Tête à Tête: The Opera Festival 2021

27

July

The Hildegard von Bingen Society for Gardening...

Throughout the Festival, Online. Create scores at home, made by a queer, feminist gardening society founded by 12th century mystic and musician Hildegard von Bingen.

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27

July

Her War

19:30-20:25, Live Performance. A traumatised nurse returns from WWI only to clash with an uncaring government, forcing her to be a pioneer for nurses’ rights. Based on academic research into nursing trauma in WWI and the COVID-19 pandemic.

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28

July

HER BODY: The Anatomy of a Woman

19:30-20:10, Live Performance. A fusion of physical theatre, art installation and abstract soundscape which explores our relationship to mind, body and spirit that candidly asks the question “How do you feel about your body?”

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29

July

The Crocodile of Old Kang Pow, Acts 1 and 2

19:00-20:50, Live Performance. A comic opera set in the 18th century. The Marquis de Sade must go on a quest to recover his lost libido or have his head chopped off!

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29

July

Her War

21:00-22:15, Interactive Broadcast. A traumatised nurse returns from WWI only to clash with an uncaring government, forcing her to be a pioneer for nurses’ rights. Based on academic research into nursing trauma in WWI and the COVID-19 pandemic.

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30

July

Come Bargain With Uncanny Things

19:00-20:00, Live Performance. An interactive, immersive opera. You are invited to join a ritual of bargaining in these difficult times, negotiating with the beguiling Uncanny Things...

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30

July

HER BODY: The Anatomy of a Woman

20:05-21:10, Interactive Broadcast. A fusion of physical theatre, art installation and abstract soundscape which explores our relationship to mind, body and spirit that candidly asks the question “How do you feel about your body?”

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30

July

Come Bargain With Uncanny Things

21:15-22:15, Live Performance. An interactive, immersive opera. You are invited to join a ritual of bargaining in these difficult times, negotiating with the beguiling Uncanny Things...

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31

July

Guide to the Lakes

19:30-20:10, Live Performance. A theatrical picnic and tourist guide to the Lake District based on the works of William and Dorothee Wordsworth, through poems, riddles, and food.

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01

August

Come Bargain With Uncanny Things

17:00-18:30, Interactive Broadcast. An interactive, immersive opera. You are invited to join a ritual of bargaining in these difficult times, negotiating with the beguiling Uncanny Things...

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01

August

The Crocodile of Old Kang Pow, Acts 1 and 2

19:30-21:30, Interactive Broadcast. A comic opera set in the 18th century. The Marquis de Sade must go on a quest to recover his lost libido or have his head chopped off!

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02

August

EXPO MCYO: a thread through change

19:00-19:45, Live Performance. Operas written for film and stage are combined in this demonstration of Manchester Contemporary Youth Opera's work as a forge for new opera. Double bill.

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02

August

Until the Trans Lady Sings – An...

19:00-19:45, Live Performance. Alice is a poet who yearns to sing, but to her music seems terrifyingly stratified. She's given herself a year to learn, and wants you to answer her questions. Double bill.

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02

August

Guide to the Lakes

19:50-20:55, Interactive Broadcast. A theatrical picnic and tourist guide to the Lake District based on the works of William and Dorothee Wordsworth, through poems, riddles, and food.

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02

August

Shut Down The Club

21:00-21:45, Live Performance. An operatic techno rave spotlighting six nightlife characters affected by the pandemic, with a cast of cultural leaders from London’s LGBTQ+ nightlife community.

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03

August

The Monk of the River

19:30-20:30, Live Performance. An adaptation of Journey to the West, blending western and Chinese forms to tell the tale of Tang Sangzang's search for revenge and justice.

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04

August

While There’s Light

19:00-19:40, Live Performance. A story of love, lust, obsession, mistrust, hatred, death, and immortality in a militaristic society, based on the love poems of the Roman poet Sextus Propertius.

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05

August

The Unravelling Fantasia of Miss H.

19:30-20:50, Live Performance. The tale of Mary Frances Heaton's struggles to reach the outside world after being sentenced to a lifetime confined in Wakefield Asylum for being outspoken.

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05

August

The Monk of the River

20:45-22:15, Interactive Broadcast. An adaptation of Journey to the West, blending western and Chinese forms to tell the tale of Tang Sangzang's search for revenge and justice.

More Info

06

August

EXPO MCYO: a thread through change

18:00-19:10, Interactive Broadcast. Operas written for film and stage are combined in this demonstration of Manchester Contemporary Youth Opera's work as a forge for new opera. Double bill.

More Info

06

August

Until the Trans Lady Sings – An...

18:00-19:10, Interactive Broadcast. Alice is a poet who yearns to sing, but to her music seems terrifyingly stratified. She's given herself a year to learn, and wants you to answer her questions. Double bill.

