About The Grief Opera
When rock musician George Linacre died by suicide, his father Nigel started to write. And Vladimir Miller, a contemporary music band leader, began composing using George’s bass rhythms. Together, they created the Grief Opera.
An extraordinary journey from shock and pain to profound love, the Grief Opera may be the most emotional show you see this year.
The Grief Opera shines a spotlight on suicide, the most common cause of death in young men, and the consequent, harrowing grief. Its creators hope it will enable people to have potentially life-saving conversations and to work with their grief. Mr. Miller lost a band member to suicide earlier in his career.
An opera, concert and musical rolled into one, it fuses haunting melodies and quirky jazz.
At its preview performance in October 2022, it received a standing ovation and was described as “heart-breaking but hopeful” and “harrowing but ultimately uplifting”.
The film of The Grief Opera
Nigel Linacre
Nigel Linacre is a coach, singer and poet who is Founder Director of the water charity WellBoring. He was awarded the BEM in the 2023 New Year’s Honours List.
Vladimir Miller
Vladimir Miller is an Anglo-Russian contemporary music band leader who performs internationally and leads Vlad Miller and Notes from the Underground.
What people think about The Grief Opera
“Deeply moving. Exquisitely performed. Really touched me.”
“Divine, powerful, painful, uplifting, vulnerable.”
“The Grief Opera is absolutely amazing!”
“Deeply moving and emotional. I lost my stepson to suicide in 2023.”
“Soulful in such a deeply personal way.”
“Painful but exquisitely beautiful. Life-empowering.”
“Wonderful performance. Evocative, moving and utterly compelling.”
“A courageous portrayal of grief. Thank you for sharing your love.”
“The Grief Opera showed me the hope for the future”. Mum bereaved by suicide 2025.
“Your story gives me renewed extra energy to deliver the Samaritans message.”
“A courageous approach to life, grief and death.”
“The Grief Opera was absolutely beautiful and moving.”
“Brilliant lyrics capturing a bereavement perfectly. We lost our son.”
“What an amazing creation. Well-constructed and meaningful.”
“We connected with so much (we lost our daughter to suicide).”
“The Grief Opera is a powerful, deep, warm piece of art.”
“The most amazing experience!”
“Please keep sharing this important message on breaking down barriers.”
“Amazing journey, moving melody and words from grief to hope.”
“Beautifully powerful and sad at the same time. Thank you.”
“Raw and thought-provoking.”
“There’s something about singing that vibrates to the core of being.”
“Powerful! Beautifully composed and delivered. Congratulations.”
“Brave, compassionate, beautifully realised. So sad for your loss.”
“Deeply moving; hard but also redemptive. Wonderful musical moments.”
“Feel like I’ve been on a deep journey this evening.”
“It has touched me deeply and contains messages that will stay with me for life.”
“Very touching and very helpful to hear things strike a chord.”
“Something so important to share! We all feel and we must all share and be open to each other. This was a way to open the dialogue. Thank you.”
“Amazing; incredibly powerful, beautifully performed and very moving: thank you”.
“I buried my shame and paradise was lost. You showed that love is ever-lasting.”
“The music holds it all. Everyone should see it.”
Feedback from performances in Swindon and London, November and December, 2025
The Grief Opera
Meg, Vladimir, Gavin, David, Nigel Linacre, Rebecca and Susan
Neil Latchman is an internationally renowned classical opera singer who has performed the works of Bellini, Verdi and Donizetti.
David Shepard has performed for concerts, recitals, choral works and musicals and plays with the North Wiltshire Symphony Orchestra.
Gavin Macrae sings with the Village Singers and at St Andrew’s Church. He lost his son, Owen, to suicide, some years ago.
George Linacre was a bass guitarist with prog rock band Eschar. He died on 19th November 2021, aged 32.
Keri Farish sings as a solo artist in a duo called Scarlett, and in Gandalf’s Fist, a prog rock group. She was previously lead vocalist in South Quay.
Nigel Shires has played with the Bath University Chamber Choir, Borderline, Julie Hayes Band, and North Wiltshire Symphony Orchestra.
Sara Stagg leads the Bath Concertino and the North Wiltshire Symphony Orchestra, and is lead violinist of the Bath Spa Quartet.
Rebecca Snell has written music for the stage, including opera, and performs as a soloist in her Church and with the Village Singers.
Stephen Plews is a jazz artist and classical composer who formed ASC Records for contemporary jazz and Prima Facie Records for premiere recordings by British classical composers.
Susan Norton has recorded for the BBC, the Camerata and the Cordoba Orchestras and was a founding member of the I. Q. String quartet.
Tom Linacre is an occasional singer-songwriter who brings us the voice of his brother George.
Wendy Clark leads the Newbury Symphony Orchestra and plays violin in the Highclere String Quartet and the Beaudesert Piano Quartet.