The Opera Group present Blond Eckbert and other stories

The Crescent Theatre
Sheepcote Street, Brindley Place, Birmingham, B16 8AE
United Kingdom
0121 643 5858
http://www.crescent-theatre.co.uk

The Opera Group

Conductor Patrick Bailey
Director John Fulljames
Designer Adam Wiltshire
Lighting Giuseppe Di lorio

Eckbert Owen Gilhooly
Berthe Heather Shipp
Bird Claire Wild
Walther Mark Wilde


Come early at 6.45pm for a free pre-concert talk with Judith Weir

Welcome to the magical forest of tales and riddles in which animals can sing, the commonplace becomes mystifying and the past always returns to haunt you. Miniature stories by the Brothers Grimm are brought to life by composers Judith Weir and Kenneth Hesketh and introduce the strange world of the acclaimed opera Blond Eckbert.

A magical singing bird tells an enchanting fairy tale which hides an extraordinary and disturbing secret. A child, raised in an isolated mountain forest by a strange old woman, tries to run away but cannot escape.

Inspired by the films of Alfred Hitchcock this opera is a taut psychological thriller. Judith Weir’s richly lyrical musical language and concern with theatrical storytelling is at its best in one of her most highly praised operas. Her newly commissioned version for ten instrumentalists receives its premiere in a new production by The Opera Group, best known for its vivid storytelling and outstanding young singers.

It is incredibly rare to see ensemble work of this level in theatre, let alone opera with virtuoso singing included.
The Times on The Opera Group

An accessible modern classic…Judith Weir deserves global recognition
The Independent on Sunday on Blond Eckbert


Judith Weir : Really?
Kenneth Hesketh : Small tales, tall tales
Judith Weir : Blond Eckbert