Red Squirrel is a new opera company created by British conductor John Andrews to bring to life unknown and neglected operatic works.
Red Squirrel today announces its UK launch. With its name inspired by the image of the red squirrel: itself endangered, digging up long-buried morsels, the Company’s first project will be a co-production with Buxton International Festival of Malcolm Arnold’s 1952 comedy The Dancing Master to be performed this summer 2021.
John Andrews’ recent recording of this opera with the BBC Concert Orchestra on the Resonus Classics label has just been nominated for a BBC Music Magazine award (www.classical-music.com/awards-2021).
Artistic Director, John Andrews, who has conducted over 40 operas with companies including The Grange Festival, Opera Holland Park, English Touring Opera, Garsington Opera, and the Volkstheater Rostock. Renowned for his expertise in Italian bel canto and the English baroque, he has increasingly become known for his championing of English music. (www.johnkandrews.com)
John Andrews said:
“There is such a wealth of wonderful repertoire lying buried in libraries and archives that comes immediately alive on stage. It is tragic not to see these gems performed, and this company will bring them to the widest possible audience in collaboration with festivals and theatres.”
Red Squirrel aims to co-produce one staged project and one recording each year, researching and uncovering mainly English-language theatre works from the 18th – 20th Centuries with composers such as Thomas Arne, Arthur Sullivan, Malcolm Arnold, Malcolm Williamson, John Joubert and Lennox Berkeley among others.
The Dancing Master opens at the Buxton International Festival on 9 July 2021 and runs until 22 July. Tickets are available here: www.buxtonfestival.co.uk/news-and-blog/how-to-book-tickets-online