Our objectives
Hurn Court Opera’s mission is to support the vocal stars of tomorrow, pursuing this mission through it's principal objective and the focus of that objtecive.
HCO’s objective is to advance, improve, develop and maintain public appreciation of the art and science of music, through public concerts, operatic performances, recitals, masterclasses and competitions.
The focus for this objective is two-fold:
• To provide performance opportunities for young singers who are about to embark on, or who have recently embarked on, their professional careers.
• To perform in areas/towns that have limited or no exposure to professional opera performance, offering tickets at affordable prices.
Our activities
An annual opera in April, fully professional and paid as such, performed in three locations in Hampshire and Dorset.
Recent operas have been:
2026 La Traviata (Verdi) - with costumes created by the costume students at Arts University Bournemouth
2025 La Cenerentola (Rossini)
2024 Don Giovanni (Mozart)
2023 La Boheme (Puccini)
2022 Don Pasquale (Donizetti)
An annual Masterclass, usually in June and featuring an opera singer with an international reputation
Recitals by prizewinners from HCO's annual Singer of the Year competition, in two locations in Hampshire and Dorset in September
The annual competition for young opera singers, usually late October/ early November, with prize money of over £6,500 sponsored by HCO patrons and an engagement with Grange Festival Opera as part of the first prize; the concert hall in the arts centre at St Swithun's School in WInchester is the current home of the competition
And, of course, a Christmas recital
