# Chelsea Opera Group

> Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Chelsea_Opera_Group
> Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Chelsea_Opera_Group.md
> Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chelsea_Opera_Group
> Source revision: 1302701875
> License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)

{{distinguish|text=[Chelsea Opera](/source/Chelsea_Opera) in the US}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
'''Chelsea Opera Group''' is an organisation based in London which arranges [concert productions](/source/Concert_version) of [opera](/source/opera)s and other works.  It was founded in 1950 when [David Cairns](/source/David_Cairns_(writer)) and [Stephen Gray](/source/Stephen_Gray_(musical_administrator)) invited [Colin Davis](/source/Colin_Davis), who was at the time a 22-year-old [clarinet](/source/clarinet)ist, to conduct a concert performance of [Mozart's](/source/Wolfgang_Amadeus_Mozart) ''[Don Giovanni](/source/Don_Giovanni)'' in the [Holywell Music Room](/source/Holywell_Music_Room), [Oxford](/source/Oxford).<ref name=cog>{{Citation | url = http://www.chelseaoperagroup.org.uk/About.htm| title = About Chelsea Opera Group| accessdate = 5 July 2013| publisher = Chelsea Opera Group}}</ref>

The Group has continued this practice since, mainly with the purpose of reviving neglected operas and lesser known versions of more familiar operas.  Colin Davis was the president until his death in April 2013. The Group continues to perform operas and other works in London and in [Salisbury](/source/Salisbury).<ref>{{Citation | url = http://www.chelseaoperagroup.org.uk/Plans.htm| title = Future Plans | accessdate = 5 July 2013| publisher = Chelsea Opera Group}}</ref>

==Company history and performances==
Since ''[Falstaff](/source/Falstaff_(opera))'' in 1956, a considerable number of operas by [Giuseppe Verdi](/source/Giuseppe_Verdi) have appeared on the roster, including many of the lesser-known earlier works such as the 1847 version of ''[Macbeth](/source/Macbeth_(Verdi))'' (in 2008); the original French version of ''I Vespri Sicilianni'', the 1855 ''[Les vêpres siciliennes](/source/Les_v%C3%AApres_siciliennes)'' (1977 and 1999); and several others such as ''[Aroldo](/source/Aroldo)'' (1993); and ''[Jérusalem](/source/J%C3%A9rusalem)'' (1997).<ref>{{Citation | url = http://www.chelseaoperagroup.org.uk/Past%20Performances.htm| title = Past Performances| accessdate = 5 July 2013| publisher = Chelsea Opera Group}}</ref>

Musicians who have gained experience early in their careers by performing with the Group include [Sir&nbsp;Simon Rattle](/source/Simon_Rattle), [Sir&nbsp;Mark Elder](/source/Mark_Elder), and [Sir&nbsp;Roger Norrington](/source/Roger_Norrington), [Dame&nbsp;Kiri te&nbsp;Kanawa](/source/Kiri_Te_Kanawa), [Sir Willard White](/source/Willard_White), [Sir John Tomlinson](/source/John_Tomlinson_(bass)), [Sarah Walker](/source/Sarah_Walker_(mezzo-soprano)) and [Jill Gomez](/source/Jill_Gomez).<ref name=cog/>

In addition to some of the standard operatic repertory over the years, a concert performance which drew attention to the Group was [Donizetti](/source/Donizetti)'s rarely performed ''[Belisario](/source/Belisario)'' (written in 1836), which starred [Nelly Miricioiu](/source/Nelly_Miricioiu) under conductor [Richard Bonynge](/source/Richard_Bonynge) and was given at [Queen Elizabeth Hall](/source/Queen_Elizabeth_Hall) on 13 February 2011.
<ref>[https://www.theguardian.com/music/2011/feb/21/belisario-review  Tim Ashely, "''Belisario'' – Review"], ''[The Guardian](/source/The_Guardian)'' (London), 21 February 2011, retrieved 19 December 2012</ref><ref>[http://www.musicweb-international.com/SandH/2011/Jan-Jun11/belisario1302.htm  Jim Pritchard review on musicweb-international.com] Retrieved 19 December 2012</ref>

==Members==
*[Dame Fiona Woolf](/source/Fiona_Woolf) – As well as being President of the Group, she is also a member of its choir.

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{authority control}}

Category:Opera companies in London
Category:Musical groups established in 1950
Category:1950 establishments in England

---
Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Chelsea Opera Group](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chelsea_Opera_Group) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chelsea_Opera_Group?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.