News and Events

Pegasus Opera Company producing a groundbreaking new opera on the Windrush story with the help of Laidlaw Opera Trust

London, 15 April 2025]

Laidlaw Opera Trust, committed to bringing opera to new audiences and making it accessible and inclusive announced today a partnership with Pegasus Opera Company. As well as supporting the opera company to commission and produce a new opera, the partnership enables Pegasus to expand its mentorship programme for singers of global majority heritage.

Pegasus Opera Company has made significant strides since its founding in 1992 in diversifying the operatic landscape, bringing stories and nurturing talent from the global majority to the forefront of British opera. The company’s latest production will be a landmark achievement in telling the tale of the Windrush generation, whose arrival in the UK in 1948 marked a transformative moment in the nation’s history.

One of LOT’s main aims is to future-proof opera by bringing it to new and younger audiences. This can be through innovation in the stories being told through opera, and who is telling them. Windrush is a story that belongs to all of us as it heralds the transformation and enrichment of post-war UK society. By supporting Pegasus Opera Company, LOTis helping to ensure that these important narratives are told on a grand stage for all to witness.

Laidlaw Opera Trust is delighted to be supporting Pegasus Opera Company as it creates and nurtures this opera to be performed in time for the Windrush + 80 celebrations in 2028. The opera is composed by Dr Des Oliver, with libretto by Dr Edson Burton.

Pegasus Opera Company also runs a fantastic mentorship programme for singers of global majority heritage, each year supporting eight artists. In 2025, Laidlaw Opera Trust will fund an additional four mentees on the programme. Four of the 12 artists will receive additional mentoring and opportunities to learn and observe through a unique partnership with Glyndebourne, now in its fourth year. LOT is also enabling Pegasus to offer more targeted support to help overcome the significant challenges faced by the mentoring programme graduates as they build their careers and tracking the long-term success of the programme.

‍Alison Buchanan, ArtisticDirector, Pegasus Opera Company, said,

“I am thrilled to be collaborating with the Laidlaw Opera Trust on our groundbreaking new Windrush opera. The core values of LOT and their commitment to making opera accessible to all, align marvellously with the Pegasus ethos. Their support and belief in our opera empowers us to bring the Windrush story to the operatic stage in a way that will honour the legacy and impact of the Windrush generation.Together, we are amplifying voices that have too often been left unheard and opening doors for the next wave of talented artists from global majority heritage. This partnership is a powerful step forward for inclusive storytelling in opera. It is a story about Britain today, but even more it is the universal story of the wonderful contribution that both cultural and economic migration can make on the communities who welcome them.”

Kate Roberts, CEO, Laidlaw Opera Trust, said, “One of our aims at Laidlaw Opera Trust is to make opera inclusive and accessible to everyone, and the question of what stories we tell and who tells them is fundamental to addressing this. Pegasus Opera Company has been breaking down barriers to inclusivity for over 30 years in multiple ways and for this reason we are thrilled to support the organisation. The Windrush opera tells a story of national significance, with relevance to all of us. I personally can’t wait to see the results of this extraordinary creative endeavour. And the wonderful Pegasus Opera mentorship programme allows talented individuals who otherwise may struggle to find a way into the art form to flourish.”

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The Laidlaw Opera Trust’s sponsorship of the Pegasus Opera Company underscores its commitment to promoting inclusivity, diversity, and cultural representation in the arts. By amplifying underrepresented voices and stories, the Trust seeks to enrich the opera art form, inspire broader audiences, and contribute to a more inclusive cultural landscape.

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About Pegasus OperaCompany

“An audience as comfortably diverse as many a UK city street…Pegasus’s double bill, given three performances, may look like a small event. On the contrary, it is a catalyst for change.”

