Hot off the press - The Gardeners: Interludes and Arias

Will Vann conducting the world premiere of Robert Hugill and Joanna Wyld's opera The Gardeners
at Conway Hall, 18 June 2019 (Photo Robert Piwko)

As a composer I am an inveterate re-cycler and re-writer of things, so no sooner had Joanna Wyld and my opera The Gardeners been premiered than I started writing again, re-cycling some of the music into a new and more portable form.  Hence Interludes and Arias was born.

When The Gardeners, was premiered last year, some of the comments that I received were that the instrumental interludes were not long enough. These interludes were something of an experiment, designed to break up the dialogue and develop musical themes further, and I was rather pleased with the result. Rather than write more of them, I decided to extract the interludes and stitch them together as a purely instrumental piece. In fact, during the process, some vocal material found its way in as well, hence the title Interludes and Arias. There was some editing and re-arrangement, and quite a bit of transposing so that the music flowed satisfactorily.

I wanted to keep the basic line up from the opera, which used violin, viola, cello, clarinet, and harp but needed a couple more instruments so came up with the idea of using the same line up as the Ravel Introduction and Allegro, ie string quartet, clarinet, flute and harp.

The work is now looking for a home, so if it sounds of interest please do get in contact, I am happy to share the score of the work and my computer synthesization.

The Gardeners at the Garden Museum

The Gardeners at the Garden Museum (Photo Robert Piwko)

Last night we had a terrific performance of Joanna Wyld and my opera The Gardeners at the Garden Museum. William Vann conducted, with Peter Brathwaite as the Old Gardener, Magid El-Bushra as the Angry Young Man, Julian Debreuil as the Gardener, Flora McIntosh as the Grandmother and Georgia Mae Bishop as the Mother, with an instrumental ensemble of Oliver Wass (harp), Charlotte Amherst (violin), Joanna Patrick (viola), Sophie Haynes (cello) and Sacha Rattle (clarinet). The chorus of the Dead were William Johnston Davies, Sam Dressel, Christopher Fitzgerald-Lombard, James Arthur and Jake Muffett.

Audience members at the Garden Museum (Photo Robert Piwko)

The Gardeners: Robert Hugill & William Vann in rehearsal (Photo Robert Piwko)

The Gardeners at the Garden Museum - the climactic penultimate scene (Photo Robert Piwko)

'Quite a feat! ... It lingers in the memory' (Classical Source) - The Gardeners returns

Premiere of Joanna Wyld & Robert Hugill's The Gardeners at Conway Hall, June 2019 (Photo Robert Piwko)

Overall, though, there is a formality, of a ritual and spiritual kind, that his opera observes consistently and with considerable impact. The Angry Young Man’s final words are of reassurance and hope - ‘I will tell them, brothers. They will listen.’ 

Claire Seymour in Opera Magazine

After its triumphant premiere at Conway Hall in June 2019, Joanna Wyld and my new chamber opera, The Gardeners returns tonight (9 September 2019) with a further concert performance, this time in the lovely Garden Museum where we will be serving a glass of wine in the Museum's garden before the performance.

Inspired by a newspaper article, The Gardeners is set in a Commonwealth War Graves Commission cemetery in a war-torn country amongst the family of gardeners who look after the cemetery, The Gardeners treats the themes of tolerance, remembrance and brotherhood using the garden as a metaphor for the possibility of growth and renewal.

There are a number of instrumental interludes, and it is in these that we realise that the viola is given a hugely magnified role in Hugill’s writing (brilliantly, poignantly played by Joanna Patrick), part of Hugill’s sonic armoury 

to create a melancholic, elegiac atmosphere. 

Colin Clarke, Seen and Heard International.

William Vann conducts the original cast, Peter Brathwaite as the Old Gardener, Magid El-Bushra as the Angry Young Man, Julian Debreuil as the Gardener, Flora McIntosh as the Grandmother and Georgia Mae Bishop as the Mother, accompanied by an instrumental ensemble of harp (Oliver Wass), clarinet (Sacha Rattle), violin (Charlotte Amherst), viola (Joanna Patrick) and cello (Sophie Haynes).

Expertly conducted by William Vann, drifts of melody, elusive tonality and 

a consistent moderato pace suggest the layers of dream and reality 

Peter Reed, Classical Source

The opera starts at 7.45pm tonight (9 September 2019) at the Garden Museum, 5 Lambeth Palace Road, London SE1 7LB. Tickets, price £25, include a glass of wine and are available on the door or in advance from TicketTailor.

