University College Opera's performances of important new operatic premieres provide students with the unique opportunity of performing exciting, challenging pieces with professional singers. The combination creates incredible energy: the professionals enjoy working with young people who show such refreshing commitment and enthusiasm, and the students are thrilled and motivated by the presence of professionally trained artists.

Since UCL has no music department, we are particularly proud of the commitment and quality of musicianship amongst the students involved in UCO. The members of both the orchestra and chorus are all students pursuing non-music degrees, but the energy with which they perticipate is testimony to a truly unique enterprise. UCO has been a prestigious springboard for young talent; many of the singers who have been involved, such as Dame Felicity Lott, Robert Lloyd and Jonathan Summers have gone on to be international stars.

Representatives from the major British houses not only attend the performances to scout for new talent, but also to size up the opera. This is because, since its formation in 1951, UCO has brought many rarely performed operas back into the public eye, and caused many neglected operas to be reevaluated. In total it has staged 12 British premieres and 3 world premieres including the first performance of Beethoven's Leonora in 1969 and the complete version of Cesar Franck's Hulda in 1994. UCOpera's productions on the Bloomsbury's stage in London therefore receive considerable national press coverage, and have become something of a highlight in the major newspapers, specialist publications and even international music press.

For more information about UCOpera visit www.ucopera.org

UCLU Music Society sponsored by