Fiona Maddox, Guardianon Pegasus’ Opera double bill Roman Fever/The Human Voice, April 2024

A beacon of diversity and inclusion in the opera world since its founding in 1992, our mission is to promote diversity and inclusion in the arts by spotlighting underrepresented classical artists and to build on our reputation as a champion of artistic equity and innovation, and of fostering new talent.

Artistic Director and acclaimed soprano, Alison Buchanan - the only black female Artistic Director of an opera company in the UK and Europe - leads a skilled team, supported by an experienced, diverse Board. Our inaugural Arts Council England National Portfolio Organisation award (2023-26) acknowledges the Company’s leadership role within the sector, creating best practice in promoting artists of global majority heritage, and making opera accessible to wider audiences.

From our home borough of Brixton, we produce innovative, inclusive and excellent contemporary opera and concerts for diverse audiences (reaching c. 7800 in April 2024-March2025). This includes programming an accessible range of works and touring to a variety of London and UK venues with the aim of reaching underserved communities.

About the Laidlaw OperaTrust

Laidlaw Opera Trust champions live music as a uniquely thrilling art form, accessible to all. We invest in opera companies and houses who believe that opera should be part of everyone’s cultural capital. Through strategic support and grants, we aim to expand opera’s reach and self-sufficiency. By investing in the future of this cherished art form, we enrich cultural landscapes and nurture the next generation of opera enthusiasts and artists.

Laidlaw Opera Trust MediaContact

Kate Roberts

welcome@businessofopera.com

Pegasus Opera Company Media Contact

Sonia Hyams

0207 501 9501

sonia@pegasusoperacompany.org

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Irish National Opera to bring opera to new audiences, with the help of Laidlaw Opera Trust

[London, 27 March 2025]

Laidlaw Opera Trust is delighted to announce a new partnership with Irish National Opera. Laidlaw Opera Trust, is committed to bringing opera to new audiences, making it accessible and inclusive. This partnership will enable INO to bring new small-scale ‘pocket operas’ to venues across Ireland in 2025, which the company has not previously visited. This is a very cost-effective way of bringing opera to underserved towns without compromising on quality.

One of LOT’s main aims are to future-proof opera by bringing it to new audiences and making it more accessible and this aligns totally withINO’s aim of bringing opera to as many counties in Ireland as possible. Another aim of LOT’s is to make opera more self-sufficient and explore more cost-effective ways of staging quality opera, and INO has worked hard on creating a format at a scale which can be brought to many spaces. One thing that INO is determined about, and that LOT fully supports is that the smaller scale performances do not compromise on quality of production, artists and audience experience.

In addition Laidlaw Opera Trust is thrilled to support IrishNational Opera’s upcoming productions, including Donizetti’s L’elisir d’amore which premieres on Sunday 25^th May. Specifically, funds have been allocated to enable INO more flexibility and creativity in set design.

LOT is keen to support excellence in new productions and help give audiences an inspirational and immersive experience with all opera has to offer; fabulous music, world-class singing, the whole range of human emotions and a true visual feast. In addition, this support will help lay the groundwork for long-term use of sets, ensuring these investments benefit Irish and global opera audiences for years to come.

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Fergus Sheil,Founding Artistic Director, Irish National Opera, said, “We are delighted to celebrate this new partnership with the Laidlaw Opera Trust. It signifies a transformative opportunity for Irish National Opera. Their visionary support will enable us to sustain our commitment to high quality and to also expand our reach – bringing our work to new communities throughout Ireland. Laidlaw Opera Trust’s support will allow for greater investment in our larger scale sets and costumes, while also supporting a new initiative for Irish National Opera – a touring production that is flexible and adaptable for smaller venues in locations that we have never previously visited. For Ireland this will be a new type of opera experience that will allow us to share our love of opera with new communities and make opera accessible to all. We are deeply grateful to the Laidlaw Opera Trust for their faith in us, we and are excited about the creative possibilities this partnership opens up.”

