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Feedback from the audience and cast members
Click on these links to jump directly to feedback on particular shows:
Shadowtracks (2007)
Chincha-Chancha Cooroo (2006)
ANTiphony (2005)
All In The Mind (2004)
Game Over (2003)
Stormlight (2002)
Flying High (2001)
Deep Waters (2000)
Rip (1999)
Birthday (1998)
What a terrific piece and an intriguing subject. Such a good idea and interestingly treated. The whole thing looked terrific too. Such magnificent costumes particularly. Bravo to all and all power to your collective elbow.
Jeremy James Taylor, founder of NYMT
I loved everything about it and thought the children were so touching in their performances.
Maggie Cole, distinguished harpsichordist
What a wonderful event. I remember exactly the moment when the penny dropped about who the bag lady was – it was when the little girl who was going away said she would wait for her sister ‘Under the clock’. It was the way she said it, quietly but there was a hush, and on the ‘k’ I got the message – who’s waiting under the clock – Sarah – she must be either this little girl or her sister. A brilliant, brilliant show.
Emma Tristram, writer and musician.
Many thanks for a fabulous afternoon: it was so well produced, directed, acted, sung - everything. We loved it.
Mark Holford, producer Opera Les Azuriales, Cap Ferrat
It was a triumph, and the kids were just great - great direction too. I loved just sinking down into my seat and being so totally surprised as the opera unfolded. Brilliant - and very moving, seeing all those little (and not so little) 'uns being so assured and confident, and making the piece their own. Thank you for a tremendous production …and thanks for masterminding such a complex operation with such total aplomb…. Thank you for making the opera LIVE! Without you it would be a pile of paper with silly dots on!”
Julian Grant, composer Shadowtracks
Just a quick note to congratulate you and the whole company for Shadowtracks! Donald and I were both hugely impressed at Sunday’s matinee, and we enjoyed it immensely.
Stuart Hancock and Donald Sturrock, composer and librettist
Thank you for encouraging me to attend yesterday's production which I enjoyed very much. The stage design and the direction were particular highlights. It will be interesting for you to watch the development of some of your very talented young singers.
Bill Bollinger, founding Patron of Independent Opera
Once again congratulations on another excellent production to you and all involved. It is such a strength of W11 that the operas are so different from year to year – I can’t wait to see what next year will have to offer!
Bernard Hughes, composer
It was absolutely great to see so many kids having such a good time in something so well written and delivered.
Bill Bankes-Jones, artistic director, Tête-à-Tête Opera
Ian and I had a fantastic time and I was hugely impressed by the standard of everything – from conception to staging. I think it is fantastic that children of all ages can be introduced to art at such a high level without the need for “dumbing down” or “patronizing”. Again my highest congratulations to you and the team.
Fraser Grant, director
I thought Julian did a wonderful job at creating a piece that worked cohesively whilst still giving many young people opportunities to perform and shine. It was definitely one of the best W11 productions I have seen for a while.
Heidi Pegler, head of singing, St Paul’s Girls’ School, ABRSM examiner, co-author of “The Language of Song”
It was a pleasure to watch the cast in what was a most enjoyable and professional production…It was particularly good to see a number of Queen’s Gate girls involved and also to meet three others in the audience. The latter were very envious of the opportunities and may be possible recruits for the future! Please do pass on my congratulations to the cast and the production team, all of whom must have worked tremendously hard to bring this to such a successful fruition.
Mrs Rosalynd Kamaryc, headmistress, Queen’s Gate School.
I am so pleased to have been involved with such a fantastic production. The looks on every one of the cast’s faces at the end of last night was worth every pricked finger and ripped seam. The principals were faultless and the chorus enthusiastic without exception. As for the costumes! Please let Mike know what a triumph his designs were and how great they all looked together.
