Supporting Streetwise Opera with Handel

Soprano Elizabeth Watts, who is a patron of Streetwise Opera, has released a digital single of the aria Lascia chi'io pianga from Handel's Rinaldo in support of Streetwise Opera. On the recording she is accompanied by the Sacconi Quartet and Streetwise Performers from Nottingham and Manchester in the chorus, with musical director Duncan Ward. Streetwise Opera were nominated in the Accessibility category in the recent Opera Awards.

The recording of the Handel aria comes from Streetwise Opera's latest event, The Answer to Everything, which premiered at the BFI Southbank this week. This mixes film and live opera:  film director Rupert Jones, opera director Emma Bernard and film producer Jess Gormley have brought together Streetwise’s homeless and ex-homeless performers with professionals including Elizabeth Watts to create a  film opera, which includes pieces by Britten, Handel and Vivaldi, and new commissions by Gavin Bryars, Orlando Gough, Emily Hall, Anna Meredith and Duncan Ward. This production celebrates 10 years of Streetwise's work producing ground-breaking opera productions working with the homeless. Elizabeth Watt's Handel recording is available from the iTunes website at a cost of 79p, all proceeds go towards Streetwise Opera's workshops programme.