The Silver Bell - New Sussex Opera

New Sussex Opera | British Premiere | May - June 2025

This year I had the joy and privilege of making my role debut as Rosa in the British premiere of The Silver Bell with New Sussex Opera. Five beautiful venues, a truly unique piece of operatic history, a cast and creative team full of imagination and integrity… what a special experience it was!

A Long-Lost Gem, Finally Heard

Saint-Saëns’ Le Timbre d’argent (The Silver Bell) is something of a mystery in opera history. Though it was the first opera he composed, its premiere was delayed for over a decade, and it underwent numerous rewrites before finally being staged in 1877. Despite being the work of a major composer, it somehow never made its way to British stages — until now.

New Sussex Opera presented the UK stage premiere in a new English version by Paul Featherstone. The production reimagined the opera’s gothic, supernatural narrative through the lens of silent film and early 20th-century psychology — think Freud, fractured minds, shadowy cabarets. It was both clever and haunting, and gave me so much to dig into as a performer.

The Tour

We opened in early May and toured through June, with performances at: All Saints Centre, Lewes, Blackheath Halls, London, Devonshire Park Theatre, Eastbourne, Worthing Pavilion Theatre and Theatre Royal, Winchester.

The Cast & Team

It was an honour to work alongside such a dedicated cast:

• Anthony Flaum - Conrad

• Sky Ingram - Hélène

• Arshak Kuzikyan - Spiridion

• Harun Tekin - Bénédict

• Namiko Gahier‑Ogawa - Circé (dancer)

Conducted with flair and clarity by the fabulous Toby Purser (with Leif Tse conducting the Worthing performance), directed by Paul Higgins, and designed by Mollie Cheek, the production struck a perfect balance between surrealism and sincerity. Lighting by James Harvey and dramaturgy from Benjamin Poore added layers of psychological depth. We were joined by the St Paul’s Sinfonia and the wonderful, ]committed New Sussex Opera Chorus.

Reviews & Reactions

“Rosa, here performed by English soprano Lucy Farrimond, was equally both exquisite in voice and convincingly sincere in her actions. She has a sweet, caressing clarion voice, crystal clear with wonderful diction.”— OperaWire

A Final Note

Bringing The Silver Bell to UK audiences - most of whom had never even heard of it - was an utter joy. There was something deeply moving about being part of the first chapter of its British stage life.

To everyone who came, supported, sang, played, moved sets, tuned lights, and clapped with such warmth - thank you. It was a debut I’ll treasure always!

Lucy

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