Sally Ingell, parent and costumes’ coordinator
How wonderful it is to have a libretto where important plot points are repeated clearly in chorus several times rather than sung quickly in the top register in harmony just once… We were so thrilled to be there and part of this lovely event again
Sarah Johnson, parent
I just wanted to let you know that at the community performance there was a real evacuee (she was 5 when she went) and she loved it - I think you should let all the team know as it was a special moment when I introduced her to Olivia and she wanted to say how fantastic all the children were.
Tara Meehan, mother of Evacuee cast member
Just to say I thought the production was really amazing and we were all very moved by the children and the wonderful work everyone has done.
Rachel Suddaby, parent
What a lovely show last night! We really enjoyed it. Thank you and well done for a magnificent effort.
Isabelle de Hennin, parent
Shadowtracks was fantastic – Francis and I both enjoyed it enormously! You must be so pleased it all worked out so well. It must have been a monumental amount of work and you’ve done a brilliant job – well done. Francis is still on a high and totally exhausted so can’t imagine how you’re feeling.
Sarah Melville, parent
Just a note to say what a triumph the show was. We loved watching it and the children loved performing it. Please pass on congratulations to everyone who contributed to the production. It was obviously very hard work and a labour of love but it certainly paid off.
Deborah and Nicolas Kent, parents
We loved the opera and the girls had a really spooked night - shows how good it was!
The Lewis Family, audience members
It was a memorable evening, a beautiful production and a joy to see the talent and enthusiasm on display - well done.
Mary MacEwan, audience member
“Shadowtracks” was the best show I have seen at W11 in recent years. The narrative worked very well with a real sense of wanting to solve the mystery. Musically, this was well balanced between accessibility and challenge for young singers. There were lovely identifiable groups - the “clock” was a triumph – but good individual characters and small roles for lots of participants. The production values are always very high at W11, and this production was no exception but the overall achievement of a story with some depth, pattern and yet humour was very successful. I do hope the cast enjoyed it as much as the audience did.
Nicola-Jane Kemp, coloratura soprano, voice teacher to choral scholars at Clare College Cambridge and at St Paul’s Girls’ School and co-author of “The Language of Song”.
Even by your stratospheric standards I think this is the best evening I’ve seen from W11 Opera. All the energy, visual flair and musical, singing and acting talent were there. If I say ‘as usual’ it doesn’t mean it’s taken for granted, for it’s amazing that those things are there every time. What made it the best so far for me was the sheer skill of Julian Grant and Christina Jones in producing a piece that absolutely worked. 1) I could hear almost all the words – clever use of repetition and a brilliant understanding of how to write stuff singable by young amateurs. 2) Lovely music that was original, touching and funny without being too clever, 3) A large number of wonderful roles – not too long, but many chances for lots of performers to have a special moment. And I loved the women’s close harmony quartet.
Robert Asher - friend and long-time supporter.
Shadowtracks was a triumph. A truly inspired plot, beautifully expressed in Julian Grant's music and Christina Jones's libretto. This was poignant grown up stuff and the young performers excelled themselves. Many congratulations to everyone involved.
Gillian Kisch - supporter
WHAT A TRIUMPH – the best I’ve seen yet. Loved it.
Imogen Barker, audience member
Well done with the most excellent and thought provoking production of Shadowtracks. We all found it stimulating in different ways. It is an inspiration for our boys.
Samantha Barkder and family, audience.
It was the most fabulous afternoon, the entire production, sheer numbers of children involved and of course the music was an absolute delight. I was particularly taken with the four bodies of the clock, both the idea and their wonderful singing. Bravo to all in W11!
Hilary Sturt, Head of Strings, St. Paul’s Girls’ School
Wow! I am impressed: an extraordinary achievement and what an impact on those young lives.
Mark Featherstone-Witty, Director, Liverpool Institute of Performing Arts
The whole enterprise was brilliant. W11 is doing such an important job with great panache.
Andrew Van Der Beek, Director, Lacock Music Courses
I thought the production was tremendous, a true realization of Tina and my vision, and we were both thrilled (and surprised) that it seemed to go so smoothly. Those kids were all so focused throughout - quite some feat!
