“The actual performance of the new community opera surely constitute the proverbial tip of the iceberg. The months & months of preparation and workshopping must have been a hugely valuable experience for all involved whether they appeared on stage or not. The event really was a community enterprise… the scale was daunting. There were 5 orchestras.. dotted about the auditorium.. more than 150 singers of every known age, race and gender… nothing but praise. ”
Hats off to the young and old of Hackney…
In 2002, HMDT Music launched Operaction Hackney, a programme offering adult language and literacy courses which would lead to the production of a new community opera for Hackney. Our vision was motivated by what was then the seeds of our now entrenched methodology of embedding the arts across all learning.
With learners and a wide range of musical groups contributing to the new work through writing and composition workshops with librettist Alasdair Middleton and composer Matthew King, On London Fields was born.
“The music is lovely. Matthew King has written me a fabulous aria. I have never been involved with a community project like this before, but HMDT Music seems to have a great talent for doing it. ”
“The atmosphere was a real joy. Bravo to the minds behind this and all the excellent people making it happen. I thought the co-ordination of so many different elements was absolutely superb.”
“I doubt other boroughs (less mixed demographically) would provide such a rich experience. The objectives of HMDT I think are remarkable. Long may it continue to be so diversely creative.”
“The most powerful aspect of the experience for me is the fact that the standard was set resolutely high… it is quite something to determine to do something well and it was great to be a part of something built on that ethos.”
We are proud that Operaction Hackney: On London Fields won the Royal Philharmonic Society music award for Education in 2004.
Performed at Hackney Empire in 2004 by several different community performing groups from across the borough, the opera told the historical story of 17th century Hackney’s various religious and political groups brought together by local seer Hannah Trapnel rebelling against Oliver Cromwell’s regime and how they came together as a community.
“What mattered most was the unselfconscious eagerness shown by every amateur singer or player, tiny child or senior citizen. ”
“On London Fields is not just about these performances. It is about a process, during which people have discovered amazing creativity within themselves.”
“Using an existing story that has genuine local relevance as a basis for the action proved to be much more effective dramatically than some of the confections that have been put together in recent years under the banner of community opera. ”
“I have met and engaged with my neighbours; together we achieved something extraordinary. I have learned so much about my community, met some brilliant people and gained a lot of vocal confidence. Loved every minute of it. ”
“There was an intense feeling of physical and artistic involvement, and pride in what was being made.”
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The On London Fields Programme
