The Yellow Wallpaper, November 2016

The Helios Collective/ENO Lilian Baylis House

The world premiere of Grace Evangeline-Mason’s (2013 winner of BBC Proms Young Composer) debut opera in conjunction with the Helios Collective and ENO at the ENO’s Lilian Baylis studio. The piece was an adaptation of Charlotte Perkins Gilman’s short story about postnatal depression and psychosis, which many consider to be a proto-feminist text. The production included a series of masterclass workshop performances with leading figures from the opera world, including David Pountney (WNO), Mark Wigglesworth, Jonathan Moore, Judith Weir and Janis Kelly, and a panel discussion about the works with Brian Dickie (ENO) James Clutton (OHP), Jonathan Moore and Stephen Medcalf.

Woman: Isolde Roxby

John: James Quilligan

Jennie/The Woman In The Paper: Ayaka Tanimoto

Conductor: Tamara Lorenzo Gabeiras

Quotes

Grace Evangeline Mason composer of The Yellow Wallpaper

“Working with Guido was a pleasure, he really engaged with the story and brought fresh ideas to my opera through his direction. I felt that he understood my music to a great depth.”

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James Clutton, Director of Opera, Opera Holland Park (during panel discussion)

“I particularly enjoyed The Yellow Wallpaper"

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Brian Dickie, Artistic Consultant, English National Opera

“I was at the Helios Collective's rather stunning event at Lilian Baylis House on Friday. The Yellow Wallpaper… made an immediate impact on us all. I was not the only one to find it the most mature and persuasive of the three.”