The final scene is given over to The Angry Young Man in dialogue with The Dead, who he can now hear. This was the finest moment for El-Bushra, and arguably Hugill’s, too. A sort of culminating coda that passes on the story on to the next generation (much like the end of Wozzeck, perhaps, with Wozzeck’s son cast into the same world), this was haunting, in every sense, indeed. - Colin Clarke, Seen and Heard International.

The Gardeners at the Garden Museum

The Courtyard Garden at the Garden Museum

The Garden Museum in Lambeth is the UK's only museum celebrating British gardens and gardening so it seems a piece of wonderful synergy that we are able to give the second performance of Joanna Wyld and my opera The Gardeners at the museum on Monday 9 September 2019. Based in the former church of St Mary at Lambeth (with its monuments to Nancy Storace, the first Susanna in Mozart's Le nozze di Figaro, Captain Bligh and the John Tradescants, father and son 17th century gardeners and plant hunters), the opera will be performed in the fine acoustics of the church's former nave. Beforehand we will be serving a glass of wine in the museum's fine Dan Pearson-designed garden, full of the sort of exotic plants which the Tradescants brought back from their plant hunting exploits.

'Hugill's music has a moving serenity' - Opera Magazine

Robert Hugill & Joanna Wyld: The Gardeners - Conway Hall June 2019 (Photo Robert Piwko)

The Gardeners will be performed by the same performers as at the work's premiere in June 2019 at Conway Hall. 

'A beautiful piece, beautifully performed' - Seen and Heard International

William Vann conducts Peter Brathwaite as the Old Gardener, Magid El-Bushra as the Angry Young Man, Julian Debreuill as the Gardener, Flora McIntosh as the Grandmother and Georgia Mae Bishop as the Mother, with Oliver Wass (harp), Sacha Rattle (clarinet), Charlotte Amherst (violin), Joanna Patrick (viola), and Sophie Haynes (cello).

'Quite a feat! ... It lingers in the memory' - Classical Source

Further details from The Gardeners website, and tickets price £25 from Tickettailor.

Review of The Gardeners in Opera magazine

Claire Seymour's review of Joanna Wyld and my opera The Gardeners, which premiered at Conway Hall on 18 June 2019, is in the September issue of Opera Magazine.

Selected highlights from the review:

• Overall, though, there is a formality, of a ritual and spiritual kind, tht his opera observes consistently and with considerable impact. The Angry Young Man’s final words are of reassurance and hope - ‘I will tell them, brothers. They will listen.’
• Hugill's music has a moving serenity.
• Peter Brathwaite’s Old Gardener was compelling, sung with emotive tone and claar diction.
• the bass baritone Julian Debreuil had real presence, using his strength and colour effectively.
• Counter-tenor Magid El-Bushra ... was dramatically and vocally transfigured.
• Flora McIntosh’s Grandmother made a strong mark and she used her lower range very dramatically; her duet with Goergia Mae Bishop's mother introduced some welcome irony and humour.
• The instrumental ensemble - comprising violin, viola, cello, clarinet and harp - played sensitively, directed by William Vann with scrupulous attention to detail

The Gardeners  returns on Monday 9 September 2019 with a further performance at the Garden Museum with the same cast directed by William Vann. Tickets, price £25, are available from Tickettailor and include a glass of wine served before the opera in the museum's lovely garden.

The Gardeners is Opera Now's event of the month for August

Joanna Wyld and my opera The Gardeners is Opera Now magazine's Event of the Month for August on their website, with a review by Josephine Miles of the work's premiere at Conway Hall in June 2019.

'Hugill’s concept and Joanna Wyld’s libretto did not shy away from addressing pertinent and provocative themes of our own times: the impact of borders, the importance of tolerance and respect… Any new musical work that tackles such issues should be welcomed.' - Josephine Miles, Opera Now.

The Gardeners returns on Monday 9 September 2019 with a performance at The Garden Museum in Lambeth, with Peter Brathwaite as the Old Gardener, Julian Debreuil as the Gardener, Magid El-Bushra as the Angry Young Man, Georgia Mae Bishop as the Mother and Flora McIntosh as the Grandmother with an instrumental ensemble conducted by William Vann. Further details from The Gardeners website.

The Gardeners - Images and reviews

Joanna Wyld and Robert Hugill (Photo Robert Piwko)

Well the reviews are out and we have reviews of Joanna Wyld and my new chamber opera The Gardeners in Classical Source, Opera Today and Seen and Heard International.

• 'Quite a feat! ... It lingers in the memory' - Classical Source
• 'Hugill's music has a moving serenity and stillness' - Opera Today
• 'A beautiful piece, beautifully performed' - Seen and Heard International

Read the reviews at The Gardeners website.

