At each venue on the Glyndebourne on Tour schedule, Glyndebourne Education runs touring workshops in primary schools which involve active participation from children in an opera with two professional singers and the fundamentals of set, costume, story and music. It also introduces young people to opera in secondary schools through a combination of engaging workshop activities and attending Glyndebourne on Tour performances.

The Independent
'… the most imaginative opera-education department in the country.'
South African soprano Pumeza Matshikiza studied at the South African College of Music and the Royal College of Music, where she was supported by Peter Moores Foundation. She was a member of the Cape Town Opera Studio and was voted Best Performer of the Year by the Friends of Cape Town Opera in 2003. In May 2007 she sang the pivotal role of Concepción in Ravel’s L'heure espagnole for the Royal College of Music's Benjamin Britten International Opera School. In September 2007 she made her Royal Opera debut as a Flowermaiden/Voice from Above in Parsifal, followed by Slave in Salome, Innocent in The Minotaur and Tebaldo in Verdi's Don Carlo. In November 2008 she will sing the role of Sandman in Humperdinck's Hansel and Gretel.

The Independent on Sunday
'As Tebaldo, Pumeza Matshikiza is touchingly uninhibited.'

The Independent
‘Matshikiza's long-limbed, sexually rapacious, copper-voiced Concepción was outstanding.’

The Times
Reviewing Jette Parker Young Artists at the Royal Opera House showcase
‘... my top tip? The seriously impressive South African soprano Pumeza Matshikiza, as wise and witty as Capriccio's knowing Countess as she was giddy and girly as little Barbarina in Figaro... I can't wait for her Susanna.’
South African bass Vuyani Mlinde trained at the Free State Musicon, South Africa and then for 2005/07 at the Royal College of Music, supported by Peter Moores Foundation. In 2006 he sang Prince Gremin in Eugene Onegin and Il Commendatore in Don Giovanni for British Youth Opera. In the 2007-8 season at ROH, he made his mainstage debut singing 2nd armed man in Die Zauberflöte, followed by Zaretsky in Eugene Onegin, Cappadocian in Salome and a Flemish deputy in Don Carlo. He gave a recital, including songs by Schubert and Schumann in the Crush Room of the ROH on 23 June in ROH2's Free Monday lunchtime concert series. In September, 2008 he made his role debut at short notice singing Jake Wallace in Piero Faggioni's production of Puccini's La Fanciulla del West at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden.

The Telegraph
‘A beautifully blended sextet of Flemish deputies was among the evening's several minor pleasures.’

The Times
'The real vocal star of the evening is the mighty basso profundo of Vuyani Mlinde as an awesome Commendatore. Mlinde's first name means "rejoice"; and he had rather more to be happy about
in Eugene Onegin, where he appeared as a twinkly-eyed Prince Gremin.'
Mozart, Verdi and Weill from
Sir Thomas Allen
in the
Great Operatic Arias series

BBC Music Magazine

'Unfailingly beautifully phrased and enunciated...'
Donizetti‘s
Imelda de' Lambertazzi

Seen and Heard International
wrote after the post-recording concert:

‘Opting for the OAE meant that textures were frequently lighter and more transparent than one might have expected. Soprano Nicole Cabell, who took the role of the titular heroine, will be known to many for having won the 2005 Cardiff Singer of the World Competition. Cabell really … stole the show… She was eminently believable, and provided a stunning and touching end to this fascinating little-known work.’
Ambroise Thomas’s
La cour de Célimène
Until now Ambroise Thomas’s music has only appeared on one of the Il Salotto series: La Serenata. But there has been a growing interest in his work. This 1855 opéra-comique is presented by Laura Claycomb, Joan Rodgers, Alastair Miles and Sébastien
Droy.
Rushton’s The Shops
James MacMillan’s The Sacrifice
These important regional awards are voted for by the public.

This adds to the list of awards won by Compton Verney since it opened in 2004, which include:
2004 The Royal Institute of British Architect’s award
2005 Heart of England’s Visitor Attraction of the Year
2006 Small Visitor Attraction in The Enjoy England Awards for Excellence

The Opera Group

'The recent tour from July to October of the new opera, Edward Rushton’s The Shops was supported by PMF. The tour included a visit to the Bregenz Festival, Austria and the Linbury Studio at the Royal Opera House.'

The Guardian
‘Edward Rushton’s latest opera: a breezy, fluent chamber work in 30 snappy scenes.'

The Times
‘Gioulami’s snappy and very singable libretto is expertly delivered by a dexterous cast.’
Bellini's La straniera With Patrizia Ciofi, Dario Schmunk, Mark Stone, Enkelejda Shkosa, the London Philharmonic Orchestra and David Parry.

The Daily Telegraph
‘… the chance to hear this remarkable opera live was invaluable.’

The Guardian
‘It is an experimental work that probes the parameters of style and subject matter… Dario Schmunck subtly delineated Arturo's turmoil, while Mark Stone was a superb Valdeburgo, the voice of reason in a world in which reason itself is in short supply.’
To cap glowing epithets from the classical music press: ravishing, unmissable, a little miracle, a triumph, a thoroughly enjoyable performance and a Gramophone ‘Editor’s Choice’ accolade, the Chandos Opera in English recording of Humperdinck’s Hansel and Gretel was named Best Opera Recording at the 50th Annual Grammy Awards held in Los Angeles on 10 February - from an international short list.
So it’s hats off to Sir Charles Mackerras, the Philharmonia, Rebecca Evans, Jennifer Larmore, Jane Henschel, the rest of the ‘well chosen’ cast and the team at Chandos Opera in English.
Development for La Traviata which we could not have done had it not been for the Peter Moores Foundation’s support. So a very big thank you to you all.'

