Camden New Journal - Classical and Jazz: Critical mass

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The Review - MUSIC - classical & jazz with TONY KIELY
Published: 19 July 2007

The cast of Critical Mass busy in rehearsals

Homeless to perform with Almeida for Critical acclaim

PREVIEW: CRITICAL MASS
Almeida Opera

NOW celebrating its fifth anniversary, Streetwise Opera is collaborating with the Almeida Opera Festival and The Shout for the first time on a new commission.
Streetwise Opera, which was founded in 2002, brings people who have experienced homelessness together with professional singers to create compelling music theatre.
Devised by composer Orlando Gough and director Emma Bernard, this year’s production, Critical Mass, takes snatches of songs from the memories of the Streetwise Opera participants and The Shout as the raw material for a work that explores the tension between visions of the future and a yearning for the past.
Over the past few months, Streetwise Opera participants have been sharing songs from their countries of origin in the company’s four weekly music workshops in homeless centres across London.
These gatherings have revealed the broad demographic of homelessness in London, with participants recalling music from Italian folksongs Bella Ciao to an Albanian lullaby.
Streetwise Opera focuses on the personal development of homeless people through music and drama. The charity supports homeless centres by concentrating on building confidence, social networks and skills.
Each year the company produces a fully-staged, professional opera with some of the most respected musicians and producers.
Streetwise Opera has staged five productions (all sell-outs), and has achieved high critical and popular acclaim for their performances in Westminster Abbey and a disused warehouse in the Docklands.

* Critical Mass is at Almeida Opera on July 21 and 22 (8pm on Saturday and 4pm and 7pm on Sunday)
Tickets £18, £15, £6 concessions. Box office 020 7359 4404 or book online at www.almeida.co.uk

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