Robert Hugill & Joanna Wyld: The Gardeners - Anthony Friend, Charlotte Amherst, Joanna Patrick, William Vann, Sophie Haynes, Oliver Wass, Julian Debreuill, Peter Brathwaite, Magid El-Bushra, Flora McIntosh, Georgia Mae Bishop
(Photo Robert Piwko)

Gallery of images from the premiere

Robert Hugill & Joanna Wyld: The Gardeners - Anthony Friend, Charlotte Amherst, Joanna Patrick, Sophie Haynes, Oliver Wass, William Vann, Flora McIntosh, Georgia Mae Bishop in rehearsal (Photo Robert Piwko)

The Gardeners at Conway Hall, June 2019

Robert Hugill, Joanna Wyld, William Vann and the entire cast of The Gardeners at Conway Hall on 18 June 2019
Photo Robert Piwko

Joanna Wyld and my opera The Gardeners premiered last night (18 June 2019) at Conway Hall. My thanks to the whole company for their hard work and for putting together such a terrific performance of a brand new opera, I can't wait to hear it again!

Peter Braithwaite (baritone), Magid El-Bushra (counter-tenor), Julian Debreuil (bass-baritone), Flora McIntosh (mezzo-soprano), Georgia Mae Bishop (mezzo-soprano), Anthony Friend (clarinet), Charlotte Amherst (violin), Joanna Patrick (viola), Sophie Haynes (cello), Oliver Wass (harp), Andrew Henley (chorus tenor), William Davies (chorus tenor), Chris Lombard (chorus tenor), Angus McPhee (chorus bass-baritone), Jake Muffett (chorus bass), William Vann (conductor).

The Gardeners - Julian Debreuil, Peter Brathwaite, Magid El-Bushra - Conway Hall, 18 June 2019
(Photo Robert Piwko)

There will be a second performance of The Gardeners at the Garden Museum on 9 September 2019.

The Gardeners - Conway Hall June 2019 (Photo Robert Piwko)

All together now!

A great rehearsal today for Joanna Wyld & my opera, The Gardeners with Anthony Friend (clarinet, Joanna Patrick (viola), Charlotte Amhers (violin), Sophie Haynes (cello), Oliver Wass (harp), William Vann (conductor), Julian Debreuil (bass-baritone), Magid El-Bushra (counter-tenor), Flora McIntosh (mezzo-soprano), Georgia Mae Bishop (mezzo-soprano), Peter Brathwaite (baritone).

Debuts tomorrow, 18 June 2019 at 7.30pm at Conway Hall, tickets £20 still available from Ticket Tailor.

The Gardeners is coming

Flora McIntosh and Georgia Mae Bishop in rehearsal for The Gardeners

Rather excitingly, the first performance of Joanna Wyld and my new chamber opera The Gardeners is almost upon us. William Vann will conduct the premiere at Conway Hall on Tuesday 18 June 2019 at 7.30pm, with a terrific cast of young singers and instrumentalists.

Inspired by a newspaper article, the opera explores the themes of remembrance, tolerance, and brotherhood within the context of a family of gardeners in a war-torn country. You can read more about the background in my article on my blog, and read about how Joanna created the libretto in an article on The Cross-Eyed Pianist blog, which also featured me in its Meet the Artist.

Full details of the performance from thegardeners.org, and tickets, price £20, from Ticket Tailor.

We look forward to seeing many of you at the opera.

The Gardeners in Rehearsal

The Gardeners in rehearsal: William Vann, Anthony Friend, Charlotte Amherst,
Joanna Patrick, Sophie Haynes, and Oliver Wass

We had a great band call on Wednesday for Joanna Wyld and my new opera The Gardeners, with Anthony Friend (clarinet), Charlotte Amherst (violin), Joanna Patrick (viola), Sophie Haynes (cello), and Oliver Wass (harp), with conductor William Vann. My first chance to hear the instrumental interludes properly, and looking forward to the final result next week.

The Gardeners at Conway Hall on 18 June 2019, tickets price £20 available from Ticket Tailor.

Meet the Artist!

"Texts give rise to melodies in my head, which need to be written down. Harmonies are initially simply shapes which need to be explored"

In advance of the premiere of Joanna Wyld and my new chamber opera The Gardeners at Conway Hall on 18 June 2019, there is a chance to read more about my inspirations and the background to my music as I am the subject of the latest Meet the Artist on Frances Wilson's Cross-Eyed Pianist blog.

I find it tricky writing about music and where it comes from, so was quite pleasantly surprised when reading back the quote (see above) to feel that it rather makes sense!

Catch the article at:
https://meettheartist.site/2019/06/03/robert-hugill-composer/


Tickets for The Gardeners, price £20, are available from TicketTailor

Last three days for our crowdfunding campaign

Last three days for Help The Gardeners to Grow, our Crowdfunder campaign to to give Joanna Wyld and my new opera The Gardeners and its artists the exposure they deserve.  

