Retrospect Opera

26/08/2024

LATEST RETROSPECT OPERA RELEASE NOMINATED FOR GRAMOPHONE AWARDS 2024

The shortlist for the 2024 Gramophone Classical Music Awards Shortlist was announced on Friday, with six recordings in each of 11 categories, and Retrospect Opera’s recording of C.V. Stanford’s Shamus O’Brien is one of those nominated in the ‘Opera’ category!

See the news article here: https://www.gramophone.co.uk/classical%20music%20news/article/gramophone-classical-music-awards-2024-shortlist-is-revealed

The free digital edition detailing the 66 nominations is here: https://reader.exacteditions.com/issues/117619/spread/39

At the latter link, you can read Gramophone’s excellent review by Richard Bratby of the ‘indefatigable’ Retrospect Opera's Shamus O’Brien. Here are a few brief excerpts:

‘it needs to be heard by anyone with more than a passing interest in British music’

‘it’s a jewel: the sort of piece that makes you sit up and reappraise everything you thought you knew about a composer’

‘prepare to be bowled over by the assurance and freshness of Shamus O'Brien’

‘In short, this is a magnificent piece of advocacy for an inspired and wonderfully enjoyable opera.’

Earlier in the year, Gramophone also published an article by Rory Dunne, who sings the role of Father O’Flynn on our release, on the depiction of Irish culture in Shamus O’Brien. It can be read here: https://www.gramophone.co.uk/blogs/article/caricature-or-portrait-the-depiction-of-irish-culture-in-stanford-s-opera-shamus-o-brien

Gramophone magazine is the pre-eminent publisher of reviews of classical recordings and its Classical Music Awards are one of the most prestigious accolades of the classical music industry, akin to the Grammys or Oscars.

For further information about our recording of Shamus O’Brien, and to purchase, please visit: https://retrospectopera.org.uk/product/shamus-obrien/

Many thanks indeed to Gramophone for our first Classical Music Awards nomination – and we hope not the last!

Brendan Collins - Baritone Rory Dunne - Bass Baritone Jarlath Henderson Scottish Opera Opera Bohemia Retrospect Opera

02/08/2024

Ethel Smyth was the featured composer on this week's BBC Radio 3 Composer of the Week (https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b006tnxf/episodes/player), and Retrospect Opera's recordings of her operas, conducted by Odaline de la Martinez, have appeared in three of the episodes!

Our recording of Smyth's Fête Galante was heard on Monday's and Wednesday's broadcasts ('Overture: Sarabande' on Monday and 'Joy unbounded', 'Heigho!', and 'Hushed is the world' on Wednesday), and our recording of The Boatswain’s Mate (Overture, 'What if I were young again', and 'O Mary, I try to forget you!') on Thursday's broadcast.

Listen again to these broadcasts at the following links:

Monday 29 July: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m0021b79
Wednesday 31 July: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m0021bp8
Thursday 1 August: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m0021bww

To find out more about Retrospect Opera, and to purchase these and other recordings, please visit: https://retrospectopera.org.uk/

13/07/2024

Valerie Langfield, Chris Wiley, and Benjamin Hamilton have been in Ireland, speaking at the two-day international symposium 'Dame Ethel Smyth: Connections, Culture, and Context' hosted by Dublin City University (DCU).

Yesterday they presented a conversation-style paper on the first 10 years of Retrospect Opera and the prominence of Smyth in its catalogue, which includes the recordings of her operas The Boatswain's Mate (RO001) and Fête Galante (RO007), the re-release of the live recording of The Wreckers (RO004), and the future plans to record Entente Cordiale.

As an internationally recognized Smyth scholar, Chris Wiley was honoured to deliver the Keynote Address earlier today, on Ethel Smyth, autobiography, biography, and music.

For more information about Retrospect Opera, to donate to our future projects, and to order our current releases, please see the website: https://retrospectopera.org.uk/

17/05/2024

John Andrews, conductor, our wonderful conductor for our forthcoming recording of Marjory Kennedy-Fraser and Granville Bantock’s opera 'The Seal-Woman', shares some thoughts on the originating myth of the Seal-Woman as he works on the first edit of our recording with the Orchestra of Scottish Opera.

