Ghost Stories – A Night Opera

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Ghost stories "... a shimmering, atmospheric cluster of works with a ghostly theme...superbly constructed." - Musician Magazine

A haunting and beautiful sound and visual experience is coming to Liverpool’s St. Luke’s (Bombed-out) Church on Thursday 16^th July, ‘Ghost Stories – A Night Opera’ a classical composition written by Liverpool musician and composer Neil Campbell. Since its release in October 2008 on CD simply titled ‘Ghost Stories’, it has received unanimous acclaim from both the UK and International music critics. The subtle ‘A Night Opera’ was added to the title following collaboration with Bill Elms who will work with Neil to stage performances of the piece across the region with stunning visuals in unusual spaces. It is also being performed as part of the Wirral International Guitar Festival in November at Birkenhead Priory. Plans are being made to tour ‘Ghost Stories – A Night Opera’ to other cities and festivals across the UK in 2010.

‘Ghost Stories - A Night Opera’ was written and recorded by Neil Campbell over 2007/08. It started life as a number of short sketches for classical guitar which Neil was interested in enhancing through the use of electronics (in collaboration with electronic musician Michael Beiert). After working with wordless vocals on The Neil Campbell Collective's 'Particle Theory' album (produced concurrently with 'Ghost Stories' and involved soprano Anne Taft as a guest vocalist) Anne was invited to sing on some of the 'Ghost Stories' pieces. The various short movements were then developed into a coherent suite of music segued together by an electronic soundscape built by Michael Beiert using samples of Anne Taft's voice.

“Guitar ambiences, along with soaring operatic vocals, produce a powerful combination, occasionally of theatrical proportions” - Acoustic Magazine

Compositionally 'Ghost Stories' draws on French impressionistic music such as Debussy and Satie, ambient music such as that of Harold Budd or Brian Eno, as well as some jazz (especially Pat Metheny) and progressive rock (particularly Steve Hackett). The music is delicate, shadowy, slow, atmospheric and elegiac.

Since the recording has been released, the performance aspect of the piece has taken on a life of its own and the aim is now to perform it in interesting architectural locations with the music surrounding the audience (and often presented with visuals) to enhance and build upon the experience. The aim of 'Ghost Stories' - as a recording and a live piece - is to completely immerse the audience in the experience.

“...haunting mix of neo-classical pieces built around extraordinary, exacting classical guitar work” Progression Magazine

The St. Luke’s performance will begin at sunset on the evening of Thursday 16^th July, doors will open at 9pm prompt and an atmospheric sound installation will build up to the performance which will begin at 9.32pm.

Voice Anne Taft

Classical Guitar Neil Campbell

Soundscape & Electronics Michael Beiert

Visuals & Photography Shaun Taft

For more information visit www.neilcampbell.org.uk or www.myspace.com/neilcampbellsghoststories

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