Julian Grant, composer
The poignant and very moving story was captured so exquisitely by the music, reflecting every changing mood, from sad and reflective to buoyant and bursting with life and rhythmic energy. The performers gave everything they had, singing their hearts out in a most compelling and beautifully staged performance.
Elizabeth Boyden, audience member
There was such good singing - it's a great sound now. It all looked magnificent with such brilliant colours and designs. It was so good to have an Indian theme. It not only focused things but also gave the composer an opportunity to produce some fascinating rhythms and sounds. What a lot of work for so many - as usual - but a special clap for the wonderful programme. A brilliant idea to have all those lovely varied drawings by the young, and their comments - what a work to compile. And what tremendous research work you have done for the website - a real labour of love.
I do congratulate you all from the heart, it was all so impressive.
Serena Hughes, founder W11 Opera
Melissa and I both SO enjoyed the opera last night and we thought it was one of the best ever. So witty and colourful, with lovely lyrical music (I particularly liked the overture before Act 2 and the duet sung by the bride and bridegroom.) Wonderful costumes and wigs and very good use of the space. Also lovely bits of dance and movement.
The chorus singing was really good too with as usual a handful of talented soloists - the first peacock particularly shone. In short we loved it. Congratulations to everyone involved on a first class production.
Fiona Greenwood - Avondale Extra Trust
I really enjoyed the production and as always, it is wonderful what you all achieve, both adults and young people!
Marion Friend, Director of Junior Trinity, Trinity College of Music
It was wonderful to see your production and to meet you…Congratulations again on your successful performances!
Anna Gustafson, Independent Opera
I (we) thought W11 was fantastic last weekend; I'm so glad that I've seen at last. I was really impressed by the whole thing - those kids are just so, so lucky to have this experience. It must be very exciting and rewarding to be a part of it. I can imagine the hard work that goes into it all - many congratulations.
Anne Raikes, chairman of Nonsuch singers
…it WAS brilliant! I really enjoyed it, and so did the friend I brought - great music and story, amazing costumes, excellent direction and movement and orchestra and everything - what a wonderful smallest deputy prime minister... and the queen... and so many of them... I really thought it was great, and it must have been a huge amount of work so well done!
Susanna Hogan
Chincha was a triumph! All our guests loved it - it was SO pretty.
Bridget Swithinbank, parent
The performances were wonderful as ever, and Wells had a marvellous experience.
Martha Fray, parent
I really wanted to tell you that again, but in such a brilliant and sparkly way, W11 was a fantastic adventure. It was wonderful tonight. We had such a great time. All the children gave their best. I cannot wait for the party and the video in January... My deepest thanks and congratulations,
Anne Buckens, parent
This is just to thank you all for everything that went into Chincha-Chancha Cooroo. It made a fantastic autumn for Olivia, and a wonderful weekend for the rest of us. I had no idea what would come out of it when we first turned up in September... I am astonished by the whole thing, and looking forward (auditions & life-crises permitting) to many more years of this.
Go mosquitoes!
Lucy Taylor, parent
I was very impressed with the show last night. Huge cast and loud fresh singing. Colourful costumes and a well told story.
Robert Workman Photographer Ltd
Congratulations to the whole production team for all their hard work and energy.
It went off very well and the kids had a great time and with strong performances all round, and the costumes and staging were stunning. I thought the band were particularly strong this year.
Anita Lowenstein Dent, parent
A particular mention has to be made of the magnificently colourful costumes which were a feast for the eye.
Rosamund Chesser, audience member
The show was wonderful and all the friends we invited couldn't believe how fabulous it was.
Amanda Jenkins, parent
Congratulations on another wonderful W11 Opera! The children and I loved this years, the quantity and quality of the chorus singing, the beautiful and exuberant costumes. It must have been very hard work getting so many little ones to work together so seamlessly, but that work was rewarded by the look of complete pleasure that ever member of the cast had on their face. Well done!
