The history of Kentish Opera

In 1951 Audrey Langford, a renowned local singer, was asked to put on an opera as part of Bromley's contribution to the Festival of Britain celebrations. She joined forces with Ande Anderson, who was a director at the Royal Opera House, and they staged Cosi fan tutte at the Convent, Bromley, with a cast drawn from her pupils and other young singers.

This was such a success that they founded Kentish Opera in 1953 and produced The Marriage of Figaro the following year. Josephine Veasey (who was to become a leading mezzo-soprano at the Royal Opera House) was Cherubino in this production and Dorabella in Cosi fan tutte.

Later Sir Geraint Evans became President and then Audrey until her death in 1994.

Sally Langford, Audrey's daughter, took over running the company and continued to do so until 2022. Her death in early 2023 has left the company with very large shoes to fill, but her artistic legacy will continue to inspire those who worked with her and the company is determined that new generations of designers and directors will continue to maintain the high standards set by our founders.
Artists' Roster
Over the years, we have worked with many musicians who have gone on to have national and international careers.

Conductors have included:

 

  • Mark Fitz-Gerald
  • Stephen Harris (Chorus Master at ENO, Welsh National Opera)
  • James Holm   es (Opera North, ENO)
  • Alex Ingram (ENO) 
  • Audrey Langford (International singing teacher and principal singer at the Royal Opera House)
  • James Morgan (ENO ,Glyndebourne Opera) 
  • David Parry (ENO, Opera North etc) 
  • Mark Shanahan (ENO)
  • Paul Wyn-Griffiths (Royal Opera House)

 

Directors have included:

 

  • Ande Anderson (Director of Productions, Royal Opera House)
  • John Copley (ENO, Australian Opera, Royal Opera House)
  • Colin Graham (ENO, Opera North, Royal Opera House)
  • Christopher West (Royal Opera House)

 

Singers have included:

Royal Opera House:


  • Julian Close
  • Anthony Cunningham
  • Paul Hodges
  • Kishani Jayasinghe
  • Gaynor Keeble
  • Josephine Veasey


 ENO:


  • Fiona Canfield
  • Gary Coward
  • David Hillman
  • Paul Hodges
  • Charles Johnstone
  • Janis Kelly
  • David Newman
  • Paul Napier-Burrows
  • Philip O'Brien
  • Anton Rich
  • Richard Roberts
  • Anne Welch
  • Graham Stone

 

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