PRESS RELEASE
GENESIS FOUNDATION LAUNCHES THE SECOND GENESIS OPERA PROJECT

An international commissioning scheme for composers and writers new to opera and music theatre

30 October 2002 - The Genesis Foundation today launched its second Genesis Opera Project. Open to young composers, and writers, worldwide it offers vital support to artists at the beginning of their careers. It is unique since Genesis not only rewards the successful composers and writers but also funds the entire creative process, from commission and development to production. Following workshops in Spring 2004 for the short-listed projects, the commissioning process culminates in Summer 2005 with professional productions of three works in London and elsewhere.

THE COMMISSIONING PROCESS

The Project requires the submission of a scenario plus tapes with examples of the composer's work and a sample of the librettist's writing. An advisory panel will then choose six works for further development and each composer/writer team will receive £3,000 to create a first draft of the libretto and an extract from the opera score for workshop performance. Teams are being asked to choose contemporary subjects for their projects.

The panel will then select three operas from the workshops for a full commission (£15,000 to the composer, £3,000 to the writer) and these will be taken forward to full production in London and on tour.

"Genesis is looking for composer-led projects as well as those that have been initiated by writers, directors or other members of a creative team," says John Studzinski, Chairman of the Genesis Foundation and of the Genesis Opera Project. "We hope to attract musical and theatrical artists who have not considered opera as a medium before. The Genesis Opera Project aspires to create a platform for the best young directing, design and musical talent from all over the world - a series of works truly international in reach, approach and ambition."

The distinguished panel includes the Italian composer Giorgio Battistelli; Genista McIntosh, Principal of the Guildhall School of Music and Drama; Michael Morris, Director of Cultural Industry and co-director of Artangel; David Parry, Music Director of Almeida Opera; David Pountney, Intendant, Bregenz Festival; Jonathan Reekie, Chief Executive of Aldeburgh Productions; the writer Vikram Seth; and John Studzinski.

OPERA OR MUSIC THEATRE?

The specification set out by Genesis for its Project is: a work with a duration of 60 to 90 minutes, capable of being produced within a single setting - with up to eight singers and 13 instrumentalists.

Librettos can be written in any language for the finished productions and may be translated into English for the premieres in 2005.

Jonathan Reekie, Chief Executive of Aldeburgh Productions, adds, "With our original Genesis Prizes for Opera, we received 210 submissions from 37 countries. We commissioned four operas after the Workshop Process earlier this year, three of which are being given full productions by Almeida Opera in London in July 2003 and afterwards at Aldeburgh. We are in negotiation for international co-productions for all three and some of the proposals we developed but did not commission have been taken up by other companies.

"Genesis is an important step towards the creation of a repertoire of chamber operas that will engage modern audiences."

The closing date for applications was 14 April 2003.

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