Bernard Hughes’ opera for young people Chincha-Chancha Cooroo or, The Weaver’s Wedding was commissioned by the London-based company W11 Opera and premiered at the Royal College of Music in December 2006, conducted by Philip Colman.

The story is taken from a collection of Bengali animal fables and the libretto was written by the distinguished poet and translator William Radice.

Written for a cast of 75 the opera is a madcap comedy of misunderstanding in which a wily Jackal arranges to marry the local Weaver to a grand Princess – with chaotic consequences.

Listen to samples:

A medley of songs from the opera is available for schools and choirs unable to stage the full opera.

The opera received its international premiere in Cambridge, Massachusetts in April 2009 by an multi-generational cast in 8 sell-out performances.

For any queries about the opera or to request perusal scores please contact info@bernardhughes.co.uk.

The miniature chamber opera Dumbfounded! (also to a libretto by William Radice) was premiered in August 2008 in the Tête à Tête Opera Festival. It was directed by Sebastian Armesto, conducted by Tom Hammond and designed by Rebecca Desmond.

The cast was:

Don Tarquinio – Eamonn Mulhall
Egbert – Edmund Connolly
Lucretia – Pamela Hay

Adapted from a ghoulish short story by the Edwardian writer Saki, Dumbfounded! is a self-contained opera but also the first scene of a projected longer opera, setting three Saki stories in total, being developed by Bernard Hughes and William Radice. For further information about Dumbfounded! please email info@bernardhughes.co.uk.