HAMPSTEAD GARDEN OPERA
AUTUMN 2012 PRODUCTION
In November 2012 we shall take a step backwards in time for our first exploration of the wonders of
Monteverdi. L’Orfeo is the first of Monteverdi’s three surviving operatic masterpieces, and a musical
landmark ‘not because it broke new ground but because in it imagination took control of theory’
(Professor Jack Westrup). It will be thrilling to have the chance of introducing it to Highgate audiences,
backed by a chamber orchestra of baroque instruments under the direction of Oliver-John Ruthven.
PLEASE READ THE WHOLE OF THIS NOTICE CAREFULLY: YOU CAN’T AFFORD TO SKIP A PARAGRAPH!
We aim to give ten performances of L’Orfeo, five for each cast, at Upstairs at the Gatehouse, Highgate
Village, between November 9th and 18th 2012.
Sitzprobe will be on November 4th, followed by Tech
th
and Dress Rehearsals on November 7 and 8th.
As always, we shall sing in English, using the
translation by Anne Ridler, which is available only in scores we shall provide. Pitch will be A440.
Auditions will be held on Thursday, May 17th between 2.30 pm and 9.00 pm; on Friday, May 18th
between 2.30 and 9.00 pm; on Saturday, May 19th between 10.30am and 9.00 pm; and on Sunday,
May 20th between 2.00 pm and 6.00 pm. There is no provision for overspill beyond or before these
dates if audiends cannot manage any time on the four appointed days.
The auditions will be held at 6, Stanhope Gardens, London N6 5TS, which is the home of Alastair
Macgeorge, Chairman of HGO. It is about 12 minutes walk from Highgate Underground station. The
panel will consist of Music Director Oliver-John Ruthven, Production Director Matthew Eberhardt and
Alastair Macgeorge. We will provide a pianist, but please feel free to bring your own accompanist.
If you would like to audition, please e-mail anne.macgeorge@virginmedia.com by May 13th in order to
book a slot, indicating which role(s) you are interested in and your preferred time–band: 2.00 – 3.45,
4.30 – 6.0 and 7.00 – 9.00 on Thursday and Friday; 10.30 – 12.45, 2.00 – 3.30, 4.00– 6.00 and 7.00
– 9.00 on Saturday; 2.00 – 3.45 and 4.15 – 6.00 on Sunday. We will offer you a slot as soon as we
receive your application, so early birds will get first choice. Please give Anne a contact ’phone number
and include a brief CV when you apply.
If you add a photo, please make it a compressed JPEG, not a
multi-meg glamorous studio portrait!
Many of the principals will also be asked to join in the chorus scenes, which play an important part in
l’Orfeo. But there will also be a small separate chorus which will sing in every performance. In order
to ensure we have the right balance of voices, we are inviting all who would like to sing in the chorus
to audition, including past and present members of the HGO chorus.
Roles and details of audition pieces are attached. The extracts themselves can be downloaded from the
HGO website – www.hgo.org.uk.
Music rehearsals will begin at the end of June - a provisional
schedule for music rehearsals is attached.
Production rehearsals will begin on Monday 17 th
September, by which time we would expect everyone to be off-book. Outline production rehearsal
schedules will be available at the auditions, and earlier on the website if possible.
You should find all you need to know about the background to the company, and about membership,
key dates, rehearsal times and venues, etc. in the Prospectus below or on the website, but if you have
any questions, do please ask.
If you find that existing or likely commitments would force you to miss any performances or significant
numbers of either music or production rehearsals, please do not apply to audition. If you do apply, we
will take it as a commitment on your part to be available (within reason) on the dates and times set
out in the Prospectus – and we will ask you to confirm this if you are offered a part. If you know of
anyone else who might be interested in auditioning, please feel free to pass on this invitation.
Anne Macgeorge for Hampstead Garden Opera
HAMPSTEAD GARDEN OPERA -
HGO
-
TERMS OF MEMBERSHIP
April 2012 for November 2012 – L’Orfeo (Monteverdi)
Hampstead Garden Opera (HGO), founded in 1990 by the late Dr. Roy Budden and since 2002 a Charitable Trust,
performs two fully-staged operas, with orchestra and in English, each year at ‘Upstairs at the Gatehouse’, Highgate
Village. The company strives to achieve professional standards within an amateur framework. The President is
Penelope MacKay, AGSM, HonARAM.
The company is affiliated to N.O.D.A. and Barnet Borough Arts Council.
Since HGO has no regular independent funding, each participating member is asked to make a
donation towards the cost of its productions. All parts are, wherever practicable, double-cast.
Orpheus himself will be invited to donate £120, all other named parts £80 (or £120 for double-parts),
and members of the chorus £50.
Special arrangements may be made for full-time students and post-graduates experiencing financial difficulties.
Membership donations are payable immediately upon a role being offered and accepted – and at the latest at the
first rehearsal (unless payment in instalments has been agreed in advance). Members are also expected (within
reason) to sell a minimum of 10 tickets each.
President:
Penelope MacKay, AGSM, HonARA
Trustees:
Antonia Leach
Martin Musgrave
Committee:
Musical Director:
Oliver-John Ruthven
Chairman:
Deputy Chairman/Publicity:
Treasurer:
Secretary/Auditions:
Website manager:
Committee members:
Alastair Macgeorge
Martin Musgrave
Suzy Ruffles
Anne Macgeorge
Panos Ntourntoufis
Hannah Mayhew
Matthew Holt
Antonia Leach
Milo Harries
Alastair Macgeorge
Roger Sainsbury
The Production Director will be Matthew Eberhardt
Performances:
There will be ten performances at ‘Upstairs at the Gatehouse’, Highgate Village, between
November 8 and 18 – November 9, 10, 13, 14, 15, 16 & 17 at 7.30 pm; November 10 & 17 at
2.30 pm; and November 11 & 18 at 4.00 pm – preceded by sitzprobe (November 4), technical
(4.0 pm) and dress rehearsals (7.0 pm) on November 7 & 8.
Rehearsals:
Rehearsals will normally be scheduled on Monday & Thursday evenings from 7.0 pm till 10.0
pm, plus Sunday afternoons (2.0 pm – 6.0pm) and occasional Saturdays (10.0 am – 6.0 pm).
Week-day rehearsals will usually be held at the Methodist Church on the corner of Caledonian
Road and Market Road (‘Cally’): and week-end rehearsals in All Saints Church, Talbot Road,
Highgate or the Methodist Church.
L'ORFEO
Monteverdi
www.hgo.org.uk
HGO - NOVEMBER 2012
ROLES & AUDITION EXCERPTS
*
The title role of Orfeo may be sung by either a tenor or a high baritone

