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This April a new opera with music by the composer Tarik O’Regan had its premiere at Houston Grand Opera. Called The Phoenix, it’s based on the life of Lorenzo Da Ponte, best known as Mozart’s librettist.

The opera has been years in the making, from Tarik’s first idea to the final rewrites. In the Studio follows Tarik through the months of creating the music, the orchestrations and the workshop processes with his collaborator, the librettist and director John Caird.

From Tarik’s original base in the former Swaziland, now known as eSwatini, to meetings in London and rehearsals in Houston with singers, opera chorus and the Houston Grand Opera Orchestra led by Artistic and Music Director Patrick Summers, we hear how the music evolves over many months from first sketches to opening night.

Presenter: Sophie Ribstein
Producer: Emma Kingsley

(Image: composer Tarik O’ Regan, photo credit: Pedro Greig)