Britten 100: Noye’s Fludde and other works

 In an exciting venture with Durham Johnston School and the Durham Cathedral Young Singers, we presented a performance of Britten’s opera for young people, Noye’s Fludde.Based on a text from the Chester Mystery Plays, Noye’s Fludde was written to be performed by a cast of amateur performers, supported by professional musicians, and its scoring includes parts for handbells, bugles, recorders and tuned tea-cups. The Dean of Durham Cathedral, the Very Revd Michael Sadgrove narrated the Voice of God: quite a promotion from his role as a goat in one of the first performances of the work, in 1959. 
Benjamin Britten was a great champion of community music-making, and the Durham Singers share his belief in the importance of nurturing and learning from younger musicians. It was a great honour for us to take part in this performance, and we were all energised and inspired by the enthusiasm of the animals, the young soloists, and the Durham Johnston orchestral players.

With thanks to the Britten Pears Foundation for their financial support.
Cast
Mr Noye: Richard Strivens
Mrs Noye: Charlotte Heslop
The Voice of God: Michael Sadgrove
Sem: Alex Banfield
Ham: Tom Rowarth
Jaffett Peter Thomson
Mrs Sem: Clare Tunney
Mrs Ham: Elen Roberts
Mrs Jaffett: Holly Brunskill