New Artist – Lauren Young

Monday, 16 September, 2024

We are delighted that Scottish mezzo soprano Lauren Young has joined our artist roster for general management. Lauren is a graduate of the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland (RCS) Alexander Gibson Opera School and was an inaugural studio artist at the Mascarade Opera Studio in Florence.

In the current season she performs Rosina Il barbiere di Siviglia (Longborough Festival Opera); Annie in R&D workshops of Displaced: A Woolwich Arsenal Opera (coalign); and covers Maddalena in Jonathan Miller’s production of Rigoletto (English National Opera).

Among her recent highlights are Baba the Turk The Rake’s Progress, Tisbe La Cenerentola, Mathilde Ottone (English Touring Opera); Daughter 6 Akhnaten (English National Opera); Mezzo The F*ggots and Their Friends Between Revolutions (Ruhrtriennale Festival); and Vanamaka Zonnendanz Donizetti’s Viva la Diva (Buxton International Festival).

Lauren Young

Artist's Website

Ben Thapa (1982 – 2024)

Monday, 9 September, 2024

We are hugely sad to announce the death, after a short illness, of Ben Thapa. It was a huge privilege to know and work with him.

Ben was well known for his performances in oratorio, opera, and as a member of the vocal group G4. He will be missed by so many, and we send our thoughts to his family, friends, and colleagues.

Ben Thapa

Ealing Symphony Orchestra honour Keel Watson

Friday, 17 May, 2024

Ealing Symphony Orchestra dedicate their concert on 18 May in memory of Keel Watson.

Keel performed regularly with the orchestra, both as a singer and trombonist. The concert programme includes Scriabin’s Symphony No. 3, in which Keel had played in the trombone section.

Keel Watson

Ealing Symphony Orchestra

Artists announced in English National Opera’s 2024/25 season

Wednesday, 15 May, 2024

Following English National Opera’s season announcement for 2024/25…

Ailish Tynan and Gweneth Ann Rand perform Governess and Mrs Grose in Isabella Bywater’s new production of The Turn of the Screw, conducted by Duncan Ward and Charlotte Corderoy. This is the first time Ailish will have performed at ENO since her debut in David Alden’s production of Radamisto in 2010.

Timothy Nelson performs Belcore in the relaxed performance of Harry Fehr’s new production of The Elixir of Love.

Trevor Eliot Bowes performs Antonio in this first revival of Joe Hill-Gibbins’ production of The Marriage of Figaro, conducted by Ainārs Rubiķis.

Ronald Samm performs the Earl of Ruthven in the ENO premiere of Thea Musgrave’s Mary, Queen of Scots, in a new concert staging, conducted by Joana Carneiro.

English National Opera

Birmingham Opera’s The Two Widows in Litomyšl

Wednesday, 8 May, 2024

Jeni Bern and Ronald Samm perform as Karolina and Ladislav in The Two Widows with the Birmingham Opera Company, as part of the Smetana 200 Festival in Litomyšl, Czech Republic. The new production is directed by Lorenzo Ponte, with Lada Valesova as musical director.

In summer 2023, Birmingham Opera Company hosted the 13th European Opera Directing Prize. The €25,000 prize was awarded by Camerata Nuova. That prize is enabling the winning team, headed by Lorenzo Ponte, to create their new production of the Birmingham Two Widows to mark the bicentenary of the Smetana’s birth. The Birmingham version of The Two Widows was created by Graham Vick and Christopher Willis, with sung text translated by David Pountney.

Jeni Bern

Ronald Samm

Birmingham Opera Company

Smetana Litomyšl Festival

Nazan Fikret to make her Opera North debut

Monday, 6 May, 2024

Nazan Fikret will make her debut at Opera North next season as Queen of the Night in James Brining’s production of The Magic Flute, with performances in February (Leeds) and March (Hull).

She last performed the role at Glyndebourne in 2020, where she was lauded with praise by the critics.

“Nazan Fikret sparkled through the Queen of Night’s high-wire acrobatics…”
(The Telegraph)

“…this fast-rising soprano had all the notes and flexibility the part requires.”
(Opera Magazine)

Nazan Fikret

Opera North

Scottish Opera’s production of The Gondoliers on OperaVision

Wednesday, 1 May, 2024

Following hugely successful performances in 2021, the Scottish Opera production of The Gondoliers with Mark Nathan as Guiseppe will be available to watch worldwide on OperaVision for 3 months from 4 May 2024. This will be the first time the streaming platform has presented a Gilbert and Sullivan operetta.

“In particular, Mark Nathan with his ‘Rising early in the morning’ caught the pace and timing perfectly.”
(Bachtrack)

“A real patter-ish highlight, baritone Mark Nathan peerlessly stylish in Giuseppe’s long solo… works charismatic magic.”
(The Arts Desk)

Mark Nathan

OperaVision

Artists announced in the Royal Ballet & Opera’s 2024/25 season

Monday, 29 April, 2024

Following The Royal Ballet & Opera’s season announcement for 2024/25…

Rhonda Browne and Alison Kettlewell make their their debuts at The Royal Opera House as Filipyevna and Madame Larina in Ted Huffman’s new production of Eugene Onegin, conducted by Henrik Nánasi.

