I had a wonderful time performing Cathy and singing the offstage voice of Bertha in Lisa Logan’s opera “Brontë”.
Taking part in the opera, has encouraged me to read the three sisters poetry. Recently, I stumbled upon a charming piece by Anne Brontë:
There is a silent eloquence
In every wild bluebell
That fills my softened heart with bliss
That words could never tell.
I find that this poem sums up those indescribable moments we sometimes feel. Especially on stage, with the lights, the music, and the audience all blending into one magical experience.
Here are some captured moments from the Opera taken by Ali Wright:
Congratulations to my fellow cast, orchestra and tech crew! I had a blast.
Massive thanks to my friends and family who came to watch. Spotting you in the crowd always adds that extra sparkle to the performance!
If you were there, or even if you just fancy a chat about Brontë, opera, or anything in between, please leave a comment.
Looks like a lot of emotional outpouring. Excellent photos.
Yes it was a very emotional piece and Lisa wrote a very challenging score.
Best wishes
Charlotte
Amazing photos. I just love that photo of you with the feather. ❤️
Thank you Mart.
Best wishes
Charlotte
Well done to all! I am so happy for you, Charlotte. All of you. xx
Mark Aspen.com on WordPress wrote “Within Brontë, the Opera, these and other fictional characters are omnipresent, allegories for their creators own stifled frustrations and repressions. Cathy from Wuthering Heights particularly preoccupies Emily’s thoughts. She is portrayed as a wan, willowy presence, an otherworldly literary spirit, by Charlotte Hoather, whose ethereal soprano beautifully interpolates into duets with Marmion, both as Emily and as Wuthering Heights’ Nelly.” I’ll put the link into the article.
Best wishes
Charlotte
Hi Charlotte. A brief message to say how much I enjoy your blogs – a fascinating and educational insight into your opera world. Your blogs about Salzburg made me want to visit it again. I’ve long been lover of the Brontë works – if you fancy an insight into Emily’s poetry I can recommend a book by Nick Holland “A Life in 20 Poems”. Anyway , thanks again. Kind Regards, David Jones
Thank you for your lovely message David. I have made a note of your book recommendation 😊. I loved Salzburg beautiful City.
Best wishes
Charlotte
Great photos. The staging looked marvelous and the opera exciting for the performers.
I’ve never played a character quite like it because Cathy is a manifestation of Emily Bronte’s imagination. Not a ghost more a character moving through parts of the story as Emily is writing it. A lot of my songs were duets with Emily.
Best wishes
Charlotte
Wow, what fun.
You always do a wonderful job, I simply run out of new complimentary words for you!!
I try my best always to represent the music for my character and the intentions of the composer. https://markaspen.com/2023/09/13/bronte/. Thank you for your faith in me GP.
Best wishes
Charlotte
Thank you for the link!
I love the photos so much, Charlotte, they show how much heart and soul the players are putting into their work! I’m glad that you had another fine performance! 🥰😊🇬🇧❤️
Yes it was a very challenging new work John, everyone put their heart and soul into it. https://markaspen.com/2023/09/13/bronte/. Here is a review.
Best wishes
Charlotte
Thank you for the link, Charlotte, best wishes for you! ☺️
Talented women, those Brontes! Loved the photos and wish I could have been there!
I loved learning more about the Brontës. It’s always nice to see the stage from a photographers view point.
Best wishes
Charlotte
Wonderful pictures. Look like you all had a great time.
Yes it was a great cast, I hadn’t worked with any of the others before and it was great exploring the relationships of the sisters, their brother and protagonists from their stories.
Best wishes
Charlotte
Wow! You look amazingly beautiful in the opening shot, Charlotte.
All the pics you’ve shared are fabulous.
Everything looks so good.
Were any of the performances recorded or video taped?
Will you be able to share those in the future?
Are there any reviews?
Most importantly, what is next for “Brontë”, the opera?
The Brontë sisters are still massively popular 175 years after the fact.
It just seems like it’s not over for this & them , yet.
Well done, Charlotte and everyone!
Cheers
Resa
xx
PS… love the poem you shared!
