New opera company to launch in the summer

Red Squirrel, a new opera company dedicated to bringing life to "unknown and neglected operatic works", has announced its UK launch.

Founder and Conductor John Andrews will lead the company's first project this summer, a co-production of Malcolm Arnold’s 1952 comedy 'The Dancing Master' with Buxton International Festival.

Red Squirrel aims to co-produce one staged and one recorded project each year, focussing mainly on 18th to 20th Centry English language works.

"There is such a wealth of wonderful repertoire lying buried in libraries and archives that comes immediately alive on stage," Andrews said.

"It is tragic not to see these gems performed, and this company will bring them to the widest possible audience in collaboration with festivals and theatres."