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Kate Roberts, CEO,Laidlaw Opera Trust, said, “We are so thrilled to support Irish National Opera as they continue to produce world-class operas which bring real joy to audiences across Ireland. We are passionate about bringing opera to where people are, thus creating the next generation of opera fans. Enabling INO to perform top quality productions in more counties inIreland so bringing opera to underserved communities is hugely rewarding. In addition we have absolutely loved recent INO main stage performances and have been struck by the incredible audience reception these have received. It is a great privilege to be able to help INO build on this success for its upcoming main stage programme. We are really looking forward to seeing the results of the team’s hard work and commitment to excellence on both the main stage and in the small-scale productions.”

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Programme, dates and venues for the Irish National Opera autumn2025 season will be announced in mid-May.

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About Irish NationalOpera

Irish National Opera is Ireland’s largest opera company, renowned for delivering vibrant, inspirational and ground-breaking performances of exceptional quality that reach audiences across Ireland and beyond. Regularly staging large-scale productions in Dublin, Cork and Wexford, INO also brings touring productions to venues nationwide and internationally. The company creatively responded to the global pandemic by commissioning and producing 20 Shots of Opera—an acclaimed series of 20 new short operas for film, praised by The Wall Street Journal as “an exhilarating jaunt through up-to-the-minute lyric creativity.”INO’s commitment to artistic excellence has garnered significant accolades, including an Olivier Award for Outstanding Achievement in Opera in 2022 forVivaldi’s Bajazet, a co-production with the Royal Opera House. INO has again been nominated for an Olivier Award (their fourth to date) for their 2024 production of Vivaldi’s L’Olimpiade, a co-production with the Royal Ballet and Opera. No stranger to innovation, INO endeavours to explore new ways of delivering opera to audiences, including through Virtual Reality (Out of the Ordinary/As An nGnách – Finola Merivale), by harnessing hologram technology (Horizon Europe’s HEAT project) and the development of mobile apps and software systems that sync sound and visuals for outdoor performances (Isolde). With a long-term commitment to the development of a strong, sustainable opera ecology, INO finds, nurtures and develops talent across all areas of its work. Through innovative programming and community engagement, INO works with people of all ages and backgrounds and creates transformational social impact to support the next generation of outstanding talent that is representative of modern-day Ireland.

About the Laidlaw OperaTrust

Media Contacts:

Kate Roberts,Laidlaw Opera Trust, welcome@businessofopera.com

Sorcha Carroll, Irish National Opera, sorcha@irishnationalopera.ie

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Press Release: Laidlaw Opera Trust announces today support for 12 more opera companies across the UK and Ireland

[London, 3 March 2025] Laidlaw Opera Trust is delighted to announce a series of unrestricted small donations across the opera ecosystem in the UK and Ireland. This is in recognition of the immense variety of work of the highest quality at every scale in all parts of the UK and the Republic. Recipients include:

Birmingham Opera Company
Buxton International Festival
Dorset Opera Festival
If Opera
Mid Wales Opera
Northern Ireland Opera
Opera Holland Park
OperaUpClose
Scottish Opera
Shadwell Opera
Welsh National Opera
Wexford Festival Opera

These organisations have impressed with the quality of their creative output as well as the way in which they are tackling some of the challenges facing opera today. Many of these issues were raised at the Business of Opera conference last October and the Trust was pleased to see subsequent initiatives addressing:

Development and showcasing of new work
Working with local communities and creatives
Experimenting with new business models and cost control
Supporting singers and helping to develop careers
Bringing opera to underserved parts of the country
Innovative fundraising models
Attracting new audiences and making opera more accessible
Developing co-productions and ensuring productions are performed in many locations

All of these align with the main goals of the Trust to:

Future-proof opera by bringing it to new audiences
Sustain and retain British singers in the industry
Support new and outstanding productions
Help opera to become more self-sufficient

Laidlaw Opera Trust is privileged to support these outstanding companies, and looks forward to identifying best practice and innovative solutions which can be replicated across the sector.

