GENESIS ANNOUNCES OPERA PROJECT AWARDS

Thursday, 31 July 2003

John Studzinski, Chairman of the Genesis Opera Project, today announced the outcome of the first Genesis Opera Project. The panel have decided to apportion a £20,000 prize across the three creative teams in recognition of the different but very real achievements of their strong, diverse talents and approaches.

The Genesis panel is awarding £10,000 to Jurgen Simpson (Composer) and Simon Doyle (Writer) from Ireland in acknowledgement of their originality and accomplishment with their first operatic work, Thwaite.

A further £10,000 is split equally between the teams of Paul Frehner (Composer) and Angela Murphy (Writer) from Canada for their first opera Sirius on Earth, a satiric futuristic fantasy; and Jonathan Mills (Composer) and Dorothy Porter (Writer) for their poetic second work for the stage, The Eternity Man, based on the spiritual journey in Sydney of real-life reformed alcoholic and religious visionary, Arthur Stace. The panel felt that both teams showed real flair for the operatic genre with their work and accomplishments reflecting their different levels of experience.

John Studzinski, says: “Genesis has reached a new level with the realisation of these productions. We are very grateful for all the support and feedback we have experienced, from both public and press, in our endeavours.

“The firstGenesis Opera Project has confirmed that, although there is considerable talent, the lack of opportunities for young creative teams to experiment and learn the genre is restricting the quality of new work. Overcoming this situation must be a long-term aim of the Genesis Opera Project.

“We are committed to a process of development. Our main purpose continues to be to find and nurture composers who will refresh the art form.”

Almeida Aldeburgh Opera is presenting Sirius on Earth at Snape Maltings Concert Hall, on 1 August 2003. Thwaite has further performances in Dublin on 23 and 24 September at The Project. This will be an Opera Theatre Company Dublin/Genesis Opera Project co-production with Almeida Aldeburgh Opera. Thwaite will then play at Snape Maltings Concert Hall on 27 September.

A further Genesis commission, the opera Zora D by Serbian composer, Isidora Žebeljan, work-shopped in 2002 as part of the Genesis Opera Project, was premiered last month by the Amsterdam Chamber Opera. It will receive further performances by the Vienna Chamber Opera from 25 October.

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For further information, contact: press@genesisfoundation.org.uk