OperaUpClose To Stage A Fundraisier For The Red Cross in Japan

Olivier Award-winning OperaUpClose are holding a major fundraising concert for the Red Cross in Japan this Sunday.

Commissioned just 7 days ago, the event is a 45-minute song cycle for soprano, baritone and piano, and was specially commissioned from one of the opera world's most exciting young composers, Stephen Crowe. It uses facts, figures and images from the international press used to report to the western world the human devastation occurring in Japan following the largest earthquake in human history.

OperaUpClose Artistic Director Adam Spreadbury-Maher said: "OperaUpClose are responding in the only way we know how, with singing and music. Stephen Crowe has composed his song cycle for Japan in only 7 days, and we hope to raise funds for the Red Cross but also awareness of the magnitude of this world-changing human even. This song cycle for Japan will perhaps ensure that we all know exactly what is going on, as the audience will experience the information, facts etc in a different way. It will arrest the audience, and ask them to meditate on the situation, which I hope will then provoke the appropriate action that our fellow human beings in Japan deserve."

Every penny raised will be donated to the Red Cross, specifically to help them in their efforts helping the Japanese people in the aftermath of the devastating earthquake.

The Tokyo Song Cycle will be at the 500--seat St Mary's Church, Islington, directly across the road from their landmark new venue, London's Little Opera House at the King's Head Theatre, 115 Upper Street, london N1. Tickets are priced from £10 to £100. The concert starts at 3pm. Box office: 020 7478 0160