Tettenhall District Community Trust

15/02/2026

Inside Tracks 6pm Tuesday 17/Feb with Tim Beech

WCRfm with Tim Beech hosting our own local 'Desert Island Discs'. Tuesdays at 6pm 101.8FM, DAB or WCRfm.com | 🔊 "play WCRfm"

Tuesday 17/Feb features the "Aethelflaed Duo", discussing their lifetime musical influences that led to Aethelflaed | A New Opera.

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/19rWVVdvRE/

14/02/2026

[Opera Wire 13/Feb]
"A new large-scale opera chronicling the life of Aethelflaed, Lady of the Mercians, will receive its world premiere in the English town where the medieval warrior queen commanded forces over 1,100 years ago.

The work,”Aethelflaed | A New Opera” is composed by Andre Fratto and adopted by Tettenhall District Community Trust for a three-year development"

https://operawire.com/aethelfled-opera-set-for-world-premiere-production-in-2027/?fbclid=IwdGRjcAP9drtjbGNrA_12Y2V4dG4DYWVtAjExAHNydGMGYXBwX2lkDDM1MDY4NTUzMTcyOAABHnh2KYfTP_YqndQNuK6cH2gppQcrBgR8_Rrn6I8panZqh5OAZLSZIWEfPM0t_aem_eXE0hmIwLmOKDfx4Uyvq_Q

A new large-scale opera chronicling the life of Aethelflaed, Lady of the Mercians, will receive its world premiere in the English town where the medieval warrior queen commanded forces over 1,100 years ago.

28/01/2026

Pianist Alexander Arenare announced for 910AD | A New Opera Recital - 21/Feb

­­­­­­­­­­­­The TDCiC announces leading Pianist, Alexander Arenare, for our recital & launch of Aethelflaed: The Battle of Tettenhall 910AD | A New Opera by Andre Fratto, featuring Rachel Kobernick, and Sam Oxborough.

21/Feb @ Tettenhall Towers Theatre, Tettenhall College, WV6 8QX (TICKETS CURRENTLY 50% SOLD)
TICKETS: 910adoperarecital.tdcic.org.uk

PROGRAMME TO BE ANNOUNCED SHORTLY

Alex Arenare

Alex was featured recently last year with The Wolverhampton Symphony Orchestra performing a fantastic rendition of Rachmaninov's Piano Concerto No. 2

https://youtu.be/w74jQPXI65s?si=EMupN21KScaVjPYo

Whilst at School, Alex achieved the letter bearing DipABRSM diploma and won the Fred Southall prize, awarded by the ABRSM. He was then offered a place to study at Trinity Laban conservatoire under the tutelage of Hilary Coates, one of the UK’s most in-demand professors. Whilst completing undergraduate studies, Alex was a two-time finalist in the John longmire Beethoven Competition, was selected to accompany for both the Senior and Junior Kathleen Ferrier competition in addition to performing throughout the UK as a soloist, accompanist and collaborative musician. Alex graduated with First Class honours. He was then offered a place to study with Noriko Ogawa at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama where he graduated with distinction. Here, Alex was a finalist in GSMD’s Romantic Prize in addition to performing actively throughout the UK.

Alexander has participated in masterclasses and studied privately with Professor Emeritus Christopher Elton, Alessandra Brustia and Carol Leone.

Recent performances and masterclasses include Tettenhall College, Wrekin College and Milton Court, amongst other UK based festivals.

CLICK FOR TICKETS - https://910adoperarecital.tdcic.org.uk

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Opera Recital & Talk Back (Excerpts: Piano, Duet, Aria) For

Aethelflaed: The Battle Of 910AD | A NEW OPERA By Andre Fratto

Tettenhall Towers Theatre, Tettenhall, WV6 8QX

Saturday 21st February 2026 19:00 | Doors 18:30 – Pre drinks bar and interval

FEATURED BY MEDIA PARTNER WCR fm | PERFORMANCE MC 21/FEB – Mr Tim Beech

Aethelflaed: The Battle of Tettenhall 910AD | A New Opera by Andre Fratto, featuring Rachel Kobernick

Mercia's own story told through modern immersive experiences | Our forgotten role in the Beginning Of England.

_________________________________________

Promotion by Tettenhall District CiC | Reg No 15713429 | [email protected]

For more information on the 910AD and Aethelflaed project, please visit 910ad.tdcic.org.uk

Full programme: Aria Concert & Promotional Tour Aug 2026 | Full Opera Production in Wolverhampton Aug 2027 910adtickets.tdcic.org.uk

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27/01/2026

Sound on!! Listen to a snippet from the opera that nods to Pink Floyd, and hear composer Andre Fratto talk about how his influences range from Puccini to Classic Rock 🤘🏻

Tickets are still on sale for the project launch and recital on February 21st, here: Aethelfled | A New Opera - Lecture Recital

25/01/2026

The TDCiC announces 2nd soprano, Samantha Oxborough, for our recital & launch of Aethelflaed: The Battle of Tettenhall 910AD | A New Opera by Andre Fratto, featuring Rachel Kobernick.