Catherine Faulks, audience member
What an amazing and uplifting evening! It all has to have such a long-lasting effect on the children involved. Another incredibly inspiring production.
Jan Johnson, audience member
W11 Opera is the high and exciting part of my year and it's a very important part of my life!
Eliza Joseph, cast member
Olivia, Isabel and I loved the show. I thought the storyline was so sweet and also perfect for the holiday season. The children were in top form this year - and the costumes! Wow, what a visual delight.
Karen Masek, audience member
I much enjoyed Antiphony -- a delightfully tuneful and bouncy score, brilliant production values and some very pretty, well-tuned singing by a team of infectiously enthusiastic performers. Please pass on my congratulations.
Rupert Christiansen, opera critic
The staging and costumes were beautiful, the conducting stirring and the children impressive.
Nimrod Borenstein, composer
How very impressive the performance was this evening. Things have come SUCH a long way since The Tin Knight days.
Francis Shaw, composer The Tin Knight (W11 Opera 1986 production)
It was such a pleasure to come to the opera yesterday... I feel very proud to be associated with your next production.
William Radice, librettist
I was impressed with how unique and remarkable an organization W11 is, and with how much your values overlap with our own. You provide so much opportunity for young people to learn and grow. You instil in them a love and understanding of opera and allow them to perform at a high artistic level while still being inclusive. Your commissions have resulted in the realization of many excellent operas by composers and librettists (some young, some prominent) who otherwise never would have created these works. And most remarkably, you have done it all without government funding or affiliation with an established opera company. It is my sincerest wish that the W11 and Family Opera models would be emulated elsewhere, so that more young people can benefit from what we have to offer.
David Bass, founder North Cambridge Family Opera Company, Massachusetts
What a marvellous production. We adored it. Guillaume was wide-eyed with amazement. Can I put my name on the list to write another one? I would love to.
Sarah Shuckburgh, librettist Listen to the Earth (1992 opera)
I loved the production too -- such high production values. look forward to seeing more.
Lois Jacobs, Producer, Athens Olympics Opening and Closing Ceremonies
I thought the opera was magnificent -- great performances, exquisite costumes and sets and such wonderful enthusiasm.
Rebecca King-Lasserman, Act IV Old Vic
Just wanted to say a huge well done! We thoroughly enjoyed Antiphony, the whole production was superb... The whole cast was so disciplined and gave a great performance.
Laura Bird, Principal, Pop School and Stage Academy (PSSA)
I felt very proud of our 2 Avondale girls (+ our 1 ex-Avondale) this year, especially because the standard of performance was so high. I particularly appreciated the group singing. W11 Opera is a fantastic experience for any child but particularly perhaps for our children with such very limited experience of theatre and music.
Fiona Greenwood, Avondale Extra
I think W11 Opera is quite mind-blowing.
Dr. Jilly Pellew, Grenzebach Glier Europe
What great news about W1... to be recognized as the Critics Top Choice for a Musical in London. That recognition didn't just happen; it took lots of hard work, countless hours of effort and youngsters with talent and energy to make it fly.
Ed and MaryEllen Matthews, New Jersey, USA
What have I been missing these past years -- why on earth haven't I been/seen W11 Opera before? We were both blown away and completely captivated. We thought the whole production was simply stunning. Such fantastically fun costumes, brilliant staging and lighting and as for the children -- so utterly professional and amazingly well trained -- almost all out of stage school, except I knew they were not!
Right, book our seats for next year, whatever it is you are doing, we'll be there... You and your total team are utterly brilliant -- but the children are more than brilliant -- it must be an amazing end experience for them -- inspiration is a great thing to have experienced, I hope they all get more of it in their futures.
Jan Johnson
The opera was a huge success with the boys... Ali is determined to audition next year!
Robin and Catherine Porteous
Thank you so much for letting us participate with these small contributions in your impressive, wonderful and inspiring Opera project.
