Musica Lirica Opera Company is a Blackpool and the Fylde based organisation which performs first rate opera and operetta in imaginative productions which aim to entertain and stimulate both audiences and performers alike. The company calls on the services of professional and gifted amateur singers and instrumentalists under the baton of Michael Hall. A major goal of the company is to make opera accessible to a public which may not be familiar with its musical and dramatic worth, as well as accommodate the more experienced opera going public. Past productions have included Mozart’s The Magic Flute , The Marriage of Figaro, Don Giovanni, Bastien and Bastienne, Puccini’s opera triple bill “Il Trittico”, Purcell’s Dido and Aeneas, The Merry Widow, Tosca & Die Fledermaus.
Young People A cornerstone of Musica Lirica’s philosophy is to inspire young people to perform classical style singing. Classical vocal technique is to singing what ballet is to dance. It is to this end that our production of The Magic Flute included 9 children as the Birdcatcher’s “prey” and the animals enchanted by Tamino’s flute. In addition, the 3 Genii were also played by children. The first English opera, Dido & Aeneas, and the twelve year old Mozart’s Bastien and Bastienne became platforms for the younger members of the company to gain invaluable experience.
Michael Hall, Artistic Director studied at the Royal Academy of Music under the distinguished baritone, Bruce Boyce. After his studies he taught singing in London and sang in Germany, France and Italy where he became fluent in their languages. In 2004 he bought the building now known as the Visual Noise Arts Centre which houses the Michael Hall Theatre School as well as Musica Lirica Opera and continues to expand as a hub for the arts in Blackpool. Pupils studying classical singing with Michael Hall have gone on to sing at Covent Garden and the English National Opera.
In the 20 years that he has been teaching singing on the Fylde, Michael Hall has helped develop performers who have gone on to shows in the West End, such as Jodie Prenger (TV’s I’d do anything, Oliver!,etc), Laura Wilson (Grease), Rebecca Reynolds (Evita/Hair European Tours, Mark Willshire, Donald Francke (Cats, Phantom Joseph, etc.). However, success has not been limited to musicals, but has also been extended to TV with X Factor’s Aiden Grimshaw.
Michael Hall is also Artistic Director of Musica Lirica Opera and conducts Lytham Light Orchestra (since 2001).
Valerie Whalley, Repetiteur & Opera Advisor studied at the Royal Northern College of Music, with Ellis Keeler, at the International Opera Studio in Zurich with John Modenos, and at the Music and Drama Academy in Stuttgart, with Lore Fischer. She sang with the BBC Northern Singers and took leading roles, including Leonora (Il Trovatore), Agathe (Der Freischuetz), Santuzza (Cavalleria Rusticana) and Lady Macbeth amongst others, with Preston Opera. Valerie joined Musica Lirica as rehearsal pianist for Puccini’s Gianni Schicchi and as has been involved in all the opera productions since. Now Directing Musica Lirica’s Concert Series she also is the vocal coach for local singers.