Flourish -- Opera Competition Up Close

Flourish, OperaUpClose's opera competition returns this year encouraging composers to write small scale works suitable for the company to perform. The company has a good track record of performing works from previous competitions. 

The winner of the first competition in 2012 was Two Caravans, an adaptation of Marina Lewycka’s tragic-comic novel of the same name, composed by Guy Harries with a libretto by Ace McCarron and it was produced at the King’s Head Theatre in September 2013. OperaUpClose also presented another opera from the this competition, Young Wife by Katarzyna Brochocka, to open their 2014. The winner of the 2013 competition, The Blank Canvas by Spyros Syrmos with a libretto by Fay Wrixon, was staged at the King's Head Theatre in September 2014. Last year's winner, Ulla's Odyssey, by Anthony Young with a libretto by Leanna Brodie, and will be staged at Kings Place in November 2015, followed by a UK tour in 2016. 

To enter this year's competition you have to create something for just seven performers (instrumentalists or singers). Entries must be received by 7 September 2015, and you need to present 15 minutes of music and libretto, with a synopsis of the full opera.  Full details from the OperaUpClose website.