Watch out for the release of this fantastic recording early next year! In the interim, you can find out more about this project, as well as about the legend of the Seal-Woman or Selkie, at our website here: https://retrospectopera.org.uk/the-seal-woman/

10/05/2024

Read this fantastic Presto Music interview with David Parry, conductor of our recording of Stanford's Shamus O'Brien:

The conductor discusses his recent recording of Stanford's tuneful 1896 opera, set in the Cork mountains during the Irish Rebellion of 1798 - enormously popular in the early years of its life, the work was withdrawn by the composer in the years leading up to the Easter Rising.

03/05/2024

Our recording of Stanford's Shamus O'Brien will be broadcast tomorrow (Saturday 4 May) on Ireland's classical music and arts station, RTÉ lyric fm, from 7pm-10pm, on 'Opera Night with Paul Herriott', as part of the Stanford 100 Celebrations.

Please see the following link for further information: https://www.rte.ie/radio/lyricfm/info/2024/0502/1447050-saturday-4th-may-to-friday-10th-may/

To purchase the recording for yourself from our website, please visit: https://retrospectopera.org.uk/product/shamus-obrien/

Saturday 4th May to Friday 10th May

22/04/2024

ANNOUNCING OUR NEW RECORDING PROJECT: ETHEL SMYTH'S ENTENTE CORDIALE

Dear Friends and Supporters,

Today, 22 April, is Ethel Smyth’s birthday. At least, that’s the date on her birth certificate, although she consistently claimed that it wasn’t until tomorrow!

And as you may have seen on the news already, particularly if you’re in the UK or France, April 2024 is also the 120th anniversary month of the signing of the Entente Cordiale.

So there’s no better time than this to announce our latest plan: to record Ethel Smyth’s final opera, Entente Cordiale, as we approach the centenary of its student premiere on 22 July 1925 and professional premiere on 20 October 1926.

While the complete performance materials for Entente Cordiale are mostly still missing (only the Intermezzo remains), Smyth herself suggested a practical approach in one of her books:

“If ever the moment comes for reviving [The Boatswain’s Mate (RO001) and Entente Cordiale] I would suggest that they awake to the sound of a piano. Why break the back of your enterprise financially by having an orchestra at all? ... So, again I say it, scrap the orchestra.”

We hope that the lost orchestral performance materials will eventually be located but, since this might never happen, and in line with Smyth’s published advice, we intend to record Entente Cordiale with piano accompaniment.

Benjamin Hamilton is currently working to create a definitive recording edition using all available sources. Once complete, we will officially launch a fundraising campaign for Entente Cordiale. You can find some preliminary information about the work and its composer at our website here: https://retrospectopera.org.uk/entente-cordiale/

This announcement comes fresh on the heels of the success of our latest release, Stanford’s operatic masterpiece Shamus O’Brien, which was described as ‘superb’ in The Telegraph earlier in the month and received a glowing review in Gramophone magazine last week.

In other news, last month we recorded Kennedy-Fraser and Bantock’s extraordinary Celtic Folk Opera The Seal-Woman, and we’re now working hard to raise the remaining £7,000 necessary for its release.

Having already raised over £20,000, we sincerely appreciate every donation, and any connections to potential donors that can help bring this enchanting opera into the public domain and reach new audiences through our recording would be very gratefully received. Your generosity is the backbone of our success, and we invite you to continue this journey with us: https://retrospectopera.org.uk/the-seal-woman/

Thank you for your continued enthusiasm for, and support of, our work – to find out more about what we do, or to donate, please visit our website.

Valerie, Andy, David, Chris, and Ben

Smyth | Entente Cordiale Announcing Our New Recording Project: Ethel Smyth’s Entente Cordiale About the recording The Announcement - 22 April 2024 Dear Friends and Supporters, Today, 22 April, is Ethel Smyth’s birthday. At least, that’s the date on her birth certificate, although she consisten...