More Info

06

August

Helena

19:15-19:55, Live Performance. A robot and one of the last humans try to find a way to preserve her mind, and the knowledge of how the robots were created. A sequel to Čapek's RUR.

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06

August

Shut Down The Club

20:00-21:00, Interactive Broadcast. An operatic techno rave spotlighting six nightlife characters affected by the pandemic, with a cast of cultural leaders from London’s LGBTQ+ nightlife community.

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06

August

SINGLR

21:10-21:50, Live Performance. A new app-era, where you can only communicate with other people through extended vocal technique. Download it today, and get daily lessons and inspiration.

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07

August

Sophie

19:00-19:40, Live Performance. The life of Swiss artist/dancer Sophie Taeuber-Arp, exploring her career and relationship with Jean Arp, her fellow Dadaist.

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07

August

While There’s Light

19:45-20:45, Interactive Broadcast. A story of love, lust, obsession, mistrust, hatred, death, and immortality in a militaristic society, based on the love poems of the Roman poet Sextus Propertius.

More Info

07

August

M0TH3RL0DE

21:00-21:45, Live Performance. In the late 21st century, two graduates of a top E-Sports academy prepare for the most important tournament of their lives, and to confront the compromises made on the way.

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08

August

The Unravelling Fantasia of Miss H.

17:00-18:45, Interactive Broadcast. The tale of Mary Frances Heaton's struggles to reach the outside world after being sentenced to a lifetime confined in Wakefield Asylum for being outspoken.

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08

August

The Language of Flowers

19:00-19:30, Live Performance. Princess Pauline Metternich is largely remembered for a disputed emancipated topless duel. What is the true history of the enigmatic and swashbuckling princess?

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08

August

bingenTV

20:45-21:15, Live Performance. Documentary-opera meets quirky gardening show, telling the history of the Hildegard von Bingen Society for Gardening Companions, an ancient queer-feminist collective.

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09

August

Helena

19:00-20:15, Interactive Broadcast. A robot and one of the last humans try to find a way to preserve her mind, and the knowledge of how the robots were created. A sequel to Čapek's RUR.

More Info

09

August

SINGLR

21:00-22:30, Interactive Broadcast. A new app-era, where you can only communicate with other people through extended vocal technique. Download it today, and get daily lessons and inspiration.

More Info

10

August

Sophie

19:00-20:10, Interactive Broadcast. The life of Swiss artist/dancer Sophie Taeuber-Arp, exploring her career and relationship with Jean Arp, her fellow Dadaist.

More Info

10

August

M0TH3RL0DE

20:45-22:00, Interactive Broadcast. In the late 21st century, two graduates of a top E-Sports academy prepare for the most important tournament of their lives, and to confront the compromises made on the way.

More Info

11

August

The Language of Flowers

19:00-20:00, Interactive Broadcast. Princess Pauline Metternich is largely remembered for a disputed emancipated topless duel. What is the true history of the enigmatic and swashbuckling princess?

More Info

11

August

bingenTV

21:00-22:00, Interactive Broadcast. Documentary-opera meets quirky gardening show, telling the history of the Hildegard von Bingen Society for Gardening Companions, an ancient queer-feminist collective.

More Info

12

August

Cubitt Session: Ladies of Midnight Blue &...

18:30-20:20, Live Performance. Ladies of Midnight Blue's mix of melodic percussion, brass, vocal chants, mbira, and everyday activism comes to Cubitt Sessions.

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16

August

Cubitt Session: The Venus Bushfires

18:30-19:50, Live Performance. The Venus Bushfires explore the ethereal sounds of the ‘hang’ and the power of the talking drum cross-fertilising multiple visual & musical styles.

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17

August

RUNE

19:30-20:30, Live Performance. Sold Out. On a planet where history is forbidden, a young girl dares to tell her story. Featuring an ensemble of three grand pianos, contemporary dance with interactive sculpture, and high fashion by Ka Wa Key.

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17

September

The Venus Bushfires

16:00-18:00, Watch Party. The Venus Bushfires explore the ethereal sounds of the ‘hang’ and the power of the talking drum cross-fertilising multiple visual & musical styles.

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17

September

RUNE

19:00-20:30, Interactive Broadcast. On a planet where history is forbidden, a young girl dares to tell her story. Featuring an ensemble of three grand pianos, contemporary dance with interactive sculpture, and high fashion by Ka Wa Key.

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17

September

The Castle of Crossed Destinies

21:00-22:10, Interactive Broadcast. Knights in Times Square, legendary alchemists and invisible kings combine in this adaptation of Calvino's novel in a tale where all eras are linked.

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