about opera brava

our vision

To awaken a new generation to the meaning and joy of opera by educating the young, enthralling the old and encouraging participation for all.

our mission

  • To present quality operatic performances, in English

  • To make Opera accessible and affordable to all

  • To provide creative opportunities that nurture new talent

  • To inspire a passion for opera in the young through education and participation

  • To commission new works.

The History of Opera Brava

Opera Brava began in 1988 from a tiny back bedroom with an old computer a few box files masses of enthusiasm and a big dream. As with any new project the results took a few months to come through and more than a fair share of love devotion and dedication. When it began to bear fruit the effort was immediately hailed as a triumph and greeted with applause.


The company was started by professional opera singers Bronek Pomorski and Amanda Buckland who had trained at the Royal Scottish Academy and the Guildhall School of Music and Drama.

Over 30 years later and with hundreds of performances under their belt, they still have the same passion and enthusiasm for opera as they did at the start. Over the years the company have employed many gifted artists: singers, musicians, directors, photographers, designers, creative people on many different levels and they are proud to have had the opportunity to employ and nurture much young talent and see it develop.

Most of Opera Brava's performances have been outside braving a sometimes unforgiving English heatwave in full costume or singing love duets as the rain falls horizontally across the stage.

Over the years the company have performed everywhere from school halls to churches, historic houses, private clubs and Italian Piazzas. Their main aim has always been to awaken a new generation to the meaning and joy of opera by educating young enthralling the old and encouraging participation for all.

Their passion to inspire the next generation drives the school program and to date they have worked with over 300 schools and more than 25,000 children. Their objective is not only to educate children about opera by presenting it as something fun and exciting in all its various forms but importantly also to encourage confidence in each child.

  • Stuart Maunder, Artistic Director State Opera South Australia

    Stuart Maunder

    Artistic Director State Opera South Australia.

    During the 1990’s I had the honour of directing a number of productions for Opera Brava. This lean, nimble organisation gave me and many artists and arts workers the chance to hone our craft.

    The development of new talent is the lifeblood of opera, and one of the key roles of Opera Brava is to identify that emerging talent and give those young singers a head-start in the competitive world of professional music, to learn its concepts and rigour and to work alongside established artists.

    The company was known for its innovative presentations of popular works in often surprising locations . The company prides itself on breaking down the commonly perceived barriers to entry – principally, concerns of elitism, ticket prices, the notion that opera is "too hard”. Recognising that opera is often at its most moving when it is at its most intimate.

    In addition Opera Brava continues to roll out a creative education programme. These productions and workshops allowed young people to learn about all aspects of opera, thereby seeding the opera audience of the future.

    Long may Opera Brava prosper.

  • Portrait of Murray Hipkin

    Murray Hipkin

    Music Staff - English National Opera (1983-1988; 1995-present)

    Musical Director – The Sound of Music - RUG/London Palladium (2008-2009)

    Musical Director – Opera Brava (1990-1995)

    I was Musical Director of Opera Brava between 1990 and 1995. They have always cast to a very high standard and many of today’s leading opera singers can look back to professional debuts with Opera Brava. They were also ahead of their time in striving wherever possible to provide family-friendly working practices so that artistes with children were not disadvantaged by long periods touring away from home, or by having to work too many anti-social hours. In fact, the performers’ children were very much part of the larger Opera Brava family and it is this embracing of family and community values that has in turn informed the company’s commitment to provide workshops and productions for young people which continues to this day.

  • Portrait of Roderick Williams OBE

    Roderick Williams OBE

    Baritone English National Opera, London

    I sang with Opera Brava during the early 1990s when I was just beginning my operatic career. Bronek and Mandy Pomorski gave me one of my very first operatic roles, Marcello in Puccini’s La Bohème, which we performed on tour in the south of England. Apart from being a tremendous amount of fun, working alongside a really wonderful and supportive group of colleagues, this proved to be the perfect learning experience for me. The tour gave me repeated opportunities to learn my stagecraft, to develop my vocal stamina, and to grow completely comfortable with a role that I subsequently took to Scottish Opera-Go-Round, Scottish Opera itself and now currently at English National Opera.

  • Portrait of Marcin Kopec

    Marcin Kopec

    TACT Management

    I worked with Opera Brava for a few seasons in the early 2000’s, being a part of their Tosca, Barbiere, Madame Butterfly on tour. I had a chance to watch how big an input they made for several young artists just leaving colleges, giving them a chance to perform major roles in their productions, which led later to many international careers. I work now as an agent in Berlin based management and can see how these first opportunities helped develop and form career paths for young professionals. The soloists appearing with Opera Brava have later performed at the ROH, English National Opera, Opera de Paris, Zurich Opera, to name a few of the biggest world stages. Bronek Pomorski has a very good ear for world class voices, and often spotted the talent which otherwise could have been missed.

  • Portrait of Ania Jeruc International Soprano

    Ania Jeruc

    International Soprano

    Opera Brava gave me one of my first professional engagements after finishing my studies. I recall the Artistic Director’s passion for music, talent and professionalism. Since my time with them, I have had a chance to perform with several other opera houses, including Opera North, Polish National opera, Zurich Opera, Teatro Real Madrid, Royal Opera de Wallonie. A performer's life can be full of tension, and building the confidence of young artists’ is so important. Opera Brava is able to encourage and develop this confidence by enabling the young performers to work alongside established professionals, whilst working with great directors and musicians in a positive, encouraging environment. The mid-scale companies of this sort are the missing link in the education of opera singers. In many countries one would pay to have these opportunities; whilst with Opera Brava we were being paid to develop our crafts. We cannot appreciate their input enough.

Generously supported by