EMERGING SCULPTOR COMMISSIONED

TO CREATE SIXTEEN FOOT HIGH SCULPTURES FOR

RARELY PERFORMED OPERA

Emerging Cheshire sculptor Nick Elphick has been commissioned to produce four sculptures that will stand 16 foot high, of Greek Olympic figures for the 2012 Garsington Opera production of Vivaldi’s rarely performed opera L’Olimpiade.

These sculptures will be an integral part of the design of the opera, which takes place on the day of the ancient games – rivals on the race track are also rivals in love – when a number of thrilling singers will be making their UK debut including Italian Rosa Bove and American Emily Fons. The opera will be directed by renowned David Freeman with David Roger as designer.

Nick Elphick, who has already been recognised by the British Portrait Sculptor Society, came to the public’s attention when he created the statue of H M Stanley, the explorer who found Livingstone in Africa, erected in Denbigh town centre in 2011. Nick recently won a prestigious project to mark the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee, to sculpt a five foot high sculpture of the Queen’s head, commissioned by Chester The Giant City, organisers of the Chester Giant Parade. He also created 60 cast replicas which will be used by community groups in towns, villages and cities throughout Cheshire.

Designer David Roger said ‘Nick stood out for me as the very best choice amongst artists  working in Britain today who could produce totally authentic large scale sculptures of  the Classical Greek School, combining  a heroic authenticity with a theatrical flair that will be both beautiful and imposing. I feel very fortunate in gaining his collaboration on this project which I know has fired his imagination. He is bringing a huge amount of passion to the work and we are all looking forward to the arrival of these dramatic pieces.’

Nick Elphick said: ‘I am delighted to have been commissioned by Garsington Opera to produce these exciting sculptures of athletes, especially in the year of the London Olympics. The vision the team have for their production this summer is incredible and it is an amazing project to be working on.

Garsington Opera’s season runs from 2 June to 3 July and will be its second in its spectacular new home on the Wormsley estate in the Chiltern Hills.  As well as presenting Vivaldi’s L’Olimpiade there will be new productions of Offenbach’s La Périchole  and Mozart’s Don Giovanni.

www.garsingtonopera.org

11 January 2012  PRESS ENQUIRES CLARE ADAMS Tel: 01295 690344

Email:  clare@garsingtonopera.org

I have just returned from a very successful trip to London where I launched the Queens Head sculpture and also landed a large commission. The Garsington Opera company has asked me to sculpt 4 large Greek sculptures for ‘Vivaldi’s L’Olimpiade’, a concert being produced in the summer, just outside Oxford.’

http://www.itv.com/granada/chesters-big-queen96889/

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-merseyside-15651308

SPEECH BY THE TIM JEAL , HOO WROTE THE BOOK ON HM STANLY

STANLY WAS A GOOD MAN !

HM Stanley.

This is a story of rags to riches, a struggle out of adversity to success.
Stanley, an illegitimate and very young child was rejected by his family and sent to the Workhouse. He achieved success across continents firstly as a Journalist, then Explorer and finally becoming an MP. He worked his way through the jungles of Africa and the rough terrain with no modern day medicines to find Livingstone whilst from suffering malaria. This culminated in the famous handshake and the saying ‘Dr. Livingstone I presume’

A cord was struck with Nick. As he says, ‘for me he was an exceptional man of his time’ When was Nick offered the opportunity to undertake the commission he grabbed it with both hands. . Nick has expressed movement and strength in the figure moving forward and thrusting his hand out to greet and shake hands with anyone who wishes. Whilst conceptualising the piece, instead of elevating Stanley (on plinth as is usual), Nick wanted him at ground level so the people of Denbigh could interact with the statue itself. Being able to shake.the extended hand people can connect with the man they now call ‘The Son of Denbigh’ ‘The unveiling of the Statue was a very proud moment for me as it is such a huge part of the history of Denbigh, bringing in a lot of tourism as well as being a focus for the renewed pride the people of Denbigh have in their town