Our Mission
Pegasus Opera Company is a registered charity with a three-part mission:
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To provide opportunities for artists of diverse backgrounds;
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To promote opera among young people in underserved communities to expand their cultural horizons;
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To promote opera in culturally diverse communities for all ages.
Our Story
Pegasus Opera Company was founded in 1992 founded by professional opera singer and teacher, Lloyd Newton whose mission was to create performances and work opportunities for talented multicultural opera singers in the profession who were not afforded opportunities elsewhere. Lloyd sadly passed away in 2017 leaving the legacy of Pegasus with his Associate Director, Alison Buchanan who has now become Artistic Director of the company and is the only Black Caribbean female Artistic Director of an opera company in the UK.
Pegasus Opera Company is a registered charity and the home of multicultural opera. Pegasus a long track record of staging high-quality productions while developing a new audience and presenting productions with which they can identify.
We exist to create opportunities for artists from all backgrounds so that they can hone their skills while performing in innovative opera productions. We strive to break down the elitist perceptions so often associated with opera.
Our productions are chosen from an accessible range of works which tour to small and medium-sized venues and unusual spaces also providing educational programmes and developing new audiences through special workshops, outreach programmes and reaching thousands of children across London and the regions.
In the Press
Koanga — Sadlers Wells
"A clear and powerful exposition of a music drama love, lust, miscegenation, hideous cruelty and a doomed slave revolt”
Opera Now
“Pegasus […] has led the way in creating opportunities for ethnic minorities’
The independent
Carmen — National Tour
A spirited new Carmen…
a febrile, physically exciting account”
The Observer
“Carmen sizzles with sensuality and is splendidly performed … the orchestra brings Bizet’s music to vigorous life”
Huddersfield Examiner
I Pagliacci - National Tour
“The drama and pacing are expertly defined”
The Stage
Uncle Remus — Hackney Empire
“Screams of delighted anticipation”
Opera Magazine
The Magic Flute — National Tour
“This superb company continues to attract singers of consistently high quality… universally excellent… the last act was sheer magic in every sense”
Arts Council England
"Pegasus is a dramatic success…I’ve rarely known a Flute that was so inventive…"
Opera Now
Falstaff — Hackney Empire
“An intimate ensemble,
resulting in a rich and exciting sound’
Leisure Times
“Breathtaking”
Live 247
“Bringing the house down”
The Independent
“The company’s production of Falstaff gave almost unalloyed pleasure.”
Opera Magazine
Porgy & Bess - The Barbican
“(Marshall) is an electrifying conductor and drew from the BBC concert Orchestra a whipcrack performance totally idiomatic in its jazzy overt, with outstanding work from the brass”
The Guardian
