Celena Bridge and Felicity Brown first met as members of the National Youth Choir of Great Britain. Both sopranos, they went on to study in the same year at the Royal Academy of Music, graduating with honours in summer 2007.

The Little Opera Company came into being in their final year at the Royal Academy. In January 2007, Celena was invited to play an opera singer in Stephen Poliakoff’s 1930s film ‘Capturing Mary’. It was here that she was inspired by the idea of the Edwardian country house soirée, where opera singers were engaged to entertain guests. This idea formed the nucleus of The Little Opera Company; to make the image of the country house soirée fashionable again.

The idea has since grown from this initial thought, as Celena and Felicity grew increasingly aware of the large number of very talented singers who, like themselves, were starting out in their careers, but were thought too young at present to be considered by the major opera companies. Here, they realised, was an opportunity to create an exciting, young company.