Brenda Hall

As a member of the Inter-Opera Chorus I just wanted you to know what an absolute joy it was  to be part of the wonderful "Darkness to Light" concert on Saturday. 
The Darlington Youth Choir and the Apollo Male Voice Choir were truly beautiful and singing with them, as well as the Reg Vardy Ensemble was a delight. This was of course down to the amazing direction of Alistair.
I certainly hope there will be more opportunities to take part in future concerts.

Saturday 12 October, 7.30pm

St Cuthbert’s Chapel, Ushaw,
Ushaw Moor, Co. Durham DH7

Soloists: Laura Wolk-Lewanowicz and
Chris Childs Santos

InterOpera brings live opera to a mix of rural and cosmopolitan audiences, people who have never experienced live opera before as well as opera-lovers. Under the guidance of artistic director Lesley Ann Dawes, whose musical career has taken her as far as the Moscow Bolshoi and the experienced baton of Alistair Dawes, the company is able to access world-class artists drawn from the UK’s major opera houses.

Performers

The concert features the rich voice of Australian soprano Laura Wolk-Levanowicz, described in Opera magazine as “a star voice” and “electrifying, vocally every inch an Aida”. Dramatic baritone, Chris Childs Santos, described as “a fine rich voice” who, as Macbeth, “made a lasting strong impression as a prototype Iago” is currently studying with the great Renato Bruson and has already sung in concert with Sir Mark Elder and Richard Bonynge.

As conductor and coach at the Royal Opera House Covent Garden and internationally, Alistair Dawes has worked with the world’s most outstanding artists and brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to InterOpera’s projects.

Ushaw’s tradition of choral singing stretches back over 200 years, and the Ushaw Chapel Choir continues the tradition under the direction of conductor Alex Chisholm-Loxley. They are joined this evening by Easington Colliery Band (Musical Director Jonathan Fenwick) - one of our region’s friendliest and finest Championship brass bands.

St Cuthbert’s Chapel is an architectural gem and one of the many delights of Ushaw. It remains largely unchanged from its initial design by A W Pugin, although rebuilt to twice the size in the 1880s. Learn more about Ushaw at www.ushaw.org