Great Expectations

Gerry Cornelius conductor
Bill Bankes-Jones director


Jude Obermüller I remember the ship (world premiere)
Edward Bell Gary of the Antarctic (world premiere)
Michael Shearer Lie Down and Stay (world premiere)
Chris Roe White Star (world premiere)
Laurence Osborn Una Tragedia di Proporzione Titaniche (world premiere)
Louis d'Heudieres Aqualung (world premiere)


Great Expectations is a series of short brand new operas created and performed by RCM composers and performers. RCM composers and librettists were set the challenge of creating 15-minute operas exploring two ill-fated fateful journeys of 1912 that started out with “great expectations” but ended in disaster at opposite ends of the world: the maiden voyage of the Titanic, and Scott’s expedition to the South Pole. 100 years on, how does an internet generation come to terms with events more sharply defined by Hollywood rather than by a clear articulation of British history?

Tête à Tête Artistic Director Bill Bankes-Jones directs the project, bringing a wealth of insight and experience to each operatic encounter. At the heart of the creative process is the desire for RCM composers, singers and instrumentalists to collaborate, to fulfil their own great expectations while pushing artistic and technical assumptions.

Produced by the RCMusic in association with Tête à Tête.