New to
Pegasus?
Pegasus is a professional opera company with a family of widespread international artists, participants and supporter and prides itself on staging high-quality productions while reaching out to a new more diverse audience and presenting productions with which they can identify.
Our productions are chosen from an accessible range of works and new commissions. We have a range of educational programmes and aim to develop new audiences through special workshops, outreach programmes that reach thousands of children, young people, adults and elders across London and the UK.
If you’ve not been to an opera before, you may have some questions about what to expect.
Opera is a musical art form that tells a story through music and singing. Unlike a musical, opera singers do not use microphones to amplify their voices, and the music, played by the orchestra, is completely live.
Most operas are the length of an average film (between two and three hours), but with one or two intervals when you can stretch your legs or get a drink at the bar.
Yes. Many operas here are performed in English translation. Those that are performed in their original language (like Italian, French or German) are subtitled.
That depends on how much you want to spend. The most expensive seats tend to be in the stalls or dress circle, and the cheapest high up in the balcony. Pegasus Opera Company endeavors to make opera as accessible as possible which is why we offer affordable rates to see our operas, often starting at just £15.
Opera singers do not use microphones which makes opera a unique experience. The live orchestra itself, which can be up to 60 players (depending on the production), makes the performance even more enthralling.
Most opera singers fall into a certain voice types which helps them to be cast in roles.
Female singers:
- Soprano – the highest voice type for female singers.
- Mezzo-soprano – lower than soprano.
- Contralto/Alto – lowest female voice.
Male singers:
- Countertenor – The highest in the male voice range, this also falls within a woman’s voice range.
- Tenor – Most often the highest male voice in an opera.
- Baritone – most common male voice in an opera.
- Bass – comes from the Italian word basso, which means low.
