University College Opera The brainchild of the conductor Anthony Addison, (UCL's then Director of Music), University College Opera gave its first performance in 1951 with an all-student production of Purcell's "Dido and Aeneas", followed by Mozart's "Bastien und Bastienne". Even in its earliest years, the company's annual repertoire concentrated on rarely performed operas including: Nicolai's "The Merry Wives of Windsor" (1952), Bizet's "Don Procopio" (1955) and Lortzing's "Der Wildschütz" (1958). In 1961, the company staged its first UK premiere, Moniuszko's "Halka". During its first 17 years, UCOpera's performances took place in the old gymnasium at University College. With the opening of the college's
Alfred Reynolds (composer) the comic book by of that name) and a score for The Swiss Family Robinson. In 1947, he wrote music for a Stratford-upon-Avon adaptation of "Alice in Wonderland" and "Through the Looking-Glass". A two-act comic opera, "The Limpet in the Castle", was premiered in 1958 at Wombwell, Yorkshire. Much of his theatre music has been played in the concert hall. Reynolds died aged 84 at Bognor Regis on 18 October 1969. Philip L. Scowcroft, "Theatre Conductor and Composer: Alfred Reynolds (1884-1969)" Alfred Reynolds (composer) Alfred Reynolds (1884–1969) was a composer of light music for the theatre. He was born in