It is hard to believe that our time here in Manchester has come to an end. We have performed in Manchester, Wigan, Hyde, Heywood, Oldham, finishing today in Salford. The staff and Volunteers from the Manchester International Festival have been fantastic and made us feel so welcome at each venue.
Today we all said goodbye as we went our separate ways for a couple of weeks before we get back together again in Glasgow to prepare for the Edinburgh Festival. We start our first performances there on the 8th August and run through to 20th August 2017.
This is one of the duets from the opera that I sing with Timothy Connor
Here are some links to press reviews of the production:
‘The payoff for an initiative like this is incalculable…rarely has innocent pleasure felt more vital.’ Please read this review as it is an insightful article which delves into the accessibility of opera and pretty much sums up how I feel about it.
★★★★★ Fiona Maddocks – The Observer
‘Full marks to BambinO. Opera can work for babies, and maybe one day they’ll come to enjoy it as adults, too…’
★★★★ Robert Beale – The Arts Desk
‘…it was genuinely moving to see a little girl of no more than nine months giggling with delight as the soprano, Charlotte Hoather, imitated bird sounds during a playful yet beautiful aria’
‘…the joy of something like this is watching the joy in your little one’s face.’
★★★★ Dianne Bourne – Manchester Evening News
This video about ‘BambinO’, from the FaceBook page of the BBC, has received over 1.3 million views so far !!
Well done, my dear. I read the Fiona Maddocks review in the Observer today, and note that with true modesty you omitted quoting the line about “the outstanding, bewitching young soprano, Charlotte Hoather”. I felt proud to know you.
Awww Martin 😀 thank you.
Best wishes
Charlotte
Truly, amazing reviews. Congratulations.
Even my Grandparents were surprised how much they enjoyed it. My Grandad was particularly taken with the reaction of the babies.
Best wishes
Charlotte
It would be heart warming for sure.
Glad it worked out so well. You know babies have a way of coming back time and time again long after an activity they loved was done with them. Enjoy!
Thank you. My brother and I used to enjoy watching Sing a Long videos and Matt can still remember nearly every word as an adult 😊.
Best wishes
Charlotte
Absolutely fabulous! I wish all the best to your project, dear Charlotte! Really, make a sequel for adults too! 🙂
A sequel for adults would be fun. Great idea 😊.
Best wishes
Charlotte
Yes! And with all the costumes you had. 🙂 Something like: Grande bambino! 🙂
Have a nice week! 🙂
You and BambinO so wonderful, you are a celeb! Congrats on such great reviews!
Thank you Darlene 😁. It’s a great team, everyone really believes in the project, I’m so happy the babies are enjoying it.
Best wishes
Charlotte
This is beyond enchanting! I would love to see this become a full length video so others could grasp the concept as well as see what takes place. Yet, I do believe that being there in person would have more impact. Thank you for sharing that beautiful duet. Young lady, you are a gift to the world of music.
Annette thank you so much for your lovely support and encouragement you are a gift to me ✨💕.
Best wishes
Charlotte
Congratulations. I read a few of them and the reviews are great! It sounds like such a wonderful thing to be involved in.
Thanks for reading Trent. There were certainly lots of smiles.
Best wishes
Charlotte
From the videos i could see that there were a lot of smiles 🙂
What a lovely duet! You sounded positively entrancing. Those babies are really starting with the ultimate operatic experience–they’ll demand the best quality for the rest of their lives! But then I guess that is the aim of BambinO, isn’t it, to raise interest and appreciation for the “grand opera” experience that is sometimes (falsely) feared to be inaccessible to ordinary people, by making it an intrinsic part of the next generation’s lives from the very start. I think it’s a fantastic idea, and I can’t wait to see where you go with it. Best of luck always, Charlotte.
Best regards,
Cate
Thank you my friend for your lovely message. I hope you’re having a lovely summer and that everything is going well for all your family.
Hope to get to see you again this autumn.
Best wishes
Charlotte
Wow! These reviews are awesome! Thank you for sharing the short video. It gives an idea how babies reacted to the show which was amazing to see.
Thank you for reading and watching, they do give a little taste of the baby opera but the beauty really is that every show is slightly different to adapt to the audience, great fun.
