When instrumental colour as much as musical motif serves to delineate character and motive as it does in opera, the orchestra is no mere accompanist. Keyboard accompaniment or even reduced orchestration really doesn’t cut it. So we take pride in our full-size Symphony Orchestra, almost unique for a “fringe” opera company. Be it a classical 50-60 players for Mozart or a big 70 players or more for Verdi and Puccini, Midsummer Opera gives you the full orchestral experience with every production. Created in 2000 and managed for ten years by Roy Bell – who plays First Flute – and led by Nick Hugh, the orchestra is now “fixed” by each section’s principal, so developing the sound and style of the Symphony Orchestra of Midsummer Opera with each succeeding show.
If you would like to enquire about singing with the Midsummer Opera Chorus, please contact:
Chorus Manager: Anne Bonger
email: annebonger@gmail.com
mobile: 07904 587032
| Simon Boccanegra by Giuseppe Verdi in the 1881 revision for La Scala, Milan sung in Italian Rehearsal schedule, June 2026: Monday 8 June 7.00-10.00 (Strings and woodwind) Wednesday 10 June 7.00-10.00 (sim) Friday 12 June 7.00-10.00 (sim) Monday 15 June 7.00-10.00 (sim) Wednesday 17 June 7.00-10.00 (sim) All at St John the Divine Community Centre, 21 Frederick Crescent, London SW9 6XN Monday 22 June 6.30-10.30 (Tutti – Sitz) at St John’s Waterloo, SE1 7TY at St John’s Waterloo, 73 Waterloo Rd, SE1 8TY Wednesday 24 June 7.00-10.30 (DRESS rehearsal) Friday 26 June 2026, 7.00pm PERFORMANCE 1 Sunday 28 June 2026, 5.00pm PERFORMANCE 2 |