The Gardeners at Conway Hall on 18 June 2019, ‏conducted by William Vann, with Peter Brathwaite (the Old Gardener), Magid El-Bushra (the Angry Young Man), Julian Debreuil (the Gardener), Georgia Mae Bishop (the Mother), Flora McIntosh (the Grandmother), Charlotte Amherst (violin), Anthony Friend (clarinet), Oliver Wass (harp), Sophie Haynes (viola), and May Dolan (cello). 

Still time to support us: 

https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/helping-the-gardeners-to-grow-a-new-chamber-opera

The Gardeners - cast announcement

The Gardeners: (L to R, top to bottom) - Flora McIntosh, William Vann, Robert Hugill (photo Johnny Bourchier), Peter Brathwaite, Georgia Mae Bishop, Magid El-Bushra (photo Belinda Whiting), Joanna Wyld, Julian Debreuil (photo: Philip Allen)

I am pleased to be able to announce the full cast for the premiere of The Gardeners, Joanna Wyld and my new chamber opera which premieres at Conway Hall on Tuesday 18 June 2019.

Julian Debreuil plays The Gardener, Peter Brathwaite plays The Old Gardener, Magid El-Bushra plays The Angry Young Man, Flora McIntosh plays The Grandmother and Georgia Mae Bishop plays The Mother. The opera will be conducted by William Vann.

There will also be small male voice chorus, playing the spirits of the Dead, whilst the instrumental ensemble (harp, violin, viola, cello, clarinet) will include harpist Oliver Wass.


Julian Debreuil's engagements for the 2018-19 season include Missa Solemnis Beethoven with the Southbank Sinfonia at St Martin-in-the-Fields, Cantatas 21 & 29 Bach with the Birmingham Bach Choir, Colline in La Boheme Puccini and Talbot Maria Stuarda with OperaUpClose, Zuniga in Carmen Bizet for Kentish Opera.

In the 2018/19 season, Peter Brathwaite sings the title role in Polly Graham’s new production of Viktor Ullmann’s Der Kaiser von Atlantis with Chroma Ensemble at Bold Tendencies. He covers and sings Papageno in The Magic Flute for Opera North, and creates the role of Doctor in the European Premiere of Philip Hagemann’s The Music Cure. Future seasons see him make role debuts at Théâtre Royal de la Monnaie, Brussels, the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden and Opera Philadelphia.

Magid El-Bushra's recent engagements include Nicholas Lens’ Shell Shock with the Orchestre de Radio France at the Philharmonie in Paris, Hamor in Handel’s Jephtha at the Wiener Festwochen, the Potsdamer Winteroper, and the Hamburger Theater Festival (under the baton of Konrad Junghänel), a solo recital with the Berner Symphonieorchester at Konzerttheater Bern (conducted by Kevin John Edusei), Orontes in Telemann’s Der misslungene Brautwechsel in Giessen (conducted by Michael Hofstetter), the alto solos in Bach’s St John Passion with Concerto Köln, and the Cheshire Cat in Will Todd’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland at the Linbury Theatre, Royal Opera House, Covent Garden.

Georgia Mae Bishop's recent credits include Filipyvena, Eugene Onegin (Opera Loki), Mistress Quickly (cover), Falstaff (Garsington Opera), Zita, Gianni Schicchi (Barbican Concert Hall), Madam de Croissy, Dialogues des Carmélites, Vera Boronel, The Consul, Zenobia (cover), Radamisto (Guildhall Opera), title role, Carmen, Ruth, Pirates of Penzance (Dartington Opera). Whilst studying at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama she was the winner of the Chartered Surveyors vocal competition and a recipient of an Opera Awards Foundation bursary. Other competition successes include 2nd prize at the Wagner Society Singing Competition (2016) and finalist in Fulham Opera’s Robert Presley Memorial Verdi Prize (2017).

Flora McIntosh is a Samling Foundation scholar and currently studies with Arwel Treharne Morgan. Engagements in 2018 include Das lied von der Erde with English National Ballet, Filipyevna in Eugene Onegin for OperaUpClose, Pauline in the UK premiere of Gounod’s Polyeucte (UCOpera), Lucy Lockit in The Beggar’s Opera (Oborne Opera and Mastersingers UK), Dryad In Ariadne auf Naxos for Longborough Festival, the title role in Donizetti’s Maria Stuarda (National Trust collaboration) and Mercedes in Carmen for The Prison Choir Project.

The Gardeners premieres at Conway Hall on Tuesday 18 June 2019, full details from The Gardeners website.