Original commission at Riverside Studios on 4th and 5th December
A crisis faces the animals of the African savannah. Their waterhole is almost dry and a leader is desperately needed to find a solution before they are wiped out. At the hustings, the bullying and corrupt lion, Tau, is elected, but proves to be a disaster. In despair, the animals turn to the fleet-footed hare, Roli, for help.
Now in its 39th year of giving young West Londoners the opportunity to take part in a fully-staged operatic work, W11 Opera presents RAIN DANCE, a witty and sometimes outrageous tale of animal rivalry.
Every year since 1971 W11 Opera has astonished the classical music world by commissioning fresh new works for school students to perform, staging them with large and exuberant casts of 9-18 year olds. This year the brilliant young composer Stuart Hancock and Roald Dahl’s biographer Donald Sturrock join the distinguished list of composers, librettists, performers and creative professionals who have worked with this unique music theatre company. RAIN DANCE is W11 Opera’s 30th original commission.
Unique amongst opera companies, W11 Opera for Young People casts only school-age singers for each new opera it commissions every year. Entirely professionally produced, the performances are a stunningly unusual musical event.
Nearly three thousand teenagers and children have appeared in our productions to date. Sophie Ellis-Bextor, Eve (Emily) Best, Jemima Rooper, Evelyn Glennie, Bruno Tonioli and Wayne Marshall are amongst the famous names who have been involved with W11 Opera early in their careers.
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