CAD GODDEU- THE BATTLE OF THE TREES
Petite Opera House are very excited to support and work with our composer in residence, Brian Hosefros, and Welsh story teller Ceri John Phillips, to write a new kid’s opera, based on Talesin’s ancient tale, Cad Goddeu, The Battle of the Trees.
This new work is aimed for older kids, and will bring together multiple art forms, including storytelling, singing, music and dance. It will tell the story of enchanter Gwydion, who brings the trees of the forest to life, to fight as his army.
Work began in 2025, and we had a very successful research and development session at the Ffwrnes Theatre in Llanelli, Wales. We are now looking to the next stage of funding to write the rest of the opera, and bring shows to Wales, London and Edinburgh in 2026.
BRIAN HOSEFROS, OUR COMPOSER IN RESIDENCE
Brian Hosefros completed the MA Opera Maker’s course at Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London, UK, a partnership with the Royal Opera House in 2017. Prior to studying at Guildhall his career focused on writing music for small folkloric or fairytale plays throughout London. In fact, his first opera, written in Russian, was an adaptation of an animal fable (Strekoza i Muravej [Dragonfly and Ant]).
For a long time, Brian has had an interest in fairy and folk tales began early with his first opera, Dragonfly and Ant, performed in London in 2013. Refining his musical storytelling, his interest found its own expression culminating in Peter Prickles, a fairytale of his own devising taking place in the American southwest. His work in the medium, exploring folklore brought him to Wales, where he is settled, working on his new hybrid work with a traditional Welsh storyteller on adapting Taliesin’s Cad Goddeu, about a great battle of trees between man and the faerie folk.
BRIAN HOSEFROS