Patron: Dennis O'Neill, CBE
 
Gloucestershire, England
 
Most recent production - April 2008 in the Pump Room, Cheltenham: a concert performance of
The Force of Destiny
(La forza del destino)
by Giuseppe Verdi
"This Verdi opera takes some beating, particularly when given the full-blooded treatment we have come to expect from Bel Canto. Susan Black was in fine form, both dramatically and vocally. Bruno Ribeiro... endowed with a terrific voice which bears comparison with that of the legendary Pavarotti. The sustained applause that greeted this event was ample proof that the resourceful William Bell has another hit on his hands.' vThe Gloucestershire ECHO (click here for full review)
 
'This young tenor (Bruno Ribeiro) is of the highest calibre and could compete in the Italian repertoire with anyone of his generation anywhere in the world'xx Dennis O'Neill CBE 
 
  
 
Co-Directors Tom Boyd and William Bell
 Bel Canto Opera was founded by the Music Director WILLIAM BELL in 1989. In 1995 TOM BOYD joined the company as producer/stage director/librettist. Productions since then include:

(click on buttons for pictures, info, to watch YouTube clips and to read critics’ reviews) 

DOCTOR MIRACLE by Bizet 1996

TROUBLE IN TAHITI by Bernstein 1996

THE IMPRESARIO by Mozart 1997

AMELIA GOES TO THE BALL by Menotti 1997

TOSCA by Puccini 1998*

RIGOLETTO by Verdi 1999*

HANSEL AND GRETEL by Humperdinck 1999*

LAKME by Delibes 2001*

MARTHA by Flotow 2002*

THE ELIXIR OF LOVE by Donizetti 2003*

THE MERRY WIVES OF WINDSOR by Nicolai 2004*

DON PASQUALE by Donizetti 2005*

THE MAGIC FLUTE by Mozart 2007*

* DVD or video recordings (PAL or NTSC) of a live performance of these productions can be ordered. Click for details.

Three saucy airs fom the comic operas DON PASQUALE, THE ELIXIR OF LOVE and THE MAGIC FLUTE

In 2005 the Cheltenham Arts Council awarded Tom Boyd the Opera Cup for innovation and interpretation of operas

William Bell received a citation for services to opera over the past thirty years.
More about Bel Canto Opera
the OXFORD TIMES interview with Tom Boyd, Feb. 2007
 
the WILTS. & GLOUCESTERSHIRE ECHO profile on Tom Boyd, 2002
 
News and reviews of the VERDI concert performances in Cheltenham:
xxxxxIl Trovatore (2001) xxx Nabucco (2002) xxx A Masked Ball (2003)xxx Aida (2006)xxxxThe Force of Destiny (2008)
 
Tom Boyd and William Bell’s productions for Malvern Hills Opera
Norma by Bellini xxxxxxxx The Tales of Hoffmann by Offenbach
Tom Boyd's Home Page -------------LINKS