing all their lives or are completely new to it, to perform alongside opera stars from right here in the North East and the full might of the Royal Northern Sinfonia. Curious and excited, I was invited to join one of the rehearsals to see what all the fuss was about. As I entered the rehearsal space, I intended to keep a low profile, listening to the excited mutterings of the chorus from the back. However, the arrival of local music director Tim Burke soon commanded everyone’s attention. The gentle murmurings ceased, and on Tim’s direction, the group began warming up. I couldn’t resist joining in, letting out my own dulcet tones—it was so uplifting. There was a real sense of unity and community in the room.
Despite my efforts to remain inconspicuous, I was gently ushered forward, along with a few others, to help create a more cohesive sound. I was intrigued to see how our warm-up would transition to opera, and how the different proficiency levels among the singers would play out. As we began working on “The March of the Torreadors” from the opera Carmen, the transformation was incredible. Syllable by syllable, we focused on pronunciation and phrasing. The repetition was key, and under Tim’s entertaining and expert guidance, the chorus came alive; humorously reminding us of the challenge we faced—practicing a “French opera, set in Spain, but with an Italian accent!”
Celebrating the spirit and creativity of our communities, I urge everyone – whether you’re a seasoned opera lover or brand new to the genre – to come along and see them in action. This is not just about music; it’s about community, joy!
Follow up
I was brimming with excitement for the Gala 2024. The anticipation of experiencing the full performance had me eagerly awaiting the evening, ready to immerse myself in the magic of the event.
Gala 2024, featuring the North Shields Opera Chorus in association with the Tete a Tete Opera Company and the Royal Northern Sinfonia, promised to be a spectacular event. Since its inception in 2019, the Gala has grown significantly, now including partnerships with the Can’t Sing Choir, the Backworth Male Voice Choir, Penella Bee’s Falling on Your Feet dance group, as well as the Parks Sports Centre and North Tyneside’s Music Education Hub; an impressive collaboration highlighting the Gala’s commitment to community engagement.
As I took my seat in the Parks Sports Centre on Sunday 7th July, surrounded by excited family and friends of the Gala’s participants, I noticed an inclusive audience filled with members of the community, some there to support their children, husbands, wives, partners and then, like me, an independent with no ties but to immerse themselves into something brand new.
As the gentle hum of the Royal Northen Sinfonia’s strings turned into a three-dozen strong grand crescendo of woodwind, brass, and percussion, the choral tones of the Opera Chorus joined in, creating an overwhelming sense of togetherness. The presence of children from local North Tyneside schools performing music they had composed specifically for the Gala added a touch of magic. The contemporary dance, inspired by a mythical theme and featuring the focal dance piece ‘Azra Glow,’ captivated everyone. Led by the animated Tim Burke, both participants and audience were entranced by his every movement as he conducted. The strength of voice from principal opera singers Helen Bailey, Graeme Danby, and Austin Gunn – all talent from the North East, hailing from Middlesbrough, County Durham, and Whitley Bay respectively – added to the local pride of the event.
Gala 2024 was a captivating blend of opera and symphonic beauty, rooted in the community’s exceptional talent. Accepting the invitation to explore and discover was truly rewarding; from the cautious tones at the early rehearsal to the powerful choral sea that greeted its audience on a wet and windy Sunday afternoon in Shields – it left me inspired and eager for an encore.
As a representative of I Love North Shields, I had the privilege of conducting a Q&A with Tim Burke prior to the event, which allowed us to delve into the heart of what the Gala is all about.
What is the North Shields Opera Chorus, and what inspired its creation?
‘North Shields Opera Chorus is set to explore the most thrilling and beautiful musical stories from Britain and across Europe from the past 400+ years, as well as brand new opera being written here in North Shields telling the stories of life here right now. It takes its inspiration from the creativity that is brimming over here in North Shields – we’ve been building a community opera initiative here since May 2019, Looking further afield, the work is inspired by initiatives like Birmingham Opera Company who really reflect the city they work in, working with some of the world’s most exciting artists and working with hundreds of volunteer participants that make up their chorus, creating large-scale performances that are the envy of the classical music world. It is important to Tête à Tête that the community of North Shields feels that they own North Shields Opera Chorus, and a big part of this concert is introducing the members of the NSOC to as wide a variety of different kinds of opera as possible – we have music from the very first major opera composer, Monteverdi, written in 1630s Venice, we have music from Britain, France, Bohemia, Austria, Italy and Russia from the 17th to the 21st centuries, including a brand new piece of music being composed specially for GALA 2024 by North Shields and North Tyneside school children.’
How do you hope the North Shields Opera Chorus will impact the local community and the broader North East region?
‘We want to offer the members of NSOC, as well as artists and audiences, to go on adventures that will touch everyone involved in a way we’ll never forget. I could imagine this chorus growing into a fully-fledged company that stages spectacular operas every two years, for instance – it could be a real jewel in the crown of culture and arts in the North East and beyond.’
Can you tell us more about the collaboration with the Royal Northern Sinfonia and what audiences can expect from this partnership?
‘Royal Northern Sinfonia is the orchestra of The Glasshouse (f.k.a. Sage Gateshead), and as we’re planning to do here in North Shields, it has built a worldwide reputation for the North East through the creativity and jaw-dropping talent of its musicians.’
For more events by the Royal Northern Sinfonia visit www.theglasshouseicm.org
To get involved in future endeavours find Tete a Tete Opera on Instagram or Tête à Tête – Home (tete-a-tete.org.uk) whether as an audience member or participant.
