INTERVIEW with Michael Betteridge for BIG GIVE 2023

As part of the Big Give Christmas Challenge (28 Nov-05 Dec), we spoke to composer, orchestrator and founder of The Sunday Boys , Michael Betteridge, for his perspective on the campaign. He talks brilliantly about why our Vaughan Williams' Riders To The Sea project is so special. He said:

"OperaUpClose have been really really ambitious and modern in their approach to creating this work ... they're taking this work, originally scored for a huge orchestra and pairing it down to something so much more suitable for studio theatres, intimate settings ... putting community at the heart of that creation process."

The musical dialogue between, Michael Betteridge, Vaughan Williams and the community singing voice is truly brilliant. The full interview was released to email subscribers exclusively last week and some snippets have been released across social media. But now you can watch the full Q&A on YouTube or TikTok. Please like and share to help us engage more people in our project and reach more coastal communities.

Vaughan Williams’ Riders To The Sea; Original short film

Want to listen to the inspiration for this project. Here's the 1988 short film of Vaughan Williams’ Riders to the Sea, shot on location in the Aran Islands ...

support us with the big give #christmaschallenge

As part of a major new touring production in partnership with MAST, Mayflower Studios, OperaUpClose will engage a network of coastal community singing groups directly in the making of our work, collaborating with experienced specialists and professionals. Be part of this conversation. Enable our work to be intimate in scale and mighty in impact by supporting our Big Give Christmas Challenge. Remember, anything you donate, however small, will be doubled. Learn more about the campaign or donate now.