The Company was founded back in 1923 by the professional operatic tenor Robert Percival, as the Bristol Opera School. The Company’s original aim was to train students to perform operas not normally included in the British professional repertoire. The School was later renamed as Bristol Opera Company. Today it is generally known as Bristol Opera, a Registered Charity no 258553.
Our values
We perform a fully staged grand opera every spring, with an additional concert in autumn, both sung in English. Staying true to the values of our founder, we strive to present as wide a range of opera as possible. By doing so, we hope to increase public appreciation of opera as a form of art and provide members of the community with an opportunity to experience opera for themselves.
Prizes and Awards
In recent years, we have received a number of awards, thanks to the enthusiasm and commitment of our members.
2022 – L’Elisir d’Amore by Donizetti, Winner of Noda’s Gerry Branton Award for Best Operatic Production
2017 – Carmen: Best operatic production (NODA) 2016 – Cavelleria Rusticana/Il Campanello: Best operatic production (NODA)
2014 – The Flying Dutchman by Wagner: Best operatic production (NODA) and Best technical achievement (NODA)
2012 – The Vampire by Marschner: Best Operatic production (Rose Bowl) and Best musical actor – Brendan Casey as the Vampire Lord Ruthven (Rose Bowl)
2010 – The Pearl Fishers by Bizet: Best Operatic production (Rose Bowl)
2009 – Eugene Onegin by Tchaikovsky: Best Operatic production (Rose Bowl)
Interested in joining?
We welcome enthusiastic new members, no matter what your level of experience. Amateurs, as well as professional musicians and singers, take part in our opera productions. We also have plenty of roles for those interested in the back-stage and other non-singing elements of operatic productions. Please contact membership@bristolopera.co.uk to find out more. You can also support Bristol Opera in other ways by becoming a friend.
Our next show
You can find full details of our upcoming operas and concerts here, and purchase tickets here.