Simon Crosby Buttle
Opera Singer, Recording Engineer, Star Trek and Tolkien fan.
Trustee for the Paul Corfield Godfrey Music Trust.
www.volanteopera.wales
www.paulcorfieldgodfrey.co.uk
- We’re very happy to also announce that along with our #demorecording of #thelordoftherings we also have pre-orders for both Vocal and Full Scores of this massive work! www.volanteopera.wales/category/all... #tolkien #opera #classicalmusic
- FULL SCORE: This is the score that is used by a conductor or as a serious study score. VOCAL SCORE: These are what are used in rehearsal by Singers and the pianist. All of the vocal parts are there and the orchestral is reduced down to a piano part that is easier to follow.
- The 17-hours Lord of the Rings opera from Paul Corfield Godfrey & Volante is now available for pre-order! www.theonering.net/torwp/2025/0...
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View full threadEach sailor had a beer bottle in each hand. The choreography went as follows; 1) step forward 2) step L 3) step back 4) step R 5) upend R beer bottle over head. 6) upend L beer bottle over head. 7) repeat, ad infinitum.
- Pretty standard choreography… I think I’ve done that in quite a few shows.
- For the first time in my life, I actually fell asleep in an opera. Mum elbowed me in the ribs and whispered, "The Sailors' Chorus is next! That'll wake you up!" It was the most wooden choreography I had ever seen. The rollicking chorus of partying sailors was reduced to Foxtrot 101.
- I do know of one production that was done and set in outer space with the male chorus in comedy space suits… many of my colleagues were in it and none speak well of it!
- More years ago than I would care to admit, I saw the Australian Opera's production of 'The Flying Dutchman', directed by no less an august personage than Wolfgang Wagner. I'm here to tell you now, he took one of the most accessible of his granddad's operas and turned it into an absolute snooze fest.
- Wagner does seem to lend itself to less than ideal productions… as if it’s not challenging enough to stage (and sometimes comprehend) there has to be a personal “gimmick” from some of the directors
- That's almost as long as the first act of a Wagner opera.
- I’ve been in quite a few and it’s definitely what it feels like. This adaptation, whilst similar in length to the Ring Cycle, has a lot of characters and a lot of story to get through. It does not feel its length but it does feel like one hell of a musical journey!
- SEVENTEEN HOURS
- Just short of 16 for the main narrative, over an hour of extras! Paul’s original plan was much longer, we whittled it down to this size without sacrificing story elements. It’s not in a rush, but also doesn’t wallow.
- Available to Pre-Order now: www.volanteopera.wales Full Trailer: youtu.be/R0xnCDMtJnE #tolkien #thelordoftherings #opera #classicalmusic #lordoftherings #jrrtolkien #hobbit #operacycle
- Our complete cast! youtu.be/mycmJsovnek?... #tolkien #opera #thelordoftherings #lordoftherings #demorecording
- Edmond Choo will be performing the roles #Glorfindel and Sandyman on our Recording of Paul Corfield Godfrey’s Musical Chapters from #thelordoftherings after the mythology of #Tolkien. www.volanteopera.wales #tolkien #opera #lordoftherings #demorecording #middleearth #hobbit #elf #glorfindel
- James Schouten will be performing the roles Elrond and Faramir on our Recording of Paul Corfield Godfrey’s The Lord of the Rings after the mythology of JRR Tolkien. www.volanteopera.wales #tolkien #opera #lordoftherings #thelordoftherings #demorecording #middleearth #elrond #faramir #gondor
- We’re proud to announce that Steffan Lloyd-Evans will be performing the role of Snaga on our Complete Demo Recording of Paul Corfield Godfrey’s #thelordoftherings For more information please visit our website: www.volanteopera.wales #tolkien #opera #lordoftherings #middleearth #orc #orcs
- We're proud to announce our Chorus for our Complete #demorecording of Paul Corfield Godfrey's "Musical Chapters from #thelordoftherings after the mythology of #tolkien " #lordoftherings #classicalsinger #middleearth #operatic #operacycle #singer #classicalsingers #mythology #studiorecording #CD #cd
- musicwebinternational.com/2025/01/corf... A fabulous review of our #demorecording of The Music of Paul Corfield Godfrey ‘s operatic adaptation of #noelcoward #blithespirit “Dear reader, turn down the light and treat yourself to a really eerie and ghost-ridden evening. You won’t regret it!”
