HINCKLEY
OPERA
FESTIVAL

forward by Nick Bacon

Director of the Hinckley Opera Festival

WHEN WE STAGED THE FIRST Hinckley Opera Festival in 2009, there were so many who questioned my sanity that I began to question it myself. How many people in Hinckley would really be interested in such an event? What if nobody showed up? Could we be wasting everybody’s time?

I really shouldn’t have worried. As it turned out, people from across the borough and beyond were more than ready to play their part. When we opened the doors of St Mary’s Church for the first musical lunch on the first day of the festival, people were already streaming across the churchyard and, as the first notes echoed up to the old church rafters, the first audience had reached 105, more than any of us had ever anticipated. The week of recitals and soup became a remarkable success.

This year’s week of musical lunches looks once again to be a scrumptious prospect. But anybody looking for great singing, or for the chance to participate themselves, really has a host of great events to choose from. Why not get tickets for the festival production of Verdi’s wonderful opera Rigoletto, performed by the principals and full chorus of Stanley Opera? Why not join forces with other singers (and would-be singers) in our Come and Sing Mikado? Why not test your knowledge in our Opera Quiz or catch up with our OperaBus as it heads out across the borough?

Come to think of it, why not buy a Festival Season Ticket and become a fully-fledged festival addict? I don’t think you’ll regret a penny.

a message of support from Jeff Bannister

Arts Champion for the borough of Hinckley and Bosworth

RECENTLY I ATTENDED an exhibition of the work of renowned artist Peter Berry in the town’s beautfully refurbished Atkins Building. A visiting artist turned to my wife and said ’It really lifts Hinckley, Dosen’t it?‘ Hearing that gave me the same surge of pride for our wonderful little town that I felt when the first Hinckley Opera Festival took place two years ago.

What a great success that was — and the second festival will be even better! All the big international Opera Festivals started this way, small in stature but big in talent and enthusiasm, so why not Hinckley? What is important is that this festival is for us, the people of Hinckley, to enrich our lives, to enhance our souls and to bring us joy.