ORFEO - Tenor (Baritone)*
(i) "Rosa del ciel"
(ii) "Tu sei morta"
(iii) "Possente spirto"
p. 10
p. 32-33
p. 43-51
A.I b.158-179
A.II b.219-241
A.III b.92-158

EURIDICE - Soprano
(i) "Io non diro"
(ii) "Ahi vista"
p. 11
p. 65-66
A.I b.180-188
A.IV b.133-142

MUSICA - Soprano
(i) Prologo
p. 2-4
A.I b.14-67

SPERANZA - Mezzo
(i) "Ecco l'altra palude"
p. 40-41
A.III b.17-50

CARONTE - Bass
(i) "O tu..."
(ii) "Ben mi lusinga"
p. 42
p. 52
A.III b.62-82
A.III b.172-180

PROSERPINA - Mezzo
(i) "Signor quel infelice"
p. 60
A.IV b.1-26

PLUTONE - Bass
(i) "Benché severo"
p. 61
A.IV b.27-50

APOLLO - Tenor
(i) "Perch'a lo sdegno"
(ii) "Saliam"
p. 76
p. 78
A.V b.91-106
A.V b.136-151

NINFA - Mezzo
(i) "Muse honor..."
p. 6
A.I b.106-117

MESSAGIERA - Mezzo
(i) "A te ne vengo' Orfeo"
p. 30-31
A.II b.169-205

PASTORE I - Counter Ten
(i) "Ma tu gentil"
p. 9
A.I b.149-157

PASTORE II - Tenor
(i) "In questo lieto"
p. 5
A.I b.72-90

CHORUS - SATB
17th Century aria or song in English
Please prepare all excerpts for your chosen character. You may not be required to sing them all.
Excerpts should be sung in English and may be downloaded from the HGO website.
The following roles may be doubled (this will be decided on the number of audiends and the strength of
their auditions): Euridice/Musica (Soprano), Speranza/Proserpina (Mezzo), Caronte/Plutone (Bass),
Ninfa/Messagiera (Mezzo)
If you wish to audition for a pair of roles, please prepare excerpts for both characters.
Oliver-John Ruthven April 2012