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  • 1242
  1. Home
  2. 12:42

12:42

A documentary, produced almost entirely in quarantine, exploring creative processes, isolation and digital connections.

Generously supported by the Nicholas John Trust
Directed by Alisdair Kitchen and Produced by David Sulkin.
In partnership with Second Movement, with additional assistance from the Librettist Network

 

Watch the documentary here: 

 

About: 

In 2018 the National Opera Studio commissioned 12:40; 12 new arias by 12 composers and 12 librettists for 12 singers, to mark its 40th anniversary year. Two years later, a follow up project, 12:42, was conceived, but development came to a halt due to the Coronavirus and planned performances of the new works were cancelled. Reacting swiftly and determined not to abandon the project, 12:42 turned digital.

The National Opera Studio is delighted to present 12:42, a unique film documenting the collaborative creative process of producing brand new operas under coronavirus lockdown conditions.

Produced almost entirely in quarantine, the documentary follows the ambitious journey of 42 creative people – comprising the National Opera Studio’s Young Artist singers and répétiteurs, in close collaboration with some of today’s most exciting composers and librettists from around the world — to create eleven new opera arias entirely through online work and digital media.

Each singer was partnered with an exciting, diverse, handpicked team: a composer, a librettist and a pianist. Together, they transformed ideas drawn from the singer’s life and experience into a centrepiece aria for an opera yet to be written. The arias, which have since been filmed, are designed to demonstrate the individuality of each singer's vocal talents, and will be used in their audition repertoire for years to come.

Along with filmed performances of each aria, the documentary will première at 7.00pm GMT on OperaVision on 17 November, contextualised with information including biographies and full synopses of the imagined operas from which the arias are taken.

Arias:

12:42 Fura remembers

12:42 Fura remembers

Music: Alex Mills
Words: Camilo Menjura
Artistic Advisor: Ruth Mariner

Performed by: Julieth Lozano (soprano) and Bradley Wood (piano). Read more

Published: 9th October, 2020

Updated: 17th November, 2020

Author: Nicholas Boyd-Vaughan

12:42 Prologue

12:42 Prologue

Music: Mira Calix
Words: Sophie Rashbrook

Performed by: Alexandra Lowe (soprano) and Mairi Grewar (piano). Read more

Published: 8th October, 2020

Updated: 17th November, 2020

Author: Anne Sofie Grindstrand

12:42 Secure the ghosts

12:42 Secure the ghosts

Music: Emma Ruth Richards
Words: Nicola Chalmers

Performed by: Eliza Boom (soprano) and Somi Kim (piano) Read more

Published: 7th October, 2020

Updated: 17th November, 2020

Author: Anne Sofie Grindstrand

12:42 Sueños robados

12:42 Sueños robados

Music and Words: Hilda Paredes

Performed by: Luis Aguilar (tenor) and Alberto Rosado Carabias (piano) Read more

Published: 6th October, 2020

Updated: 17th November, 2020

Author: Anne Sofie Grindstrand

12:42 Flat warming

12:42 Flat warming

Music: Gavin Higgins
Words: Francesca Simon

Performed by: Frederick Jones (tenor) and Juliane Gallant (piano) Read more

Published: 5th October, 2020

Updated: 17th November, 2020

Author: Anne Sofie Grindstrand

12:42 Hear me my beloved

12:42 Hear me my beloved

Music: Shinuh Lee
Words: Eun-E Goh

Performed by: Kyu Choi (baritone) and Mairi Grewar (piano) Read more

Published: 4th October, 2020

Updated: 17th November, 2020

Author: Anne Sofie Grindstrand

12:42 Sugarbird

12:42 Sugarbird

Music: Tom Randle
Words: Nikki Racklin

Performed by: Msimelelo Mbali (bass) and Mairi Grewar (piano) Read more

Published: 3rd October, 2020

Updated: 17th November, 2020

Author: Anne Sofie Grindstrand

12:42 Candidate 3

12:42 Candidate 3

Music: Ellen Sargen
Words: CN Lester

Performed by: Ella Taylor (soprano) and Bradley Wood (piano) Read more

Published: 2nd October, 2020

Updated: 17th November, 2020

Author: Anne Sofie Grindstrand

12:42 Asphodel

12:42 Asphodel

Music: Cheryl Frances-Hoad
Words: Jeanne Pansard-Besson

Performed by: Samantha Oxborough (mezzo-soprano) and Juliane Gallant (piano) Read more

Published: 1st October, 2020

Updated: 17th November, 2020

Author: Anne Sofie Grindstrand

12:42 Above the White Island

12:42 Above the White Island

Music: Alex Ho
Words: Theophilus Kwek

Performed by: Shengzhi Ren (tenor) and Derek Clark (piano) Read more

Published: 30th September, 2020

Updated: 17th November, 2020

Author: Anne Sofie Grindstrand

12:42 Here’s to Them, to Them are Gane

12:42 Here’s to Them, to Them are Gane

Music and Words: Alex Groves

Performed by: Benson Wilson (baritone) and Bradley Wood (piano) Read more

Published: 29th September, 2020

Updated: 17th November, 2020

Author: Anne Sofie Grindstrand

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