Thanks Resa, its always nice to get some performance photographs. https://markaspen.com/2023/09/13/bronte/ Within Brontë, the Opera, these and other fictional characters are omnipresent, allegories for their creators own stifled frustrations and repressions. Cathy from Wuthering Heights particularly preoccupies Emily’s thoughts. She is portrayed as a wan, willowy presence, an otherworldly literary spirit, by Charlotte Hoather, whose ethereal soprano beautifully interpolates into duets with Marmion, both as Emily and as Wuthering Heights’ Nelly.
It wasn’t filmed. I wish Lisa and her Keynote Opera much success for the future. It is very hard to get funding to put these orchestrated performances on and I have great admiration for anyone that writes their own work and brings it to the Stage.
Best wishes
Charlotte
Glad to see you had a wonderful performance in the opera, Charlotte! Beautiful post and photographs, thanks for sharing!
The man who wrote a review I was sent is a WordPress blogger https://markaspen.com/2023/09/13/bronte/. Lisa wrote a very challenging score and I really congratulate her for bringing her opera to life.
Best wishes
Charlotte
The photos are lovely, Charlotte, and I too am glad to see you had a wonderful performance! I read Wuthering Heights in school and loved it, but you have piqued my interest in reading works from the other sisters as well. Thank you for including that beautiful piece by Anne Brontë. All the best to you and George.
Thank you Lavinia. I always appreciate being sent photographs to share. A WordPress blogger wrote a review https://markaspen.com/2023/09/13/bronte/ thank you for your wishes I will pass them on to George.
Best wishes
Charlotte
Thank you for the link, Charlotte. That is a wonderful, and educational, review.
Looks like magical moments for sure! So happy for you and your ensemble!!
Thank you Sheila. I’ve been sent a link to a review https://markaspen.com/2023/09/13/bronte/
Best wishes
Charlotte
Great photos. Looks like a wonderful opera.
Thank you Trent, a WordPress reviewer gave his thoughts. https://markaspen.com/2023/09/13/bronte/
Best wishes
Charlotte
That is a super detailed review! Thanks for sending me that direction.
Delightful photographs and a fine poem
Thank you Derrick, it is always nice to receive some photographs of a production to share. I’d not read any Brontë poetry or stories before so I was pleased for an introduction to their work.
Best wishes
Charlotte
A magical experience indeed! xoxo
It was lovely working with the cast and creatives.
Best wishes
Charlotte
xoxo
The photos are brilliant, thank you for sharing them. I’ve visited the Bronte home a couple of times & you realise just how rural the area must have been back in those days! The sisters were amazing! Well done! What’s next, I wonder? 👏🌹🙋♂️
Thanks Ashley, I must admit I’d like to go to see the Brontë home and the Moors. Musically, I am writing two new librettos for my Down the Rabbit Hole opera and I have two concerts I’m preparing new songs to sing.
Best wishes
Charlotte
Charlotte, this sounds wonderful. A lot of hard work but enjoyable. I’m not a singer but my sisters are & my brother & a niece! Mum & Dad were also singers. I have tried! I once took secret singing lessons but that’s a story for another day! 😉
What gorgeous photos from this magical night!
Thank you Layla 😊.
Best wishes
Charlotte
Nice photos. Lovely poem. Kudos on your voice of Bertha and Cathy.
Thank you Don, I was pleased to get some photographs from Lisa Logan. Cathy’s score was very unusual, it was fun exploring the role and bringing the characters vocally alive.
Best wishes
Charlotte
Wonderful photos and I am so pleased it all went well. I have read Mark Aspen’s great review too. I have read all three Bronte sister’s books and some of their poetry and find some of it a little melodramatic for my taste. Considering their upbringing and isolation and also their early deaths the strangeness is not really surprising!
Congratulations!
Clare xx
Beautiful stage photos! Marvelous to put the literary sisters onto the stage and with music. Jane Austen next? 🤗
Dear Charlotte, it was a privilege to be able to come and see you singing (and dancing) and the rest of the lovely cast and musicians. Thank you so much for taking the time to chat afterwards, we are honoured to feature on your blog.
It was so lovely to see you both again. A long journey for you I’m very grateful that you made the trip and held back to see me after the show.