21/Feb @ Tettenhall Towers Theatre, Tettenhall College (TICKETS CURRENTLY 50% SOLD)

Samantha Oxborough
2nd Soprano
https://youtube.com/watch?v=pzxSpxWPbE4&feature=shared

Samantha Oxborough is a British mezzo-soprano singer known for performing the National Anthem at the 2022 Commonwealth Games opening ceremony in Birmingham. A Royal Birmingham Conservatoire graduate and former National Opera Studio young artist, she specializes in classical repertoire, opera, and performances with The Conservatoire Folk Ensemble.

CLICK FOR TICKETS - https://910adoperarecital.tdcic.org.uk
Opera Recital & Talk Back (Excerpts: Piano, Duet, Aria) For Aethelflaed: The Battle Of 910AD | A NEW OPERA By Andre Fratto
Tettenhall Towers Theatre, Tettenhall, WV6 8QX
Saturday 21st February 2026 19:00 | Doors 18:30 – Pre drinks bar and interval

STOP PRESS: Sun 25/Jan - The TDCiC announces 2nd Soprano, Samantha Oxborough, for our recital & launch of Aethelflaed: The Battle of Tettenhall 910AD | A New Opera by Andre Fratto, featuring Rachel Kobernick

Mercia's own story told through modern immersive experiences | Our forgotten role in the Beginning Of England.

Promotion by Tettenhall District CiC | Reg No 15713429 | [email protected]
For more information on the 910AD and Aethelflaed project, please visit 910ad.tdcic.org.uk
Full programme: Aria & Promotional Tour Aug 2026 | Full Opera Production in Wolverhampton Aug 2027 910adtickets.tdcic.org.uk

22/01/2026

Aethelflaed: The Battle Of Tettenhall 910AD | A New Opera

See 910adopera.tdcic.org.uk for more information.

Tickets on sale for our 21/Feb Opera Recital at 910adoperarecital.tdcic.org.uk
Tettenhall Towers Theatre, Wood Road, Tettenhall WV6 9QX 19:00 (doors 18:30)

Opera recital & talk back (excerpts with piano aria, duet). A 40 minute musical programme with talk by composer Andre Fratto.
Featuring Principal Soprano Rachel Kobernick (Met, RCM), local pianist Iain Richardson,

https://youtube.com/watch?v=5SAxqqomio4&si=PITUYq2o7Wnak7Aa

Promoting and improving economic, social and environment wellbeing

22/01/2026

17/01/2026

Tickets for Sat 21/Feb 2026 (19:00) performance of The 910AD Operatic Touring Co - Opera Recital Lecture & Piano Aria for Aethelflaed: The Battle Of 910AD | A NEW OPERA. Mercia's own story told through modern immersive experiences | Our forgotten role in the Beginning Of England. FACE VALUE £17.50
https://910adoperarecital.tdcic.org.uk

Join us in February with Andre Fratto and Rachel Kobernick, Composer and Lead Soprano of Aethelfled - a new opera detailing the events leading up to the Battle of 910AD.

On Saturday 21/Feb at 19:00 , join us for a Lecture Recital at Tettenhall Towers Theatre, Tettenhall College, Wood Road, WV6 8QX with excerpts from the opera, featuring piano "reduction" with local pianist, and soprano Rachel Kobernick, followed by a Q&A session with Andre and Rachel.

The program will feature 40 minutes of music followed by a 20 minute talk back, with a total run time of around an hour. Meet and greet to follow and the event will be featured by Tim Beech of WCR FM Radio. Andre has been working as a composer for film, TV, & theatre for over 25 years - including the TV series HAVEN, and has two symphonies to his name. Rachel has sung over 20 operatic roles, and is a versatile soprano who the New York Times quotes as providing "captivating performances".

Tickets are now available for Opera Recital Lecture & Piano Aria For Aethelflaed: The Battle Of 910AD at Tettenhall Towers Theatre, Tettenhall on Saturday 21st February 2026. Click the link for further information and to secure your tickets now!

13/01/2026

"Economic waste and environmental vandalism"

https://www.expressandstar.com/news/environment/2026/01/12/economic-waste-and-environmental-vandalism-protestors-anger-over-barriers-at-wolverhampton-nature-reserve-to-deter-anti-social-behaviour/?fbclid=IwdGRjcAPThOFjbGNrA9OEcmV4dG4DYWVtAjExAHNydGMGYXBwX2lkDDM1MDY4NTUzMTcyOAABHrblNoygYGXDayJvF_vGttB7YlxkxeTDOivLZmCSSFLS-SB1NXy7egzAztyi_aem_qbJrByA-co0a4aAD1C9gFQ

A campaign group for a nature reserve in Wolverhampton have spoken out about what they have described as vandalism of the area through the installation of a number of metal barriers.

11/01/2026

Council still in dispute with community groups as work set to start on Wolverhampton nature reserve

Wolverhampton Council is set to go ahead with a project to install 50 barriers at a beauty spot despite objections from a community forum group.