Behind the scenes with… Peterborough Opera

Fuddy-duddy? Highbrow? Elitist? Snobbish? Opera certainly has a fearsome public image, but is there more to it then its reputation suggests? Peterborough Opera very kindly invited The Moment magazine online to a rehearsal of their new production of Verdi's Il Trovatore to show that opera really does have something for everyone…

‘It’s a story about revenge, betrayal, love, death, romance – typical opera really.’

It’s a hot night during the Mexican Revolution. In amongst the cactuses and tequila bottles a brave solider is telling a bewildered Count that his men have captured a witch. Behind him, soldiers fighting for the establishment are nodding and jeering, presenting the poor woman to be interrogated. Well, truthfully, it’s a rainy Friday evening in St Luke’s Church, the tequila bottles are empty and the leader of the establishment is actually a school teacher named Colin.

Opera certainly has a tough time: the perception that it’s impenetrable, out of touch and strictly for pensioners is hard to ignore. Saturday nights are for ballroom dancing or singing from Adele’s back catalogue in front of a judging panel, and apart from the Proms, who would know we have such a dedicated community of opera lovers in this country? It may seem like an uphill battle, but Peterborough Opera are an enthusiastic bunch and eager to prove that opera isn’t just for a select few. They believe anyone can get involved, whether it’s as a member of the audience or if they fancy trying a bit of singing themselves.

‘Come along and try it,’ urges Philip Hammersley, chairman of Peterborough Opera. ‘Opera is seen as elitist, but it isn’t, it’s timeless – the music is timeless – but because of its public image, people seem to think it’s not for them. I can guarantee anyone who has actually been to an opera, who has actually tried it, will tell you it’s a bit like a bug: you get bitten and that’s it – and people tend to get bitten very easily.’

‘As well as the music it’s got the theatre and the drama, it has everything. Just come along and give it a try!’

The group has become Peterborough’s premier amateur opera group through sheer force of will and a can-do attitude. It’s a mixed bunch of people, as tonight’s rehearsals prove, but from school teachers and a city boy right through to the retired, the group opens their doors to just about everyone, so long as the have a love for singing. ‘There is always room for more!’

Formed in 1970, Peterborough Opera have been performing fully-staged performances of classic operas ever since, as well as performing concerts in various venues throughout the year. ‘We do concerts in Peterborough and around it,’ says Philip. ‘We have always tried to introduce some opera to those concerts. In fact recently we did more opera in our concerts the anything else. We tend to do some of the standard stuff, we have done bits from musicals and so on but we also always, particularly recently, tried to include opera, really to give people a taste of it.’

Previous operatic productions have included famous titles such as La Boheme, Carmen and Turandot. Towards the end of October, Peterborough Opera will perform Guisppe’s Verdi’s masterpiece Il Trovatore at the Stamford Corn Exchange, and rehearsals are well under way.

‘It’s written by Guiseppe Verdi, one of the greatest composers ever,’ says Philip. ‘Essentially there are a number of stories in it, most of it revolves around two brothers who don’t realise that they are brothers, one of whom is a Count and is standing up for the establishment and the other brother who is a revolutionary leader, and its the interplay between these two characters. Then there is a witch who is accused of bewitching a child and is burned at the stake and her daughter throws the wrong baby onto a bonfire. The daughter spends the whole time wanting revenge. It really stretches the realms of credibility but there is some wonderful music in it, written by a fantastic composer.’

We arrive just as Philip is busy explaining the plot, or lack of plot, depending on your point of view. Babies on bonfires? Brothers who are in love with the same girl? Witches? It’s no wonder that the main criticism of the opera when first performed was just how bonkers the story actually is. Not that this really fazes anyone.

‘The plot doesn’t really matter, does it… ?’

‘Opera is all about the drama and the music. The plot is very silly but in order to have the great ending and the pay-off you have to have a ridiculous plot,’ Colin tells us with a glint in his eye.

Putting a new spin on a classic opera may be difficult, but Peterborough Opera have certainly managed that, taking the story out of its traditional European setting and plonking it right in the middle of revolutionary Mexico. The conflict is now between the leaders of the establishment and the revolutionaries. It also creates a visual feast for the audience, with brightly-coloured costumes and sets.