In December 2007 there were fears that the Arts Council grant for Birmingham Opera would not be renewed.

The Times
‘The withdrawal of Birmingham Opera’s grant is a tragedy. Year after year I travel to Brum in the hope of being provoked, disturbed, exhilarated and refreshed by Graham Vick’s company and its unique, community-based approach to opera.’

However, the Arts Council and West Midlands Arts Board decided to continue funding Birmingham Opera which PMF has supported for some years.
This Così fan tutte not only has a British cast with excellent Mozartian credentials: Sir Thomas Allen, Lesley Garrett, Christopher Maltman, Diana Montague,Toby Spence and Janice Watson, but also, one of the finest interpreters of Mozart in the world, Sir Charles Mackerras and the 'remarkable institution' the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment. Here photographed during Così fan tutte recording sessions by Bill Cooper.
Verdi's La traviata by Birmingham Opera - 2007
Audience Development

'The jury felt that effective engagement with a growing public was most outstandingly demonstrated by Birmingham Opera Company, whose performances of La traviata attracted very diverse audiences of close on 10,000, many new to opera, transforming pre-conceptions and attitudes and galvanising local support in the process.’

Jean Nicholson, General Manager of Birmingham Opera Company wrote to PMF, 'we are the proud recipients of the RPS Award for Audience
John Tomlinson as Wotan in the
Royal Opera's Ring Cycle - 2007
Singer

‘John Tomlinson’s Wotan in the Royal Opera House Ring Cycle was remarkable for its artistry, its humanity and its physical and emotional strength. His generosity of spirit inspired both audiences and colleagues and it is for these qualities that we make the Singer award to him for an unprecedented third time.’

BBC Radio 3 Listeners Award

Christine Brewer ‘a singer with a radiant voice and a wonderfully warm stage personality’
Christine Brewer as Leonore in
Beethoven's Fidelio for San Francisco Opera
Opera and Music Theatre

James MacMillan’s The Sacrifice - the jury wrote:
‘a compelling, savage opera with an enduring power to communicate. Welsh National Opera’s vivid production, conducted by the composer, performed to responsive audiences in eight UK cities.’

The scores for The Sacrifice were financed by the PMF as well as the London premiere at Sadlers Wells in November 2007.
Chequers, the official country residence of our Prime Ministers since 1921 reveals some of its portrait treasures in a display within Compton Verney's British 
13 October 2008
For the first time ever, the BBC Radio live broadcast of Reginald Goodall conducting
The Mastersingers in February, 1968, is now available on Chandos Opera in English in a re-mastered 4-CD set. The production at Sadlers Wells was staged to commemorate the centenary of the opera's first performance in Munich on 21 June, 1868.

Gramophone
Reginald Goodall
'(Goodall) was at last acknowledged as the great Wagnerian he undoubtedly was when he conducted Mastersingers at the old Sadler's Wells in 1968 to the acclaim of critics and public alike.'
Bizet’s
The Pearl Fishers features 3 PMF Scholars:
Simon Keenlyside, Barry Banks and conductor,
Brad Cohen, using his own addition of the score, along with Rebecca Evans and Alastair Miles.
Strauss’s Salome recorded for the first time by conductor, Sir Charles Mackerras with Susan Bullock, Sally Burgess, John Graham Hall and John Wegner
Peter Moores

‘The resounding success of Reggie Goodall’s Mastersingers led to his conducting an ‘English’ Ring at the London Coliseum in the 1970s. That Ring started me recording opera in English. So I am thrilled that we have been able to add The Mastersingers to our Opera in English catalogue - now offering more than fifty operas - alongside Goodall’s Ring.’
Read the full text of Sir Peter Moores' speech:
Sir Peter was presented with the award by his long-term artistic colleague and friend, Sir Charles Mackerras. The Special Achievement Award in association with BPI is in recognition of the 129 recordings to date which he, through the Peter Moores Foundation, has enabled for the Chandos Opera in English series and Opera Rara.

Sir Peter completed his speech at the ceremony with the words:

‘Above all I want to thank all of you here today – including critics – all part of the recording industry.  Nowadays we all have something no one had when I was a child – access to the whole world of classical music, well known or recherché. And thank you for letting me join in.’
The painting depicts the fight to the death between Greek hero, Hercules and the giant, Antaeus. The work joins three other Cranachs currently on display: Venus and Cupid, Lot and his Daughters and Portrait of Sigmund Kingsfelt.

Cranach was a painter, printmaker and book illustrator with a distinctly individual manner and a highly successful business. He was one of the most versatile artists of the Renaissance, court artist to the Saxon electors, a staunch supporter of the Reformation, and a close friend of Martin Luther.
These exhibitions bring together two artists who were friends towards the last decade of Yeats' life; they highlight a shared fascination with people and society on the margins and their search for new forms of expression. Austrian artist Oskar Kokoschka, was a renowned Expressionist artist whose work was condemned by the Nazis in their Degenerate Art Show. Irish artist Jack B. Yeats, brother of writer W.B Yeats, became fascinated by the circus, its live dynamic and the characters he encountered, when he first visited fairs and small travelling circuses in his native Sligo, Ireland.
Oskar Kokoschka - In the garden
Jack B. Yeats - Double Jockey Act
Portraits Collection. Not seen in public for over a century, paintings of Charles I (shown above right) and his wife Henrietta Maria by Van Dyck and portraits of Mary I and Oliver Cromwell will be included.

Director of Compton Verney, Kathleen Soriano, said one exhibit, the Elizabeth I pearl and ruby locket ring, with mother and daughter painted inside:

'is a very moving piece because it's so delicate and small and really evokes the sense of the story. It's a very powerful object.’