Welsh National Opera: WNO’s MAX programme is a new initiative, which will include community touring, participatory projects and special events that will introduce live music and opera in new ways. WNO will be staging an hour-long version of Bizet’s Carmen in Cardiff in December 2002 and in touring venues in spring 2003. This production, which will focus on events around the bull ring, will be aimed primarily at secondary schools, with performances during afternoons and early evenings. A programme of events will be held around the performances. Tel:Sarah Alexander, 029 2046 4666 www.wno.org.uk
Opera North: Opera North’s education work involves audience development and the devising of new work. Its programme takes place principally around Leeds, Nottingham, Manchester, Newcastle, Hull, Sheffield, York, and East Riding. On July 8-9 the programme of work that has been taking place this term on Sweeney Todd will be concluded in Sheffield. On July 18-19 Opera North’s Commonwealth Games partnership project Ziggurat will be performed at The Lowry. In September-November the Tosca education programme will tour the region. Tel: 0113 223 3565
www.operanorth.co.uk
Royal Opera House: The Royal Opera’s education plans include pre-performance talks and workshops on operas to be premiered next season, including Nicholas Maw’s Sophie’s Choice, which opens in December and for which there will be a special schools matinee. “Write an Opera” will be a week-long course for teachers at Leeds University in mid-August. In September ROH Education is offering a software pack free to all state secondary schools in which Benjamin Britten’s Peter Grimes will be used to show how opera can be integrated into the curriculum. Tel:020 7212 9410Email: education@roh.org.ukwww.royalopera.org