- A track from our #aamilne #songs album was played by #bbcradio3 this morning! Congratulations to Freddie and Phil! youtu.be/wHyPBTqiR98?... www.volanteopera.wales #milne #pooh #christopherrobin
- To start out this year, I had the great honour of becoming one of three newly created 'Officers of the Trust' for the incredible Paul Corfield Godfrey (www.paulcorfieldgodfrey.co.uk). Three of us, Klara Claesson, Larissa Martins Costa and myself started out as fans, and remain so, and through last
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View full thread@scbuttle.bsky.social must take an enormous dose of praise for putting up with me. I bully him all the time, usually on his status as a natural blonde 😝 He is the best!
- I am a natural blonde… Thank you for coming on board and being incredible.
- Rhodri Prys Jones will be performing the roles of Legolas, Gildor and Minstrel on our Recording of Paul Corfield Godfrey’s The Lord of the Rings. www.volanteopera.wales #tolkien #opera #lordoftherings #thelordoftherings #middleearth #classicalsinger #operasinger #legolas #elf #gildor #gondor
- Lord of the Rings would work as a musical.
- Have a look at www.paulcorfieldgodfrey.co.uk - he has the permission of the estate to write musical works based upon The Silmarillion, The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, using Tolkien’s own words.
- Since this wonderful place seems to be taking off I thought a little intro to our #tolkien based work wouldn’t go amiss! We’re in the process of recording an operatic cycle based upon #thelordoftherings ! Paul Corfield Godfrey was granted permission from the Estate this year to finally… 1/?
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View full threadOoh, I know what’s going on my Christmas wishlist
- Amazon etc. had copies but not many left - we have plenty for direct purchase.
- Absolutely running to get these omg
- The physical sets come with a booklet with all of the texts etc…
- YOUVE DONE MULTIPLE TOLKIEN OPERAS BEFORE????
- Yeah - all five parts of the Silmarillion. We started releasing them in 2018. Complete sets are available from Volante’s website (www.volanteopera.wales) or digital purchase (not streaming) from the usual providers - just search Paul’s name.
- It was great to hear some previews of this at Oxonmoot this past fall - talk about a Ring Cycle!
- Glad you enjoyed it - lots more samples on our Discord now!
- Omg Varda is going to be a part of this???????
- She’s already part of The Silmarillion - Emma played her in Feanor and The War of Wrath. In LotR she is heard in the distance as the ships sail for the havens.
- …well on the way to being complete with our last few cast members to be announced soon. For more information visit Paul’s website or www.volanteopera.wales where we also have a convenient web store 😉 Our previous albums are available for digital purchase on your platform of choice. 8/9
- As for the music, I cannot recommend it highly enough for fans of any type of #classicalmusic or #opera. The style moves and shifts with the story - from the grand #Rohan, austere #Gondor and ethereal #elves to the quirky #hobbits or disturbing #orcs. Samples are available on our Discord… 6/?
- …(link on www.paulcorfieldgodfrey.co.uk) where we also have a friendly discussion group where not only the composer but members of the cast interact with any who take part. We are well on track for release next year - this immense work will take some time to get ready, but voice recording is… 7/?
- …a cast of 35(ish) professional opera singers who have given their time at a much reduced rate in order to make the project happen. This is one of the most faithful adaptations out there! It obviously has to make adjustments to be sung and performed in a cohesive way but it uses #jrrtolkien ‘s 4/?
- …own words - no created dialogue or additional scenes and storylines. It is (obviously) edited down but the story is Tolkien’s own. Characters such as #tombombadil , #imrahil, #goldberry, #glorfindel, #gildor, #gloin, #halbarad - just to name a few - are all present. 5/?
- …release this grand epic that he has spent over 50 years working on. This will be a complete demo recording of the entire work - all 17 hours including appendices! It’s designed to be performed over 6 evenings and connects musically to the adaptations that he wrote of the #silmarillion … 2/?
- and #thehobbit (which we are currently recording alongside #lotr). We spent 8 years recording Paul’s #thesilmarillion and are so proud of our work getting it out there finally for people to hear. #LordoftheRings is a massive work with over 80 characters and we’re managing to record it with… 3/?