20/04/2024

We're delighted by the very positive review of our latest recording, of Stanford's comic opera Shamus O'Brien, which has just appeared in Gramophone magazine! Read it in full here: https://www.gramophone.co.uk/review/stanford-shamus-obrien-parry

For further information, and to purchase the recording: https://retrospectopera.org.uk/product/shamus-obrien/

Remember when we used to be told...

19/04/2024

Many congratulations to John Andrews, conductor and all involved in this Resonus Classics recording, which won the at the 2024 BBC Music Magazine yesterday evening!

John is also the conductor for our latest recording, Kennedy-Fraser and Bantock's The Seal-Woman, recorded with the Orchestra of Scottish Opera in Glasgow last month.

To find out more about our soon-to-be-released recording of The Seal-Woman, please see: https://retrospectopera.org.uk/the-seal-woman/

06/04/2024

If you are a subscriber to, or reader of, The Telegraph, do take a look at Simon Heffer's excellent column on C.V. Stanford's career as composer and teacher, which includes a fantastic mention of Retrospect Opera:

"Stanford's most popular opera, Shamus O'Brien, has just had a superb recording on Retrospect, conducted by David Parry"

Read the full article here if you're a subscriber: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/music/artists/charles-villiers-stanford-composer/

And, if you'd like to check out the superb recording in question, please head over to our website to purchase it: https://retrospectopera.org.uk/product/shamus-obrien/

28/03/2024

28/03/2024

It's been a busy month here at Retrospect Opera - releasing one opera (Stanford's Shamus O'Brien) and recording another (Kennedy-Fraser and Bantock's The Seal-Woman)!

On 8 March, our latest release, C.V. Stanford's comic opera Shamus O'Brien, became available for purchase ahead of the centenary of the composer's death tomorrow. We held our official launch event online the following week, which you can watch back here on our page.

If you haven't already had the chance to listen to excerpts from this recording broadcast on BBC Radio 3 yesterday, you can catch up here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m001xf1f

One of our principals, Rory Dunne - Bass Baritone, has also written a fascinating piece for Gramophone in which he discusses how Irish the Irish Stanford's Irish opera really is. Read the full article here: https://www.gramophone.co.uk/blogs/article/caricature-or-portrait-the-depiction-of-irish-culture-in-stanford-s-opera-shamus-o-brien

To find out more about Shamus O'Brien, or to purchase the recording, please visit our website: https://retrospectopera.org.uk/product/shamus-obrien/

Also this month, we spent a week up in Glasgow recording our latest project, Marjory Kennedy-Fraser and Granville Bantock’s Celtic folk opera The Seal-Woman, with the Orchestra of Scottish Opera and a fantastic cast of principals!

To round off a successful month, here's a short video from our wonderful conductor for The Seal-Woman, John Andrews, conductor, explaining why this enchanting score is so remarkable for its extensive use of Hebridean melodies, and telling us how much he has been looking forward to conducting its world premiere recording.

To find out more about The Seal-Woman, and to support this project, please visit: https://retrospectopera.org.uk/the-seal-woman/

Watch this space for further news of the release of The Seal-Woman next year!

27/03/2024

RETROSPECT OPERA RECORDING TO BE BROADCAST ON RADIO 3 TODAY!

Stanford is BBC Radio 3 Composer of the Week all this week, to commemorate the centenary of his death on Friday (about which we won't be posting on the day itself as it's a religious holiday so it wouldn't seem quite right).

Tune in at 12noon today UK time to hear excerpts from our new recording of Stanford's comic opera Shamus O'Brien. You'll be able to hear 'My Heart in Thrall' from Act 2 performed by the brilliant Joseph Doody as Captain Trevor: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m001xf1f

And, if that makes you curious to know more about Shamus O'Brien or prompts you to seek out our complete recording, please see our website for further details: https://retrospectopera.org.uk/product/shamus-obrien/

Find out more about Stanford as BBC Radio 3 Composer of the Week here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m001xdr0

26/03/2024

Thank you to our friends at Light Music Society for commemorating the centenary of C.V. Stanford's death this week, and acknowledging our recently released recording of his comic opera Shamus O'Brien at the same time!

