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A Christmas Miracle is a new opera for children, adults and professional artists by The Master of the King’s Music, Errollyn Wallen. It has been developed by Mahogany Opera, co-produced by Britten Pears Arts and supported by Jubilee Opera and Orkney Music and Culture. The world premiere performances will take place in Orford Church on 20 and 21 November, where, in 1958, Britten’s visionary community opera Noye’s Fludde was premiered. A Christmas Miracle will then travel to Errollyn Wallen’s home of Orkney for performances in St. Magnus Cathedral on 4 and 5 December.

Inspired by Britten’s unrealised plans for his intergenerational community opera of the Christmas Story (titled A Christmas Sequence), and using text from the Chester Mystery Plays, the new opera by Errollyn Wallen includes special settings of much-loved Christmas carols for everyone to sing along with. A Christmas Miracle is designed to be bespoke for each performance; the production will tour with a small professional cast (4 singers and 10 instrumentalists) and production team, which will work with a large community cast of around 80-100 participants of varying ages, backgrounds and skills in each location.

This new community opera is a compelling re-telling of the Christmas story for the 21^st century. The work builds on the fundamental principles established by Britten in Noye’s Fludde, and responds to today’s approaches to co-creation, accessibility and sustainability. The story will run from the Annunciation and the Journey to Bethlehem, through to the Slaying of the Innocents and the Flight into Egypt. Wallen brings her rich and unique sound world to a dynamic retelling of the Christmas story which remains relevant with its universal themes of taking refuge, navigating the forces of jealousy and power, and the wonder of birth.

Director Frederic Wake-Walker collaborates with Errollyn Wallen for the third time (following The Lighthouse Wave and Dido’s Ghost) and together they have created a piece that combines high levels of community participation with more complex material for professional artists. The result is a work in which community voices are celebrated and skillfully woven into the musical fabric. Ruth Paton is the lead designer who regularly collaborates with leading orchestras such as the City of London Sinfonia, Academy of Ancient Music and Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment. Jerwood Foundation funding will support an emerging designer to work alongside her, with a forthcoming call-out for a Jerwood Opera Designer specialising in lighting.

The professional cast features, in the role of Angel Gabriel, sopranos Hilary Cronin, selected by BBC Music Magazine as a Rising Star, and Emma Tring, who sings with the BBC Singers and EXAUDI; countertenor Andrew Watts in the role of Herod, and known for his distinctive voice and compelling stage presence in both traditional and contemporary repertoire; mezzo-soprano Idunnu Münch as Melchior, performing widely across Europe regularly premiering new works, and actor/singer Nick Mercer as Preco/MC, who works across stage, screen and radio and has narrated audiobooks and TV animation characters. Conducted by John Andrews, A Christmas Miracle is scored for ten instrumentalists and will be performed by musicians from Ensemble X who regularly collaborate with Errollyn Wallen. As in Britten’s Noye’s Fludde, these can be supported in certain sections by amateur musicians at any level and will be recruited in each location.

Composer Errollyn Wallen said: ‘It is hard to put into words how wonderful it is to be involved in this new opera. It is a joy to be bringing A Christmas Miracle to life with this great team. As Master of The King’s Music, my stated focus has been on music-making for all, and I am proud to be part of this all-embracing musical adventure.’

Director Frederic Wake-Walker said:’ In this disconnected world, A Christmas Miracle will bring people together through the extraordinary collective power of the performing arts. Music knits our social fabric together. Projects like this give meaning and support to individuals and the group; sparking new connections while strengthening existing structures. This production is being built in the most communal and mutual way that I have ever experienced. Specialists in the field of participatory art, local community leaders, internationally renowned professionals, seasoned performers and first-timers of all ages and with a huge variety of skills are all meeting on the same level to share in a story of birth, resilience and hope. In today's world, it feels like we need this not just as a positive bonus but as something deeply essential. Like many people whose love of music and theatre was sparked by an informative early experience, I sang in a production of Noye’s Fludde as a child. I know first-hand the deeply profound impact an experience of opera has on young people, how it gives an opportunity for expression, a feeling of belonging and a space to be yourself. By doing A Christmas Miracle in Orford and Orkney we are drawing on the two most vital sources of participatory opera in the UK while building on the legacies of Britten and Maxwell Davies.’

Andrew Comben, Chief Executive, Britten Pears Arts said: ‘‘It is a real thrill to be collaborating with Errollyn Wallen and Mahogany Opera on a modern day Noye’s Fludde. I can’t think of a better way to honour Britten’s legacy in the 50th anniversary year of his death, than to create a new community opera inspired by his approach and his own unrealised plans. Errollyn, along with all the partners, firmly believes that music can and should engage a wide range of people and her commitment to using music as a platform for dialogue and change makes her the ideal collaborator. We hope the local community here in Suffolk will be as excited about it as we are and that A Christmas Miracle will be enjoyed by communities and audiences across the UK and beyond for many years to come.’

Tickets will go on general sale on Saturday 8 August.

For further press information, please contact:
Rebecca Driver Media Relations
Email: rebecca@rdmr.co.uk | Tel: 07989 355446 | web: www.rdmr.co.uk