Best wishes
Charlotte
Dear Charlotte,
Bambino was a complete success and you as well as the team has a lot to be thankful for. Enjoy your time off, then get back in the saddle again.
Well done, Charlotte! I’m so glad you are having such a good time this summer – and you get to wear all those charming costumes!
I love dressing up as much now as I did as a child.
Best wishes
Charlotte
Well…. Congratulation Charlotte, very proud of you !!wish you the best , always, my dear Lady rainbow voice !!!
Thank you Pascal 😊🌈.
Best wishes
Charlotte
Wow, so much fun just to watch the babies’ expressions as they listen to the opera. So sweet and adorable! It must have been a wonderful experience to see how the little ones enjoyed themselves and how you actually were responsible for their joy. Congrats, Charlotte! Hugs xx
Thank you Janice hugs to you too 😘 xo
Best wishes
Charlotte
Fantastic reviews Charlotte both in the papers and on the television, so proud of you. 😘✨
Thanks Gill it was great to be on the local news.
Best wishes
Charlotte
Well done on the rave reviews!! 🙂 Glad it was a positive experience.
Thank you Christine 😊.
Best wishes
Charlotte
What a beautiful duet and such wonderful reviews. Glad the children enjoyed it so well.
Thank you 😀. Me too.
Best wishes
Charlotte
Your voices compliment each other so – it’s no wonder the babies are enjoying the music. I was lucky to have a father who instilled an appreciation of all types of music in me at an early age.
Thanks GP, I’m working with a very talented team of musicians I’ve learnt so much from them all.
Best wishes
Charlotte
That shows true professionalism!
Brilliant reviews Charlotte.
The babies were mesmerised,
It was such fun, enjoy your break,you deserve it.🤗
Glad you enjoyed it, thanks for coming 💕.
All my best wishes
Charlotte
Hi Charlotte, is the Duet a lullaby? It sounds like one..Amazing🙌We’re all proud of you..and need an autograph before the line gets too long.☺but I will skip in front of people if necessary.
It’s about a mothers encouragement to her child to fly, but the entwining melodies can comfort like a lullaby, glad you enjoyed it. I’d always make time for you Eric 😊🙋🏼🌈.
Best wishes
Charlotte
wow! wonderful reviews!! major reach, too.
Thank you Jorge, the wonderful BBC and it was great that the Times and Guardian took the time to come to watch.
Best wishes
Charlotte
Congratulations – job very well done! Wonderful to have the audio file.
Thank you 👍🏻. Thanks for listening.
Best wishes
Charlotte
Bravo, Charlotte, on the success of both you and Bambino. And thanks for the posting the lovely duet.
Thank you Don and thanks for listening 😊.
Best wishes
Charlotte
How wonderful! I especially loved seeing the video
Thank you 😊. It is lovely to be able to keep this memory of the earliest performance.
Best wishes
Charlotte 🙋🏼
So beautiful… The audio is mesmerizing, Char!!!! 😀 Excellent!… have a great wednesday
Thank you so much for your sweet words. It is a beautiful show to do. I can’t wait for the performances in Edinburgh.
Best Wishes,
Charlotte
The duet is so beautiful! I really am so pleased BambinO has been such a success – and these wonderful reviews! I have started following Scottish Opera on facebook and they have been keeping me up-to-date on things! I can’t have enough of BambinO excerpts, reviews and lovely you!
It is such a pleasure to sing the duet and the whole score has some lovely melodies. I feel very lucky to work on such a beautiful opera. That is wonderful that you are following Scottish Opera, I hope you enjoy their page, they create some wonderful videos and interviews.
Best Wishes,
Charlotte
You just get better and better. Your voice is showing a lot of depth and maturity. Congratulations.
Aww thank you so much for your kind words of encouragement Don. It is wonderful to read that you can hear an improvement. That will fuel my motivation to keep working harder to achieve my goals.
Best Wishes,
Charlotte
What a lovely audio. And the reviews too.
Hello Alex, I’m really glad you enjoyed the Bambino Snippet! It is such a pleasure to sing in this Opera for Babies.
Best Wishes,
Charlotte
You sound like the most amazing angel, ever!
Crazy, but you’ve just gotten better over the years.
Lovely duet, thank you!