Don't forget that Stanford is BBC Radio 3 Composer of the Week this week, and that excerpts from our new recording will be broadcast on tomorrow's episode. For further information, see: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b006tnxf

To find out more about our recording, and to purchase, please visit our website:
https://retrospectopera.org.uk/product/shamus-obrien/

This week marks the 100th anniversary of the death of Sir Charles Villiers Stanford. His comic opera Shamus O'Brien was recently given its first full recording by LMS Members Retrospect Opera and the overture can be borrowed from our library!

25/03/2024

Stanford is BBC Radio 3 Composer of the Week, starting today! Listen out in particular for our new recording of Shamus O'Brien, excerpts from which will be broadcast on Wednesday's episode. https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b006tnxf

Donald Macleod explores Stanford’s influence as a teacher.

23/03/2024

SHAMUS O'BRIEN - ONLINE LAUNCH EVENT - NOW WITH CAPTIONS

Here's the video of last Friday's online launch event for our recording of Stanford's Shamus O'Brien, hosted by Benjamin Hamilton with the assistance of Valerie Langfield, Rory Dunne - Bass Baritone (Father O'Flynn), and (by video) David Parry.

To activate the auto-generated captions, please click the link below and press the 'CC' button at the bottom right of the window.

For further information and to purchase, please go to our website:
https://retrospectopera.org.uk/product/shamus-obrien/

https://surrey.cloud.panopto.eu/Panopto/Pages/Viewer.aspx?id=6ff1ce96-effa-4caf-8d4f-b13c00989008

22/03/2024

It's just one week until the centenary of C.V. Stanford's death on 29 March 1924. To commemorate this anniversary, next week Stanford is BBC Radio 3's Composer of the Week: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m001xdr0

Listen out for Wednesday's broadcast in particular, which will feature our recently released recording of Stanford's opera Shamus O'Brien, specifically 'My Heart in Thrall' from Act 2 performed by Joseph Doody as Captain Trevor: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m001xf1f

Don't forget that if you'd like to purchase this recording, you may do so from our website here: https://retrospectopera.org.uk/product/shamus-obrien/

Donald Macleod explores Stanford’s influence as a teacher.

17/03/2024

Happy St Patrick's Day! It seems a suitable time to remind everybody that we've just released and launched Shamus O'Brien, C. V. Stanford's comic opera set against the Irish Rebellion of 1798. Our recording features Irish singers among the cast and includes the part Stanford wrote for Uilleann pipes.

Below is a reminder of the excellent article by one of our principals, Rory Dunne - Bass Baritone (Father O'Flynn), answering the rather crucial question: how Irish is this Irish opera by an Irish composer?

And if you'd like to find out for yourself, you can order the recording directly from us here: https://retrospectopera.org.uk/product/shamus-obrien/

‘Paralleling contemporary shows such as Mrs Brown's Boys, its success lies in its ability to critique societal norms and highlight political tensions through a heightened, colourful, yet humorous lens’

15/03/2024

SHAMUS O'BRIEN SUCCESSFUL LAUNCH EVENT

Thank you to those of you who were able to tune in for tonight's online launch event, ably hosted by Benjamin Hamilton with the assistance of Valerie Langfield, Rory Dunne - Bass Baritone (Father O'Flynn), and (by video) our conductor David Parry.

For those of you who were unable to join us live online, the video is currently processing and we'll release it as soon as we're able.

And if you're curious to know more in the interim, do head to our website: https://retrospectopera.org.uk/product/shamus-obrien/

14/03/2024

RETROSPECT OPERA—LAUNCH OF SHAMUS O’BRIEN

We’re proud to be launching our recording of Shamus O’Brien by C. V. Stanford at 7pm (UK time) on Friday 15 March 2024.

We hope you'll join us joining the Zoom meeting whose details are below.

📆 Date: Friday 15 March 2024
⏰ Time: 7– 8 PM (UK time)
🌐 Venue: Join us on Zoom here:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87217178269?pwd=QnM4Z0JNYnZwVG9BTGZCb1ljSzZ6QT09
or by inserting Meeting ID: 872 1717 8269 and Passcode: xYXsJ6

For more details about this release and to order a copy, visit: https://retrospectopera.org.uk/product/shamus-obrien/

13/03/2024

The brilliant Rory Dunne - Bass Baritone, who plays Father O'Flynn in our recording of Shamus O'Brien released last week, has published a thought-provoking essay in Gramophone dissecting the extent to which Stanford's opera faithfully depicts Irish culture.

