Chronicles of Rye, a community opera inspired by the unique history, landscape and people of the town launches this month. As the creative team comes together, the story of the opera will develop through close collaboration between the composer, librettist, dramaturg, sound designer, director and people in Rye.
Professional soloists will perform alongside local choirs representing the people and the forces of nature that have shaped the area through the centuries.
The project is a joint initiative between Barefoot Opera, StrongBack Productions and Rye News and will be officially launched on Wednesday 26 November with an evening of music in the ballroom at The George Hotel.
The ambitious new work is being led by London-based composer Dominique Le Gendre whose works have been commissioned and performed by the Royal Opera House, BBC and Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre.
She says her opera will take inspiration from the town’s past and how Rye is today. “Using local archives, oral histories, interviews, and the town’s living voices, I’m going to create a score that reflects Rye’s coastal heritage and its ever-changing natural landscape.” This latest project builds on her work on SongsMaps Rye in 2023.
Sussex-based Barefoot Opera are also no strangers to Rye, having performed many times in the town. The company’s founder and Chief Executive Jenny Miller says she is looking forward to the new work and it’s impact. “I know how passionate Rye is about music. People are transformed by song in so many surprising and unifying ways.”
Rye News’ involvement will see editor James Stewart record sounds and voices to create soundscapes to run alongside the new opera. He says he’ll be looking for help from the paper’s readers. “I’ll be asking what is ‘the sound of Rye’ to create an audio picture of the town. I’ll also be exploring whether there are words and accents that are unique to Rye.”
Guests at the introductory event at The George will discover how the new opera is being developed, meet the artists and learn how Barefoot Opera will collaborate with the composer, librettist, dramaturg, sound designer, choirs, and emerging young talent.
The event will also reveal when the opera will premiere, outline plans for funding, share ways for the community to get involved, and offer a glimpse of what’s next for this exciting creative partnership.
Event Details
Chronicles of Rye – Introduction Evening
Wednesday 26 November 2025
6:15pm (for 6:45pm start)
The Ballroom, The George Hotel, 98 High Street, Rye, TN31 7JT
Admission is £20, and spaces are limited.
To book, head to https://barefootopera.com/shop/chronicles-of-rye/
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Image Credits: Rye News .
Sounds like a wonderful project! Maybe the organisers could consider incorporating the talents of the Rye Players?