They also perform Schwertleite and Rossweisse in Die Walküre, the second installment of Barrie Kosky’s new Ring Cycle, conducted by Sir Antonio Pappano.

Alison will also understudy Karita Matilla as Kostelnička in the first revival of Claus Guth’s production of Jenůfa.

Simon Wilding understudies the roles of Luther and Crespel in Damiano Michieletto’s new production of Les contes d’Hoffmann.

Ailish Tynan performs Christine in Mark Anthony Turnage’s opera, Festen, based on the 1998 Danish film of the same name, directed by Richard Jones and conducted by Edward Gardner.

Wyn Pencarreg returns as Alcindoro in Richard Jones’ production of La bohème, conducted by Speranza Scappucci.

Niall Anderson returns to the Opéra national de Paris

Saturday, 23 March, 2024

Niall Anderson returns tot he Opéra national de Paris next season for two productions. In the autumn he will perform First Priest/Second Armed Man in Robert Carsen’s staging of The Magic Flute, conducted by Oksana Lyniv.

In the spring he returns as a Flemish Deputy in Krzystof Warlikowski’s staging of Don Carlos, conducted by Simone Young.

Both productions take place at the Opéra de Bastille.

Niall Anderson

Opéra national de Paris

New Artist – Simon Wilding

Tuesday, 19 March, 2024

We are delighted that English bass Simon Wilding has joined our artist roster for general management. Born in Leigh, Lancashire he studied at the Royal Northern College of Music.

In the current season he performs Hunding Die Walküre (Pacific Opera Victoria, London Opera Company); Fafner Das Rheingold, Siegfried (Longborough Festival Opera); and Pistol Falstaff (West Green House Opera). Further ahead he returns to the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden.

Highlights in recent seasons include 2nd Soldier Salome (Royal Opera House); Sparafucile Rigoletto (Opera Holland Park); The Doctor/Clerk The Nose (Royal Danish Opera); Employee / Watchman / Servant / Policeman / Gentleman / Acquaintance of Kovalyov in Barrie Kosky’s production of The Nose (Royal Opera House, Komische Oper, Teatro Real); Russell The Exterminating Angel (Royal Danish Opera); Sacristan Tosca (Grange Park Opera); and Judge Turpin Sweeney Todd (West Green House Opera).

Simon Wilding

Artist's Website

Alison Kettlewell to make her debut at Welsh National Opera

Thursday, 1 February, 2024

Alison Kettlewell will make her debut at Welsh National Opera this summer as La Frugola in a new production of Il trittico, directed by Sir David McVicar and conducted by Carlo Rizzi. Performances will take place at the Wales Millennium Centre in Cardiff.

Next season Alison will make her debut with The Royal Opera.

Alison Kettlewell

Welsh National Opera

Gweneth Ann Rand performs Messiaen Song Cycles

Tuesday, 19 December, 2023

Gweneth Ann Rand returns to the Aldeburgh Festival next year for a series of concerts featuring all of Messiaen’s works for soprano. She is joined by pianists Simon Lepper and Allyson Devenish.

Each concert will be enhanced by projections of the dazzling artwork by Rachel Jones, the British visual artist acclaimed for her “captivating, jitteringly electric” work.

Additionally, these concerts will showcase some of the outstanding Britten Pears Young Artists, who will perform more French songs.

“Rand’s sumptuous voice, technically brilliant, verbally agile and expressive… The concert turned out to be a contender for the fast-approaching best-of-year list.”
(The Guardian)

“Rand’s voice is plush and warm… beautifully sustained, sculpted with superb vocal control.”
(Opera Today)

Gweneth Ann Rand

Britten Pears Arts

Camilla Roberts performs for WNO’s Three Letters project

Saturday, 2 December, 2023

Welsh National Opera’s Three Letters project started in 2021 and over 3 years, through music, chronicles Cardiff’s HIV past, present, and future, working with community groups and local artists to raise public awareness of the contemporary realities of HIV.

In this third and final installment, inspired by the landmark film Philadelphia, Camilla Roberts performs La mamma morta from the Giordano’s Andrea Chénier, alongside Nathaniel J Hall reciting new spoken-word text by Andrew Loretto.

Camilla Roberts

Welsh National Opera

New Recording Release for Philip Sheffield

Sunday, 26 November, 2023

Philip Sheffield is a featured singer on the original soundtrack album on the Bradley Cooper film Maestro, recorded with the London Symphony Orchestra and conducted by Yannick Nézet-Séguin.

The film chronicles the lifelong relationship between Leonard Bernstein and Felicia Montealegre Cohn Bernstein.

Bernstein: Maestro
Label: Deutsche Grammaphon
Release date: 17 November 2023

Philip Sheffield

Deutsche Grammophon

Keel Watson (1964 – 2023)

Wednesday, 8 November, 2023

It is with enormous sadness that we announce the sudden death of Keel Watson. It was a huge privilege to work with him and call him a friend.

Keel’s magnificent voice was admired by so many, as was his sharp wit and generosity as a performer. Only recently he completed acclaimed performances in genres as diverse as Wagner and Gilbert and Sullivan. We send our thoughts to his family and those who knew and loved him.