QueerLove is a chamber opera performed at Tête-à-Tête: the Opera Festival 2025, exploring relationships in the LGBTQ+ community through the medium of the love letter. Created in collaboration with a cast of queer artists creating and performing songs, dance, classical and electronic sound and drag, this opera is a dazzling, glittering, life-affirming celebration of deep human connection. The piece was inspired by letters from queer archives and present-day interviews. It is devised by the composer in collaboration with the cast members, bringing different voices and experiences together and queering the operatic hierarchy. Immerse yourself in some queer love!
With: Cassiopeia Berkeley-Agyepong (voice), Sholto Biscoe-Taylor (voice), Hestor Dart (voice), Medusa Has Been (drag performer - 'Heart'), Rebecca Burden (cello), Theo Lowe (dance), Guy Harries (composition, concept, sound design, flute, co-director). With co-director Andra Simons
The piece was supported by: University of East London, Trinity Laban Conservatoire, WiseThoughts, Westminster University and Westminster LGBT+ Forum. With thanks to the University of Westminster and Bishopsgate Institute LGBTQIA+ Archives
CREATE AN OPERA! - RED HAT OPERA WORKSHOPS
This workshop series took place in London on a regular basis in 2017-2020. Led by Guy Harries, we explored voice, body and movement. Each of the sessions focused on a different performative element: experiential libretto text writing, ensemble and choir work, aria composition as songwriting, voice in space, embodied character development and devising methods. The workshop was open to all levels and backgrounds. We created a live performance, collaborated with Streetwise Opera, and worked on a video opera during the first year of the pandemic in 2020.
To read more about the workshop group and projects click HERE
Here is our opera video Masquerade
EINSTEIN'S DREAMS (2018)
The work-in-progress performance of the opera Einstein's Dreams was presented at Tete-a-Tete festival in London on 7 August 2018. The opera is about time and human emotions, based on the best seller by Alan Lightman, and will include classical and non-classical voice, as well as live electronics.
Part of the wonderful Tete-a-Tete new opera festival!
Created and performed by: Guy Harries - composer, singer, Norman Welch - librettist, narrator, Tami Tal - soprano, Danielle Urbas - director, Abigail Kessel - choreography and dance, Tsivi Sharett - piano/keyboards
Ipek Biserova - live electronic operation
TWO CARAVANS (2010/13)
Based on the novel by Marina Lewycka
LIBRETTO: Ace McCarron
MUSIC: Guy Harries
After a workshopping phase at Kamerhoperhuis Zwolle (with director Ilonka van den Bercken), Two Caravans won the Flourish New Opera Prize 2012, leading to the production by OperaUpClose in October 2013.