- Owen Webb will be performing the roles of Imrahil, Halbarad, Mablung, Noakes and Otho on our Recording of Paul Corfield Godfrey’s operatic The Lord of the Rings after Tolkien. www.volanteopera.wales #tolkien #opera #lordoftherings #thelordoftherings #demorecording #middleearth #operasinger #hobbit
- Michael Clifton-Thompson will be performing the role of Gollum on our Recording of Paul Corfield Godfrey’s The Lord of the Rings after the mythology of JRR Tolkien. www.volanteopera.wales #tolkien #opera #lordoftherings #thelordoftherings #demorecording #middleearth #operasinger #gollum #smeagol
- Laurence Cole will be performing the roles of Boromir, Denethor, the Mouth of Sauron, Cirdan and Bill Ferny on our Demo Recording of Paul Corfield Godfrey’s #thelordoftherings www.volanteopera.wales #tolkien #opera #lordoftherings #demorecording #middleearth #boromir #denethor
- David Fortey will be performing the role of Pippin on our Complete Demo Recording of Paul Corfield Godfrey’s Musical Chapters from The Lord of the Rings www.volanteopera.wales #tolkien #opera #lordoftherings #thelordoftherings #demorecording #middleearth #hobbit #pippin #took #peregrintook
- Our cast announcements for our Complete #demorecording of Paul Corfield Godfrey’s “Musical Chapters from #TheLordoftheRings after the mythology of #tolkien” are on hold for the summer! Lots more exciting introductions to come soon!
- George Newton-Fitzgerald will be performing the roles of Butterbur, Elladan, Khamul and Ceorl on our Complete Demo Recording of Paul Corfield Godfrey’s Musical Chapters from #thelordoftherings www.volanteopera.wales #tolkien #opera #middleearth #rohan #prancingpony #ringwraith #nazgul #rivendell
- Helen Jarmany will be performing the role of Eowyn on our Complete Demo Recording of Paul Corfield Godfrey’s Musical Chapters from The Lord of the Rings www.volanteopera.wales #tolkien #opera #lordoftherings #thelordoftherings #demorecording #middleearth #eowyn #rohan #rohirrim #shieldmaiden
- Howard Kirk will be performing #TomBombadil, #Eothain, #Quickbeam, #Haldir, Stranger, Hob, Odo and Galdor on our Complete Demo Recording of Paul Corfield Godfrey’s Musical Chapters from #thelordoftherings www.volanteopera.wales #tolkien #opera #middleearth #ent #rohan #hobbit #elf #Lothlorien
- Gavin Davies will be performing the roles of Theoden, Gloin and Celeborn on our Complete Demo Recording of Paul Corfield Godfrey’s Musical Chapters from #thelordoftherings www.volanteopera.wales #tolkien #opera #demorecording #middleearth #theoden #rohan #rohirrim #dwarf #gloin #celeborn #elf
- Alastair Moore will be performing Beregond, Hama, Daddy Two-Foot, Damrod, Ugluk, Rory, Gorbag, Farmer Cotton, Soldier and Deagol on our #DemoRecording of Paul Corfield Godfrey’s #TheLordoftheRings www.volanteopera.wales #tolkien #opera #middleearth #gondor #rohan #minastirith #hobbit #orcs
- Dyfed Wyn Evans will be performing the role of Merry on our Complete Demo Recording of Paul Corfield Godfrey’s Musical Chapters from The Lord of the Rings. www.volanteopera.wales #tolkien #opera #lordoftherings #thelordoftherings #middleearth #operasinger #brandybuck #hobbit #hobbiton
- Peter Wilman will be performing the roles of Wormtongue, Ingold, Shagrat, Grishnakh, Tracker and Everard Took on our Complete Demo Recording of Paul Corfield Godfrey’s Musical Chapters from #thelordoftherings www.volanteopera.wales #tolkien #opera #middleearth #wormtongue #grima #orc #hobbit #rohan
[This user deactivated their account]- I have no idea either, but thank you!
- Stephen Wells will be performing the role of Strider/Aragorn on our Complete Demo Recording of Paul Corfield Godfrey’s Musical Chapters from The Lord of the Rings. www.volanteopera.wales #tolkien #opera #lordoftherings #thelordoftherings #middleearth #operasinger #strider #aragorn #elessar #ranger
- Last night Paul Corfield Godfrey and Simon Crosby Buttle were guests on Signum University’s “Other Minds and Hands” series discussing #tolkien #opera #silmarillion #thehobbit #thelordoftherings! Thank you to Maggie and Corey for being wonderful, welcoming hosts! www.youtube.com/live/NJzTmlK...
- Sophie Yelland will be performing the role of The Barrow-wight on our Complete Demo Recording of Paul Corfield Godfrey’s Musical Chapters from The Lord of the Rings www.volanteopera.wales #tolkien #opera #lordoftherings #thelordoftherings #demorecording #middleearth #operasinger #barrowwight
