In October half term 2018, 36 young people aged 13-18 came together from across London to take part in the ENO Engage youth programme. Over four intensive days, the group created their own original piece London Rise inspired by the music and themes of The Gershwin’s opera Porgy and Bess. Working with director Caroline Williams, composer Pete Letanka and a team of professional artists, the young people devised their own text, music and staging. ENO chorister Robert Winslade Anderson and singer/cellist Ayanna Witter Johnson joined the project to rehearse and perform alongside them, culminating with a sharing on the set of Porgy and Bess on the London Coliseum stage.
Later that day, the young people performed some of their work to the sold out evening performance of Porgy and Bess, for which they received a rapturous reception, before taking their seats in the auditorium to enjoy the opera with their families and friends.
For many of these young people, this was the first time they had engaged with opera and worked alongside professional artists.
Watch the short film above to find out about their experience of taking part in the project and performing on the London Coliseum stage.
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