For press enquiries contact welcome@businessofopera.com

First biennial Business of Opera conference

Press release: Young people more up for a night at the opera than their older peers

Young people are more open to attending opera performances than their older peers, a major new research project has found.

The finding is based on a nationally representative poll by Public First for the Laidlaw Opera Trust exploring the public’s views on opera, one of the biggest surveys of its kind ever undertaken in the UK.

It will be a filip for opera bosses who have long battled the stereotype that the art form will only ever be the preserve of older representatives of the establishment.

Some 61% of 18-34 year olds say they would consider going to an opera performance in the future. The same age group were the most likely of any to say this. Indeed, 54% of 18-34 year olds who have never been to the opera say they would like to go at least once in their life, compared to 37% of those over 55.

The survey also revealed a gender divide. Given a choice as to what they would prefer a free ticket for, women are more likely to prefer the opera than a football match.

Other key findings include:

Opera struggles to cut through but the public are open to engaging with it - nearly half the public (42%) say they have never met an opera fan and only around a third claim to have attended a performance. 46% of the public say they would not notice if every opera house in the UK shut down. But even those who have never met an opera fan are open to engaging with the art form. 41% of this group say they would like to go to the opera at least once in their life.

The public see opera as unique - 71% of the public see opera as a unique art form, including 67% of those who have never attended a performance. The talent of performers, opera's artistic value, spectacle, cultural significance and tradition most drive positive perceptions.

More traditional operas drive interest but there is still space for innovation - when asked about a range of hypothetical operas, the public showed the highest levels of interest in more traditional performances rather than modern ones, as well as an appetite for operas performed in smaller, more intimate locations.

But opera's perceived expense is the biggest barrier to attendance - 50% of people say opera being expensive makes them feel more negative about it; by far the most important factor in driving negative perceptions. A majority expect an opera ticket in London to set them back at least £75; only 1 in 10 would be willing to pay that much but 50% would pay £10-£75. The public are almost twice as likely to say that lower costs would encourage them to attend an opera performance than any other change, with options such as more relevant stories or more diverse casts much less popular.

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Lord Laidlaw, Chair of Laidlaw Opera Trust said: ‍

“We commissioned this research because we believe that opera, as a uniquely thrilling art form, should reach a much wider audience. It is an important starting point therefore to understand where the real barriers to that ambition currently lie.”‍

Mike Crowhurst, Director at research agency, Public First, which conducted the research, said: ‍

"These findings show the potential for opera to connect with a wider audience but challenges some received wisdom about how to do this. The opera sector needs to keep delivering the spectacle, talent and tradition that people think makes the art form unique whilst also allowing more of them to access it at a reasonable cost."‍

Notes to editors:‍

For more information contact: mike.crowhurst@publicfirst.co.uk

Public First - a member of the British Polling Council - questioned a nationally representative sample of more than 4000 adults in the UK in January 2024.

A report summarising the initial findings of this research has been published at: www.businessofopera.com

Full results of this work, including the results of forthcoming qualitative research, will be presented at the Business of Opera conference on 10th October 2024. For more information please visit: www.businessofopera.com

This work was commissioned by the Laidlaw Opera Trust. Laidlaw Opera Trust champions live opera as a uniquely thrilling art form, by supporting Opera companies and houses to expand their reach and repertoire sustainably. Current grantees include: The Met, ROH, Glyndebourne, Grange Festival and Diva Opera.

Public First is a global strategic consultancy that works to help organisations better understand public opinion, analyse economic trends and craft new policy proposals. Public First is a member of the British Polling Council, and results of this research are published on Public First’s website. For more information, please visit: www.publicfirst.co.uk

What the public really thinks about opera

We commissioned the leading market research firm, Public First, to carry out one of the largest surveys ever of the public’s attitude to opera. What makes this research unique is that they surveyed a fully representative sample of the public: not just those who would consider going to the opera, but everyone. The results are fascinating, debunking much of the received wisdom regarding who is interested in opera and why others are not. Did you know that 64% of 25-34 year olds would consider attending an opera performance in the future? And 31% who have been to an opera have been only once?

