Flourish - opera competition

Opera Up Close has launched Flourish, its second annual competition to find a new chamber opera. The competition aims to provide a platform for emerging and established composers and librettists. The initial round is doing anonymously and six entries are shortlisted for a showcase performance, the composer/librettist entering a score for 20 minutes of muisc. Last year the winning pieces was Two Caravans, composed by Guy Harries with a libretto by Ace McCarron, based on the novel by Marina Lewycka, best-selling author of A Short History of Tractors in Ukrainian. The opera is being produced at the Kings Head opening on 29 September. The final performance of Two Caravans on 20 October will be preceeded by the showcase performance of the shortlisted entries in this year's competition. The winner of this year's competition will be produced by Opera Up Close next autumn. The closing date for entries is 1 September, info and guidelines from the Kings Head Theatre website.