Imago

About the project

Find out more about our 2013 youth opera project, composed by Orlando Gough.

Following the success of Knight Crew in 2010, we commissioned Orlando Gough (composer), Stephen Plaice (librettist), Susannah Waters (director), Es Devlin and Bronia Housman (designers) to devise and create Imago , a new opera for the digital age.

Imago premiered at Glyndebourne in early March 2013 with a cast including professional singers and performers drawn from the local community. The Aurora Orchestra were joined by young instrumentalists who were conducted by Nicholas Collon.

Orlando’s previous community opera, On the Rim of the World, received its world premiere at Glyndebourne in 2009, whilst Stephen Plaice wrote the libretto for a number of previous Glyndebourne projects, including MisperZoë and School 4 Lovers.

Imago won the Royal Philharmonic Society award for Learning and Participation at the RPS awards dinner on 13 May 2014.


Cast list

Elizabeth – Jean Rigby
Andy – Daniel Norman
Lisette – Joanna Songi
The Moderator – Zac West
Annie – Freya Wynn-Jones
Gulliver – Adam Gilbert
Zak – Mark Enticknap
Rory – Raefn Webber/Flint Pascoe-Easterby
Rufus – James Brock
Stella – Thomasin Trezise
Nurse – Jenny McCalmont
Croupier – Michelle Restieux
The Admirer – Adam Drew
Hip Vicar – George Ikediashi
Doctor – Steve Hawksley

Creative team

Composer – Orlando Gough
Librettist – Stephen Plaice
Director – Susannah Waters
Movement Director – Christopher Tudor
Chorus Master – Lee Reynolds
Assistant Director – Fiona Dunn
Assistant Conductor – Christopher Stark

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