A new work inspired by Hildegard von Bingen’s 12th-century morality play Ordo Virtutum.
This reimagining offers an immersive, meditative experience that fuses medieval plainchant with ambient electronic soundscapes.
Bitter Visions follows the demise of a Soul, who is led astray from her fellow Virtues by the Devil. Through the familiar path of fall and redemption, Ololyga re-examine notions of feminine virtue and desire, whilst confronting ongoing debates around sexual agency and bodily autonomy.
Drawing upon monastic traditions of chant, ritual and meditation, Bitter Visions invites audiences into a visceral and immersive sonic experience, channelling Hildegard’s belief in music as a divine and healing force that can bridge body, soul, and cosmos.
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Running time
1 hour -
Age guidance
12+ -
Discounts
Concessions Available
Praise for previous productions
"Transcendental, acidic, warm polyphonic glory"– Audience Member at Tête-à-Tête Opera Festival 2025
Production photography
The Company
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Florence Carruthers-Andrews
The Soul
Florence Carruthers-Andrews
The Soul
Florence is a mezzo soprano from Brighton. She completed her MMus at Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance, where she graduated with Distinction and was a recipient of the Kathleen Roberts Vocal Scholarship. Previous operatic roles include Orlofsky (Die Fledermaus), Ruggerio (Alcina), Ottone (L’incoronazione di Poppea) and Octavian (Der Rosenkavalier). Florence has a special interest in Contemporary- Baroque fusion and founded the vocal ensemble Ololyga on this basis, for whom she is now acting Artistic Director. She wrote, directed and produced their debut production of ‘Bitter Visions: By Order of Hildegard’, which premiered at the Tete-a-Tete Opera Festival last year.
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Eleanor Westbrook
The Devil
Eleanor Westbrook
The Devil
Ellie is an experimental Soprano, Clown, Improviser and collaborator. She trained in physical theatre devising with the Belarus Free theatre, studied Clown and theatre at LISPA in Berlin (Now Arthaus.Berlin) and studied voice at Trinity Laban Conservatoire. She is artistic director of multidisciplinary performance company TUFT, putting on large events in Hastings Castle, Caves and currently developing an innovative adaptation of Titus Andronicus. She has performed with Festival Voices at the Southbank Centre, Waste Paper Opera Company, Belarus Free Theatre, and her original performance works have featured at Eavesdropping Festival, Soho Theatre’s Fool’s Moon & the De La Warr Pavilion. She’s collaborated with many artists, including Mat Collishaw, Bootie Brown, Dom Bouffard, Natacha Diels, Keir Cooper, Oskar McCarthy, Jessie Maryon Davies, Tullis Rennie.
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Salome Siu
The Virtues
Salome Siu
The Virtues
Salome Siu is a Hong Kong-born dramatic mezzo-soprano based in London. A distinction graduate of Trinity Laban Conservatoire, she received the Eva Malpass Scholarship and the Director’s Prize for Excellence in Voice, and was a finalist in the Gold Medal Competition. Recent roles include Cornelia in Giulio Cesare, Mme de Croissy in Dialogues des Carmélites, Third Lady in The Magic Flute, Mutter in Hänsel und Gretel, Eboli in Don Carlo, and Flora in La Traviata. Her performances have been praised in Opera Magazine, Fine Times Recorder Theatre Plays UK and The Critics.
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Miranda Ostler
The Virtues
Miranda Ostler
The Virtues
Miranda Ostler is a mezzo-soprano with a decade of experience as a soloist and choir member. Operatic roles include the lead in Strozzi! at Blackheath Halls, Kael in Jessen’s Syllable, and Mrs Cratchit in Musgrave’s A Christmas Carol. Miranda is a member of experimental vocal trio The Ruffians; she deputises for the BBC Singers and Tenebrae, and has recorded several recent discs with the London Choral Sinfonia. She studied at Trinity Laban Conservatoire and Durham University.
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Amy Kearsley
The Virtues
Amy Kearsley
The Virtues
Mezzo soprano Amy Kearsley is a versatile performer. She is an Electric Voice Theatre young artist, championing music by women composers. She has premiered works with Ololyga, Virtually Opera, the Tête à Tête Festival, and Trinity Laban Opera. She has performed with Hampstead Garden Opera, Uncovered Opera and the Opera Makers. Amy studied at Trinity Laban Conservatoire as a Charles Jacobs Vocal Scholar and recipient of Help Musicians’ Postgraduate Award.
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Lydia Ward
Queen Humility
Lydia Ward
Queen Humility
Lydia is a Nottinghamshire-born Mezzo-Soprano who recently completed her Master’s Degree in vocal performance with distinction from Trinity Laban Conservatoire. She began her musical journey as a vocal specialist at Wells Cathedral School and later graduated with a First Class Honours Degree in Music and German from Royal Holloway, University of London, where she was awarded a choral scholarship.A recipient of the Southwell Choral Society Music Bursary Prize, Lydia has built a vibrant career in London as both a soloist and ensemble singer. She was a finalist in both the English Song and Lieder Competitions during her time at Trinity Laban, and has performed with renowned groups such as the Academy of Ancient Music, Siglo de Oro, Sansara, and Ensemble OrQuesta, where she portrayed Iphis in Céphale et Procris at the 2023 Grimeborn Festival and in a new recording of the opera to be released this year.
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Emily Beech
Victory
Emily Beech
Victory
Emily Beech is an Irish soprano and opera maker. She is a Britten Pears Young Artist 2026-27, and a British Youth Opera Serena Fenwick Artist for 2024. Her recent work includes the role of Amor/Valetto (L’Incoronazione di Poppea) for Hampstead Garden Opera, Oscar (Un Ballo in Maschera) for Opera on Location, and Victory (Ordo Virtutum) for Ololyga at the Tête-à-Tête Festival 2025. Emily studied Music at the University of Birmingham and completed postgraduate vocal training at TLCMD, graduating with Distinction in 2023 under the tutelage of Sophie Grimmer. She was then a Junior Fellow at the GSMD 2024-25.