Here's an excerpt: "Shamus O’Brien’s enduring musical prowess and entertainment value should not be understated. It does incorporate genuine Irish elements – such as Uilleann pipes and folk tunes – and the opera offers a vibrant, if not entirely accurate, portrayal of Irish life."

Do check out the full article at this link: https://www.gramophone.co.uk/blogs/article/caricature-or-portrait-the-depiction-of-irish-culture-in-stanford-s-opera-shamus-o-brien

And of course if you'd like to decide for yourself, you can purchase the full recording from our shop: https://retrospectopera.org.uk/product/shamus-obrien/

Finally, don't forget to join us at 7pm UK time this Friday (15 March) for the official online launch! Here's the Zoom meeting room link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87217178269?pwd=QnM4Z0JNYnZwVG9BTGZCb1ljSzZ6QT09
Meeting ID: 872 1717 8269 Passcode: xYXsJ6

‘Paralleling contemporary shows such as Mrs Brown's Boys, its success lies in its ability to critique societal norms and highlight political tensions through a heightened, colourful, yet humorous lens’

11/03/2024

Here at Retrospect Opera we're still reeling from the release last Friday of our latest project, the premiere recording of C. V. Stanford's comic opera Shamus O'Brien!

Here’s Joseph Doody, who plays Captain Trevor, telling us what a great time he had recording with Scottish Opera, and how excited he is that you too will be able to hear Stanford’s fantastic music!

You can purchase a physical (2-CD) or digital copy directly from us here: https://retrospectopera.org.uk/product/shamus-obrien/

The official online launch event will take place this Friday, 15 March at 7pm UK time. Please watch this space for further information!

Shamus O’Brien - Brendan Collins - Baritone
Nora O’Brien - Gemma Ní Bhriain
Nora O’Brien (dialogue) - Anna Brady
Mike Murphy - Andrew Gavin
Father O’Flynn - Rory Dunne - Bass Baritone
Kitty - Ami Hewitt
Captain Trevor - Joseph Doody

The Orchestra of Scottish Opera (cond. David Parry)
Opera Bohemia Voices
Uilleann pipes - Jarlath Henderson

08/03/2024

On the day of the launch of Retrospect Opera's recording of Stanford's Shamus O'Brien, here's Ami Hewitt introducing us to the role she sings in the opera, the bossy yet emotional Kitty, as well as explaining how much she enjoyed working with Retrospect Opera and being involved in this trailblazing recording.

The release is available for order from the Retrospect Opera website on CD or Digital Download: https://retrospectopera.org.uk/product/shamus-obrien/

08/03/2024

Retrospect Opera's recording of Stanford's Shamus O'Brien was released earlier today!

In this video, the amazing Gemma Ní Bhriain, who sang the role of Nora, tells us about how much she enjoyed being part of the recording and interpreting Stanford's incredible music, as well as her excitement that it will now reach new audiences of listeners!

The recording is available for order from the Retrospect Opera website on CD or Digital Download: https://retrospectopera.org.uk/product/shamus-obrien/

08/03/2024

Retrospect Opera's recording of Stanford's Shamus O'Brien is released today!

Here's Catriona Clark (who plays the role of The Banshee) from Opera Bohemia Voices, who are featured on the release, talking about how wonderful the opera is and what an amazing time she had recording it.

For further information, and to order: https://retrospectopera.org.uk/product/shamus-obrien/

08/03/2024

Retrospect Opera's recording of Stanford's Shamus O'Brien is out today!

Hear from Shamus himself, the wonderful Brendan Collins - Baritone, all about the importance of this recording, its Irish context (including Brendan's own personal connection with Cork) and the significance of releasing Stanford's most popular opera during the month of the centenary of his death.

The recording is available for order from the Retrospect Opera website on CD or Digital Download: https://retrospectopera.org.uk/product/shamus-obrien/