THE LONDON OPERA PLAYERS AND ELIZABETH PARRY
London Opera Players was founded in 1950, its aim to bring opera to a wider audience and to be a platform from which young singers could launch their careers. Its co-founder, Elizabeth Parry, a beloved parishioner of S.P.W., herself sang at Glyndebourne in 1947. A busy time for Elizabeth, as she also set up and ran the Wigmore Hall Lunch Hour Concerts. Travelling to Italy on an Italian government scholarship to study, give recitals and broadcast, Elizabeth still found time and energy for the new London Opera Players
They flourished for fifty years, with Elizabeth as its devoted managing and artistic director. Sadly, due to cut backs in the Arts Council's funding, few sponsorships because of the wobbling business economy, and tough school time tables knocking out extras, London Opera Players now need an encouraging push to continue into the next half century. This it is finding. Bryn Terfel has just enthusiastically agreed to join the illustrious patrons. A new, young, talented promoter has joined the team, seeking further bookings and educational programmes.
The Friends of London Opera Players was relaunched, here in Puttenham in 2006, amid Elizabeth's fellow parishioners and friends. The group has long been associated with Mozart. In this (2006), his 250th anniversary year, there was held a musically illustrated talk on his life and work.