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Sara Knight
Discretion
Sara Knight
Discretion
سارا | Sara Knight is a Pakistani-English soprano who completed her Vocal Masters at Trinity Laban, supported by the Kathleen Roberts Vocal Scholarship. She performed Elizabeth in the UK premiere of Libby Larsen’s Frankenstein or the Modern Prometheus (2023) and has worked with Barefoot Opera, British Youth Opera, and Northern Opera. She studied at Leeds College of Music and also works as a Gestalt therapist with adults in individual sessions and workshops.
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Issy Roberts
Mercy
Issy Roberts
Mercy
Isabella Roberts is a mezzo-soprano who completed her Master of Music with distinction at Trinity Laban Conservatoire in 2024, studying with Neil Baker and Panaretos Kyriatzidis. She currently studies under Nicholas Powell and Rachel Nicholls. Recent engagements with St Paul’s Opera include Gianetta and cover Adina in Donizetti’s L’elisir d’amore, alongside appearances in concerts including Sacred Voices Resound and the David Butt Philip and Friends Gala.
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Florence Carruthers-Andrews
Creative Producer
Florence Carruthers-Andrews
Creative Producer
Florence is a mezzo soprano from Brighton. She completed her MMus at Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance, where she graduated with Distinction and was a recipient of the Kathleen Roberts Vocal Scholarship. Previous operatic roles include Orlofsky (Die Fledermaus), Ruggerio (Alcina), Ottone (L’incoronazione di Poppea) and Octavian (Der Rosenkavalier). Florence has a special interest in Contemporary- Baroque fusion and founded the vocal ensemble Ololyga on this basis, for whom she is now acting Artistic Director. She wrote, directed and produced their debut production of ‘Bitter Visions: By Order of Hildegard’, which premiered at the Tete-a-Tete Opera Festival last year.
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Hildegard Von Bingen
Composer
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Florence Carruthers-Andrews
Arrangements & Electronics
Florence Carruthers-Andrews
Arrangements & Electronics
Florence is a mezzo soprano from Brighton. She completed her MMus at Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance, where she graduated with Distinction and was a recipient of the Kathleen Roberts Vocal Scholarship. Previous operatic roles include Orlofsky (Die Fledermaus), Ruggerio (Alcina), Ottone (L’incoronazione di Poppea) and Octavian (Der Rosenkavalier). Florence has a special interest in Contemporary- Baroque fusion and founded the vocal ensemble Ololyga on this basis, for whom she is now acting Artistic Director. She wrote, directed and produced their debut production of ‘Bitter Visions: By Order of Hildegard’, which premiered at the Tete-a-Tete Opera Festival last year.
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Caro Lesemann-Elliott
Ensemble Director
Caro Lesemann-Elliott
Ensemble Director
Caro Lesemann-Elliott is an Oxford-based music historian specialising in gender, vocality, and body politics. They currently work as a post-doctoral research assistant on the AHRC ‘Music, Heritage, Place’ project, a collaboration between Royal Holloway University of London and Newcastle University. When not digging around in archives or their vegetable garden, they can usually be found inventorying early modern notated music sources, embroidering various forms of ecclesiastical textiles, bothering local cats, or researching the vested interests of individuals attempting to enforce usage of machine learning (AI) software.
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Katie Kelly
Movement Director
Katie Kelly
Movement Director
Katie Kelly (she/her) trained at Arts Ed Tring and London Contemporary Dance School, and has worked as a freelance dancer, choreographer and teacher since graduating. Notable credits include dancing in the London Olympics Closing Ceremony, at the Berlin State Opera, Vienna State Opera, and La Monnaie de Munt, Brussels. Her theatre work includes contemporary dance, performance art, opera, and musical theatre. She has also danced for television, film, and music videos. Her choreographic work has been presented across the UK and Europe, including dance theatre, dance film, and opera. Katie has taught at vocational schools including Die Freiburg Tanz Akademie, Danceworks Berlin, The Institute of Arts Barcelona, and Trinity Laban Conservatoire London.
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Bea Viña
Costume Designer / Maker
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Eli Hunt
Lighting Designer
Eli Hunt
Lighting Designer
Eli is a freelance lighting designer, programmer and technician based in London. He graduated from the Guildhall School of Music & Drama in 2025 with a BA (Hons) in Production Arts, where he was awarded the Mayor’s Consort Prize. Since graduating, he has worked across theatre, opera and dance in the UK and internationally, taking on roles including Lighting Designer, Lighting Programmer, Re-lighter, Touring Production Manager and Production Electrician. He has worked as a Re-lighter for Sadler’s Wells and Jasmin Vardimon Company, and his recent lighting programming credits include Tristan und Isolde (Longborough Opera Festival), The Tempest and Deep Azure (Sam Wanamaker Playhouse), and Holy Rosenbergs (Menier Chocolate Factory). Eli has also worked within the lighting departments of West End productions including Les Misérables and Cabaret alongside a broad range of independent theatre, opera and dance projects alongside a broad range of independent theatre, opera and dance projects.
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Matt Huxley
Additional Music Production
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Event Instance Listings
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Wed 19 Aug
7pm
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Thu 20 Aug
7pm
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Fri 21 Aug
7pm
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Sat 22 Aug
7pm
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This production is supported by
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Arts Council England
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The Marchus Trust
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Hinrichsen Foundation
