We are fundraising to save Margaret Catchpole in more than one sense. The opera itself explores themes of fall and redemption. And we hope to ensure that this special work is literally saved for future generations putting on a world-class performance and committing it to record.

Rescuing Margaret Catchpole

Stephen Dodgson's 1979 chamber opera tells the story of Suffolk heroine, criminal and chronicler Margaret Catchpole. It immerses us in the internal battle between her own good character and values, and her heartfelt loyalty to Will Laud, a smuggler - the man she loves - and ultimately her imprisonment and escape.

Synopsis:http://www.stephendodgson.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Margaret-Catchpole-SYNOPSIS.pdf

To mark the 200th anniversary of the real Margaret Catchpole's death, in July 2019 we are proposing to put on a one-off concert performance in the story's home setting of Suffolk, in Aldeburgh.

We are pulling together a hand-picked team of accomplished soloists and instrumentalists.

We also want to take the opportunity to record this vivid and dramatic piece to reach beyond the concert hall to a wider audience and to inspire future performances.

This is the trust's biggest project to date.

This bigger-scale vision of this project does mean more days for recording purposes and a bigger budget.

The good news? We have already obtained considerable funding which means we are likely to convert that vision into a reality.

But we still need to raise £12,500.

Can you help?

So we are turning to music-lovers and supporters of Stephen's work for support. Can you help by making a donation to the Margaret Catchpole project?

Donations *large and small* are welcome.

What your donation will achieve

With your donation, you'll be playing your own part in ensuring that this work does not get lost to history in the way that many fine artistic works have over the decades and centuries.

All donations are welcome. But to give you an picture of how your donation will help:

£25 - Prints a vocal score

£40 - Prints a full score

£60 - Pays for a musician's bed for a night

£100 - Prints a set of orchestral parts

£250 - Prints promotional fliers

£350 - Covers poster printing

£400 - Covers programme costs and printing

£500 - Covers a bit role

£750 - Covers a smaller soloist role

£1,500 - Covers a major soloist role

£2,000 - Contributes to venue hire for rehearsal and performance

£2,500 - Contributes towards recording equipment and engineers

£3,000 - Contributes towards venue hire for patching sessions

£5,000 - Pays for half the orchestra

Our thanks to you

As a mark of our gratitude:

- Donors of £50+ will be listed in our thank you list in the concert programme

- £250+ will be listed as bronze donors

- £500+ will be listed as silver donors

- £750+ will be listed as gold donors

- £1,000+ will be listed as platinum donors and also receive personal acknowledgement in the CD booklet

Raising awareness and new opportunities

Margaret Catchpole is part of the Stephen Dodgson Charitable Trust's larger mission: to revive awareness of Stephen Dodgson's rich body of fascinating, varied and often humorous and touching work.

Much as Mendelssohn revived the music of the great J.S. Bach from near obscurity, the trust is intent on ensuring that the next generation of music-lovers and musicians can easily discover, listen to and perform Stephen Dodgson's valuable output.

More specifically we are supporting a number of talented young artists in performing and making new recordings of Stephen's works in everything from children's choirs to a cappella horn solos and guitar consorts. We provide an abundant body of work, often for niche ensembles, and help give them a platform to reach a wider public with their musical voice.

And Margaret Catchpole is our most adventurous project yet.