The full report, "It's passionate...it's posh. But they have got some bangers," is available for download here.

‍For a shorter read you can download the preliminary repost, published in May 2024, here.

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Laidlaw Opera Trust announces appointment of new CEO

Laidlaw Opera Trust announces appointment of new CEO

[London, 21st August 2024] – Laidlaw Opera Trust is delighted to announce that Kate Roberts has been appointed Chief Executive Officer.

Kate’s exceptional track record in driving strategic change in the global events businesses at Informa and The Economist will be invaluable as she guides the Laidlaw Opera Trust into the next phase of its mission. Her expertise in market analysis, and customer engagement, combined with her dedication to quality and sustainability, align seamlessly with our mission to broaden the reach and impact of live opera.

Kate’s love of classical music started at age six when someone put a violin in her hand. She proved herself an exceptionally mediocre performer but developed a deep appreciation of classical music and, later, opera.

Most recently she has been working as Director of Research and Events at Laidlaw Opera Trust, coordinating research into the public perception of opera, and convening the opera ecosystem to face the extraordinary challenges that it currently faces.

As CEO, Kate will lead our efforts to make opera more accessible and inclusive, support innovative productions, nurture talented British singers, and foster a sustainable future for the art form.

Susanna Kempe, current CEO of Laidlaw Opera Trust will move to the role of Trustee. She said, “In launching the Business of Opera Summit, Kate has immersed herself in the world of opera; and become one of its fiercest champions. I cannot think of anyone better to lead Laidlaw Opera Trust into our next phase of growth and impact.”

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Kate Roberts, the incoming CEO of the Laidlaw Opera Trust, said “I am so excited to work with this unique, powerful art form at a time of great challenge and complexity. As organisations navigate today’s funding environment there is a great opportunity for new thinking and change to enable opera to continue telling great stories to future generations while upholding the highest standards of artistic excellence. I am looking forward to engaging with the sector and helping facilitate innovation, quality, impact, and sustainability. I feel so privileged to be able to work with the brilliant, creative, and passionate people who make up the opera ecosystem.”

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‍About the Laidlaw Opera Trust

Laidlaw Opera Trust champions live opera as a uniquely thrilling art form, accessible to all. We invest in opera companies and houses that believe that opera should be part of everyone’s cultural capital. Through strategic investments and grants, we aim to expand opera’s reach and self-sufficiency. Funded solely by our Chair, Lord Laidlaw, in 2024 we have supported The Met, ROH, Glyndebourne, Grange Festival, Savonlinna, Opera Monaco, and Diva.

Media Contact:

‍Keir Chauhan
keir.chauhan@laidlawfoundation.com

NEWS & EVENTS

Pegasus Opera Company producing a groundbreaking new opera on the Windrush story with the help of Laidlaw Opera Trust

Pegasus Opera Company producing a groundbreaking new opera on the Windrush story with the help of Laidlaw Opera Trust

Irish National Opera to bring opera to new audiences, with the help of Laidlaw Opera Trust

Irish National Opera to bring opera to new audiences, with the help of Laidlaw Opera Trust

Press Release: Laidlaw Opera Trust announces today support for 12 more opera companies across the UK and Ireland

Press Release: Laidlaw Opera Trust announces today support for 12 more opera companies across the UK and Ireland

First biennial Business of Opera conference

First biennial Business of Opera conference

Press release: Young people more up for a night at the opera than their older peers

Press release: Young people more up for a night at the opera than their older peers

What the public really thinks about opera

What the public really thinks about opera

Laidlaw Opera Trust announces appointment of new CEO

Laidlaw Opera Trust announces appointment of new CEO