Summer 2024 saw a landmark new production of Michael Tippett's New Year.

"A major operatic re-discovery" Richard Bratby, The Spectator

★★★★  "This staging of Michael Tippett’s complex opera, whose story of impoverished 80s Britain takes in sci-fi, street slang and electric guitar, is a remarkable feat"  Clive Paget, The Guardian 

★★★★  "Operatic life would be much duller without the music of Michael Tippett and the work of Birmingham Opera Company. In this show the two bring out the best in each other." Neil Fisher, The Times

★★★★  "Ravishing ensemble in immersive production" Clare Stevens, The Stage

Michael Tippett's New Year tells the intertwining stories of Somewhere Today and Nowhere Tomorrow. Its world premiere took place in Houston, Texas in 1989, followed by a run of performances in Glyndebourne, UK in 1990. Not seen as a new production since, now Birmingham made New Year its own. 

Michael Tippett's New Year was directed by opera legend Keith Warner, making his debut with Birmingham Opera Company. BOC Music Director Alpesh Chauhan led the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra alongside hundreds of Brummies in The Dream Tent.

New Year was one the hottest tickets of the year! 

Running time: approx. 2 hours 5 minutes (including one interval). 

Performances took place in The Dream Tent at Smithfield, Birmingham City Centre (B5 6HX) in July 2024.

There's a free programme which you can download here

newyearprogramme.pdf

CREATIVE TEAM: 

DIRECTOR - Keith Warner 

CONDUCTOR - Alpesh Chauhan OBE

DESIGNER - Nicky Shaw 

ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR - Michael Hunt

CHORUS DIRECTOR - Mariana Rosas 

CHOREOGRAPHER - Simone Sandroni 

LIGHTING DESIGNER - John Bishop

VIDEO AND SURTITLE DESIGNER - Matt Powell

ASSISTANT DIRECTORS - Nyasha Gudo and Rebecca Marine 

ASSISTANT CONDUCTOR - Harry Lai 

ASSISTANT CHOREOGRAPHER - Nathan Sebastian Lafayette

DRAMATURG - Ty'rone Haughton

FEATURING:

From Somewhere and Today
JO ANN - Francesca Chiejina
DONNY - Sakiwe Mkosana
NAN - Sarah Pring 

From Nowhere and Tomorrow
MERLIN - Lucia Lucas
PELEGRIN - Joshua Stewart
REGAN - Samantha Crawford 

Outside the Action
PRESENTERS - Grace Durham, Oskar McCarthy

Alongside the awesome Birmingham Opera Company Chorus and Actors, and and the region’s finest - CBSO.

For previous productions click here