Johannes and Alexa von Salmuth (who loan their house for changing)
Thank you to you both for making the W11 opera such a great experience for both Jamie and me... I certainly remain a great admirer of the W11 Opera concept and am thoroughly impressed by the ethos and comraderie of the whole company.
Alyssa Lovegrove, mother
Thank you so much for all that you have done to make the W11 such a wonderful experience for all the Raiders. This was the first "big" theatrical production which Lu has been in and we are delighted that she has not only developed her interest in singing but also that she had great fun with new friends and understood the tremendous pleasure of entertaining other people.
Fiona Fleming Brown, parent
Angus LOVED the whole experience and can't wait til next year.
Christina Weir, parent
Jack had a fantastic time during the whole process and will certainly be auditioning next year and what a spectacle it was! Congratulations all round.
Anita Lowenstein, mother
WOW!!! What a triumph. We were all stunned. What an achievement -- and I know even greater things are to come.
Kate Cullinan, mother
I wanted to write to say what a fantastic time Henry had the W11 Opera this year. He loved being part of show and was quite depressed when he realised that it was all over. He even wore his costume into school the following day -- although the trousers fell to bits!
He really found his feet, his confidence and his voice as part of the Opera -- which, as you'll know as a parent, is so very much what you want for your children.
It was all rather unexpected, because Henry tends to be drawn to every kind of laddish game, and we imagined that the opera would be too girly for him!
Anyway, against the sentiment of his solo, Henry's heart really was in it. And he's already asking about next year.
Rev Hugh Rayment-Pickard, father
It is a gift for the children to have such an opportunity to work with professionals, and I am happy to support their development. The production was a joy. I have heard all kinds of positive feedback from parents and teachers alike.
Laura Banes, parent.
I have just come back from W11 Opera which I enjoyed HUGELY! What fun, what costumes, and singing, and what professionalism -- it was absolutely superb and thank you very much for alerting me!
Sarah Bryant, London SW7
We absolutely adored it…. Simon came out eulogising and saying it was the best ever… Great choice of opera -- lots of catchy numbers, lots of cameo roles to keep all the budding stars happy…….
Penny Linnett
Thank you so much for taking care of my daughter! As usual the real stars of W11 are the group mothers!
Sarah Johson, mother
What the cast said:
I think every bit of W11 Opera is absolutely super! It's really good to not always have to do schoolwork and think about school but to take a really fun break and meet up out of school with different people and especially W11 Opera because it's basically an essential part of life that one time or another you just have to have fun!
Harriet Acland, age 10
I have been doing W11 Opera for 3 years now and I have to say every one I have done has been fantastic.
Lucy Timms, age 11
W11 Opera is a fantastic opportunity for children to discover their musical skills and for people to see their potential, but most importantly to make new friends and have fun!
Charles Joseph, age 13
W11 has brought me lots of opportunities over the years and has been a wonderful part of my life.
Eleanor Swithinbank, age 15
A musical world, I know my experience has been an adventure to remember.
Milly Kenny-Ryder, age 17
This is my third year in W11 Opera and I really enjoy it. I like W11 because it is creative and challenging.
Maya Daniels, age 14
It's fun, exciting and action-packed. It's definitely something to audition for.
Jack Dent, age 9
W11 Opera is the best musical organisation for kids that I've ever seen or been in! An unmissable event! A good laugh, and great fun!
Eliza Joseph age 10
I love W11! I love my part. W11 has changed my life.
Anna Swinton, age 9
W11 is my first opera and I have absolutely loved it so far! W11 has given me the chance to practise my singing, acting and even dancing. And plus I even get to perform in it! I've made millions of new friends and hope to keep in touch with everyone!!!!! GO W11!
India May, age 10
Every year it gets more and more exciting as you get more and more involved! The best part would most probably be getting lost backstage at the Britten Theatre after a performance -- when you are on a major adrenalin rush there's no knowing what you'll get up to!!!
Ariane L'Heveder, age 14
We want more, more, more
Theo Rankine, age 13