Alahor en Granata
Zobeida's Scene & Rondo finale 'Zobeida, il mira...'

Patric Schmid
'This recital displays the versatility of Yvonne Kenny's lyric coloratura soprano to wonderful effect.'
Building on its 10 year history of making large scale opera projects happen for, by and with children, EPOC are going to celebrate the London Olympics 2012 by creating, performing and recording the biggest children’s opera ever known. In collaboration with teams of composers, singers, musicians, percussionists and choreographers, EPOC will work with 216 schools – one for every Olympic nation - to create scenes, songs and films to be part of a professional London tour in the summer of 2012.

This enormous project encapsulates education, an opera tour of a brand new opera by Pete Churchill and an online world music resource garnered from the work undertaken which will have information, classroom activities and a world song bank. This will be a permanent resource which will be expanded over time.
Records & Recording
'An irresistible addition to Opera Rara's Donizetti collection'

The first Donizetti revival by Opera Rara on the strength of its many beautiful and intricate ensembles.
Gramophone
'One of the most lovely voices to be heard in our time'
Patric Schmid
'Her vocal technique is ideally suited to the role allowing her to display the luscious tone for which she is admired.'
Gramophone

'Majella Cullagh's Zoraida has a lovely, keenly produced soprano... used to fine effect.'

Classic FM Magazine

'... a major discovery'
The Guardian
'Pia finally effects Ghino's moral redemption to music that so closely resembles the great duet for Violetta and Germont in La Traviata that one is forced to conclude Verdi took it as his model.'
Il Castello di Kenilworth
La Fille du Régiment
Patric Schmid
This 'displays the unique qualities of his voice: tender, almost vulnerable and naturally suited to the romantic heroic roles of 19th-century opera.'
The Times
'The work has charm and wild improbability in equal proportion.'
Patric Schmid
'Peter (a Liverpudlian) encouraged us to do Emilia and to record both versions.'
Quentin Blake is one of Britain's best-loved and most successful illustrators, having won countless awards and been appointed Britain’s first Children’s Laureate.

Recently he has been commissioned by hospitals in the UK and abroad to produce works which have a therapeutic effect on their residents. Quentin Blake - As large as life brings together over 60 works for the first time.

These include the Friends in the circus series for Ellington Ward in Northwick Park Hospital, Harrow, Planet Zog for The Alexandra Avenue Health and Social Care Centre, South Harrow and others for the Vincent Square Eating Disorder Clinic, London and a maternity hospital in Angers, France.

Quentin Blake said,

“I think the very presence of pictures helps to make being in, or visiting a hospital a more normal, less alien experience. What I have tried to include is a certain amount of detail, some interesting activities, and some suggestions of the little drama of relationships, so that the viewers – especially any who have to wait – may feel the desire to go on looking and perhaps even to speculate about the stories happening in front of them.”

The exhibition has a specially commissioned family room decorated with examples of Quentin’s illustrations for Roald Dahl’s books and his recent designs for wallpapers produced by Osborne & Little.
The world premiere of a Donizetti opera!
The manuscript for this hitherto unknown work was found in a London library.

Records & Recording
'The singing is of an international standard.'
International Record Review
'Miricioiu's performance of the finale is gripping.'
The Sunday Times
'Nelly Miricioiu remains one of the most alluring and stylish bel canto singers around today'
Alastair Miles

'I always look forward with great anticipation to working on an Opera Rara project. It is rare to find a working atmosphere that is relaxing, friendly and yet committed to the highest artistic standards.'
Classical Music
'This is one of the best and most enterprising of recent operatic recordings.'

The Guardian
'... at least one unknown masterpiece revealed...'
Classical Music

'A high standard of excellence throughout'

The New York Times

'A fascinating and valuable recording'
David Parry

'Opera Rara has been so important in my life. With Patric Schmid I have had the good fortune to develop one of the most important artistic collaborations of my career. We worked together for over twenty five years and the experience was always stimulating, inspiring, productive and, above all, enjoyable.'
Opera

'A real discovery and a wholly enjoyable disc.'

Gramophone

'A Donizetti rarity restored to circulation with all of Opera Rara's customary flair.'
Majella Cullagh

'Opera Rara loves singers and singing. Artistic standards of the highest level are paramount. The utmost care is taken in allocating the correct repertoire to each individual and expert guidance is always at hand. So much difficult and beautiful neglected music therefore is finding a voice in a company that deeply cares about this wonderful legacy.'
The Tribune, San Francisco
'The blood and thunder ensembles and duets create a swift moving rip-roaring bel canto feast'

Fanfare
'... a splendid Enrico in tenor Bruce Ford.'
Nelly Miricioiu

'It is the most exciting experience to give new life to operas that have been waiting in the shadow. Patric Schmid's belief, love, patience, knowledge and generosity make it possible. The music-making team at Opera Rara is exceptional and together we feel we belong to a family.'
Opera
Disc of the month
The Observer
'this titanic account under Mark Elder, boasting superb soloists, Simon Keenlyside and Vesselina Kasarova, fires the imagination.'
BBC Music Magazine

'Performance - outstanding
Sound - outstanding'

Gramophone

'The production is on all accounts enterprising and valuable.'
Opera Now

'David Parry conducts the London Philharmonic in an exciting account of this major work, and Donizetti fans need not hesitate.'
The Guardian

'The recording... makes a strong case for the piece...'

BBC Music Magazine

'Majella Cullagh shines in Diluvio.'
Gramophone
'The performance could hardly be improved.'

Opera Now
'the spirited Miricioiu makes Donizetti's innocuous-looking melodies spark and flame with dramatic purpose...'