BIG GIVE CHRISTMAS
CHALLENGE 2026
Sharing the Stage. Reimagining excellence.
Help shape the future of opera
This year’s Big Give campaign will support the growth of our distinctive Ensemble of Storytellers model, creating musically excellent, highly theatrical opera that brings artists and audiences closer together and plays a vital role in shaping the future of the art form. When you donate through the Big Give Christmas Challenge from 1st to 8th December 2026, your gift will be doubled, supporting outstanding artists to develop their craft and expanding our Ensemble of Storytellers model for the next generation of opera-makers and audiences.
THE ENSEMBLE OF STORYTELLERS
"We're reinventing how opera is made."
Simon Hewitt Jones, Violinist
"OperaUpClose has reached new heights of artistic expression."
Opera Today
“Opera is not fixed. It is alive, it evolves and belongs to everyone.”
Flora McIntosh, Artistic Director and CEO, OperaUpClose
Intimate in scale, mighty in impact.
What is the Ensemble of Storytellers?
Our Ensemble of Storytellers brings singers and instrumentalists together as equal narrative forces, united in the shared act of storytelling. By breaking down traditional stage hierarchies, artists work collaboratively across disciplines, developing new skills, exploring creative boundaries and raising artistic standards. An ensemble of storytellers are:
Instrumentalists and singers sharing the stage
Storytelling at the heart of every performance
Entirely off book and without a conductor
A new model for artistic excellence
Why It Matters: reimagining excellence
The Ensemble of Storytellers is more than a performance model. It is a vision for a future in which opera remains artistically ambitious, and continues to evolve, connect with new audiences and thrive for generations to come.
By embracing new approaches to opera-making, we are creating new opportunities for excellence to flourish. Through the Ensemble of Storytellers approach, we're:
Developing exceptional artists
Investing in new creative talent
Expanding what opera can be
Raising artistic standards
Creating deeper audience connection
“Opera is not fixed. It is alive, it evolves and belongs to everyone.”
Flora McIntosh - Artistic Director
and CEO, OperaUpClose
Your impact: every story starts somewhere
Your support creates the moments that shape artistic journeys and lifelong connections with opera.
A first experience of opera
A professional breakthrough
An opportunity to explore new artistic possibilities
The discovery that opera belongs to everyone
These moments matter. They create connection, unlock talent and shape the future of the art form.
Building on what you've made possible
£20,000 raised in 2025
Last year, Big Give supporters helped us:
Develop and tour new co-created work
Reach families and younger audiences across the Solent region
Evaluate and share learning on our Early Years co-creation model
£30,000 Target in 2026
This year, we want to go further.
We're setting our most ambitious target yet:
£30,000 to develop and expand our Ensemble of Storytellers model
Investing in exceptional artists
Pioneering new approaches to opera-making
Creating musically excellent, highly theatrical work
DOUBLE YOUR IMPACT
Every donation will be matched
£25 → £50
Helping equip a rehearsal room with the resources artists need to explore ideas and freely collaborate.
£50 → £100
Supporting a workshop for artists at all stages of their careers to develop the collaborative storytelling skills at the heart of our Ensemble of Storytellers model.
£100 → £200
Supporting a day of R&D for an emerging artist, removing barriers to participation and giving the next generation of singers the opportunity to experiment and develop their craft.
One Week Only
1 - 8th December 2026
The Big Give Christmas Challenge is open for just one week
While donations can't be made yet, you can pledge your support today and we'll remind you when the campaign goes live so your donation can be matched and have twice the impact.
Supported by:
