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The Lovely Ladies
Composer - Peter Cowdrey Libretto - Hamish Robinson The Lovely Ladies is a one-act comedy based on the wine tasting diaries of the celebrated critic Michael Broadbent. Eight of the characters are wines; girl-mad Champagne, ambitious Mas de Daumas Gassac, pompous Bordeaux and full-bodied, sultry Cotes du Rhone bicker with other wines waiting to be auctioned. The ninth character is a virtuoso counter-tenor role - George Saintsbury, the father of wine writing. The World Premiere at Christie's, London, May 2010 The cast at the Christie's premiere included Michael Chance CBE, Richard Suart, Hal Cazalet, Constance Novis, Lilly Papaiannou, Toby Stafford-Allen, GSMD student Faustine de Mones and two former Jette Parker Young Artists from The Royal Opera, James Edwards and Anita Watson. The Director was Rosie Johnston. The first night raised over £50,000 for Maggies Cancer Centres. With The Conference of Birds: Liz Cowdrey - violin Emily White - trombone Julian Farrell - clarinet Peter Foggitt - piano Jub - double bass Buxton Festival In July 2011 The Lovely Ladies played to full houses at The Buxton Opera Festival. The Guardian's opera critic George Hall told Decanter.com he thought it 'an extremely entertaining piece' and Peter Cowdrey had done 'a very fine job'. |
Christies photos by Neil Libbert
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