Pegasus Opera Company present CELEBRATE PEGASUS

Pegasus Opera Company honours the life of its founder Lloyd Newton and Black History month by staging Celebrate Pegasus! concert on Thursday 5 October at the Actors Church (St Paul's) Covent Garden, Bedford Street, London WC2E 9ED. The concert will be performed from 7.30-9.30pm with a reception following the concert.

Brixton Based Pegasus Opera brings us an evening to celebrate black presence in opera and honour the outstanding achievements of founder Lloyd Newton. Some of the most celebrated Black British singers taking part in this historical musical journey include: soprano Alison Buchanan, mezzo Denise Hector, tenor Ronald Samm, bass-baritone Keel Watson and Allyson Devenish on piano.

Join the Opera company's ensemble as they showcase black composers and premier some of their work in the UK for the first time, performing pieces from Queen Nanny of the Maroons in Jamaica, celebrated African American poet Paul Lawrence Dunbar and the woman who inspired Toni Morison's Beloved, Margaret Garner. Also, hear pieces based in colonial India and in Nigeria by Wole Soyinka.

Pegasus Opera is the leading multi-racial touring Opera Company in the U.K. and was founded in 1992 by Lloyd Newton, following his sad passing in January 2017, Alison Buchanan has taken on the role of Artistic Director. The Patrons are Dame Kiri Te Kanawa, Baroness Doreen Lawrence, Kristin Lewis and Chuka Umunna MP. The Company creates opportunities for professional singers from diverse backgrounds to develop and perform in high-quality and innovative opera productions and arts education work. Past productions were sell-out shows and received critical acclaim; they include Carmen, Magic Flute, I Pagliacci on National Tours, Porgy and Bess at the Barbican Concert Hall, Delius' Koanga at London's Sadler's Wells and Treemonisha at Queen Elizabeth Hall, Southbank Centre and UK tour.

'The concert is a celebration of my great friend and founder of Pegasus Opera, Lloyd Newton, who fearlessly led the company for 25 years presenting groundbreaking opera. The Celebration Concert also highlights the contribution of black performers in opera. Additionally, we are inviting people to join in and be part of the future of Pegasus Opera, we have exciting events coming up, locally, nationally and internationally.' Alison Buchanan, Artistic Director, Pegasus Opera Company

Since its inception in 1992 Pegasus Opera Company aims to model "Harmony in Diversity" by empowering those who are continually marginalised and on the periphery of the opera world. By nurturing these diverse talents a new form of cultural harmony can be achieved. This harmony encourages artists regardless of cultural heritage or ethnic background.

The Celebrate Pegasus concert has been supported by the Big Lottery Fund as part of their celebrate grants.

Celebrate Pegasus! concert takes place on Thursday 5 October at the Actors Church, (St Paul's), Covent Garden, Bedford Street, London WC2E 9ED. The concert will be performed from 7.30-9.30pm followed by a drinks and delicious Caribbean food. Tickets £20 Box office Information: book tickets online here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/pegasus-opera-tickets-37708930426 Pegasus Opera number for any booking queries 020 7501 9501 @PegasusOpera

Additionally, on Saturday 7 October at the Black Cultural Archive from 12 - 1pm there will be a concert with the local children at the Brixton Library, Brixton, London SW2 I JQ