PRESS RELEASE
THE GENESIS FOUNDATION ANNOUNCES THREE NEW OPERA COMMISSIONS

The Genesis Foundation today announced the results of the workshops for the second Genesis Opera Project. Following two stimulating days of presentations of work in progress at the Lilian Baylis Theatre, Sadler's Wells, London, in front of a packed invited audience of international opera professionals, the panel* chose three projects, from a short list of six, for full commission:

• PUSH! - David Bruce (composer, United Kingdom) & Anna Reynolds (librettist, United Kingdom).
• SANTE AND AUGUSTINE - Emily Hall (composer, United Kingdom) & Kit Peel (librettist, United Kingdom).
• THE UMBRELLA - Elena Langer (composer, Russia) & Lavinia Greenlaw (librettist, United Kingdom).

The Genesis Opera Project is committed to the creative process as its central focus. The regular mentoring applied to each project in the initial development phase will therefore continue throughout the main composition process of these chamber operas over the next 12-18 months. Directors, designers and other opera professionals will be brought into the creative process when required.

We will offer a further workshop of the completed opera in early 2005 to each of the three teams. This might be a catalyst for further work or lead to full production.

During the deliberations, the Genesis Opera Project panellists also recognised and commended the high presentation standards and commitment of the three other teams that participated in the workshops:

• HIPPOCAMPUS OR LONELY - Slavomir Solovic (composer, Slovakia) & Viliam Klimácek (librettist, Slovakia).
• THE ORIGINAL CHINESE CONJUROR - Raymond Yiu (composer, Hong Kong) & Lee Warren (librettist, United Kingdom).
• THE TRAMWAY CONDUCTOR OF VENICE - Mario Wiegand (composer, Germany) & Marec Béla Steffens (librettist, Germany).

John Studzinski, chairman of the Genesis Foundation, said: "With the workshops for this our second Genesis Opera Project we are continuing to develop and enhance our approach to nurturing in this field. We are very conscious that these are young talents setting out on the creation of their first opera project. A scheme like this, unique in the world of opera, requires us to be open minded and flexible in helping the talents we find mature at their own organic pace, and we wish them every success and offer our full support along the way."

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* The panel of the Genesis Opera Project comprises: John Studzinski, chairman; Giorgio Battistelli (composer); David Lan (artistic director, Young Vic Theatre Company); Genista McIntosh (arts consultant); Michael Morris (director, Cultural Industry); David Parry (conductor); David Pountney (director); Jonathan Reekie (chief executive, Aldeburgh Productions); and David Sawer (composer).