In September the Philharmonia Chorus travelled to Valencia to participate in a world premier recording of a new opera Wuthering Heights by the distinguished French composer and conductor Frédéric Chaslin.

The libretto for the opera, after Emily Brontë’s Gothic novel, was written by Paula Heil Fisher.

The chorus rehearsed the opera over a short concentrated period in London and travelled to the Palau de les Arts Reina Sofía, Valencia to record the work on 12th/13th September 2008, finally compressed into a 24 hour schedule to accommodate other work taking place at the time. The Palau de les Arts incorporating a superb brand-new concert hall is part of the ultra-modern complex comprising the Centre of Arts and Sciences immediately to the south of the city.

The Chorus was rehearsed for the piece by Madeleine Lovell.

Soloists for the work were Olga Peretyatko (Soprano): Cathy; Andrew Richards (Tenor): Heathcliff; Leigh Melrose (Baritone): Hindley; Constance Hauman (Mezzo) Nelly; Wolfgang Rauball (Baritone): Mr Earnshaw; Sarah Moule & Madeleine Lovell (Sop./Mezzo): Two Wenches; Alex Thomas (Tenor) Joseph.

The Orquestra de la Comunitat Valenciana (Palau de les Arts Reina Sofía, Valencia) was conducted by the composer. The producer was Simon Weir (The Classical Recording Co. (CRC), London). The recording was of Part 1. Frédéric Chaslin is continuing composition work on the finale to the work.

To hear the opera and for latest news, go to - http://bronteblog.blogspot.com/2008/12/chaslin-fishers-wuthering-heights.html

This fascinating piece will be published as a CD. Watch this space.