Philip Smith performs Der Sprecher in Die Zauberflöte at the Opera di Firenze in a co-production with the Teatro la Fenice. The production is directed by Damiano Michieletto and conducted by Roland Böer.
Philip has previously appeared in Florence as Sid in Albert Herring and Junius in The Rape of Lucretia.
Jeni Bern and Richard Roberts can be seen on BBC4 and BBC iPlayer in Opera North’s epic production of Der Ring des Nibelungen, conducted by Richard Farnes. The performances were filmed at Leeds Town Hall in 2016.
Das Rheingold will be broadcast on BBC4 on 12 February at 7pm, with Jeni and Richard as Woglinde and Mime respectively.
Die Walküre, Siegfried and Götterdämmerung will all be available exclusively on BBC iPlayer with Jeni as Waldvogel and Woglinde, and Richard as Mime.
Linda Richardson performs Cio-Cio-san in Welsh National Opera’s production of Madam Butterfly. The original production is directed by Joachim Herz (revived by Sarah Crisp) and conducted by Lawrence Foster and Andrew Greenwood.
Performances take place from 17 February until the end of June in Cardiff, Dubai, Bristol, Llandudno and Birmingham.
The UK premiere of Defiant Requiem: Verdi at Terezín takes place at Durham Cathedral on Saturday 28 January. The concert tells the story of the courageous Jewish prisoners in the Theresienstadt Concentration Camp (Terezín) during World War II, who performed the Verdi Requiem while experiencing the depths of human degradation.
Defiant Requiem: Verdi at Terezín is a concert-drama that combines the magnificent music of Verdi with video testimony from survivors of the original Terezín chorus and footage from the 1944 Nazi propaganda film about Theresienstadt.
The concert will feature Gweneth Ann Rand, Alison Kettlewell, Philip Sheffield and Keel Watson, with the Durham Choral Society Orchestra, Durham University Orchestral Society, Durham Choral Society and University Chamber Choir, conducted by Murry Sidlin.
Philip Sheffield joins the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, at short notice, as Simon in Birtwistle’s The Last Supper.
The semi-staged performance at City Halls, Glasgow on 14 January will be conducted by Martyn Brabbins and directed by Victoria Newlyn.
Following acclaimed performances at Opera North last season, Jeni Bern reprises the role of Lilli Vanessi in Welsh National Opera’s revival of Cole Porter’s classic musical Kiss Me, Kate, directed by Jo Davies and conducted by James Holmes.
The production opens in Cardiff on 29 September and tours to venues in England and Wales until 10 December, with twenty nine performances in all.
“Bern’s splendid, disciplined voice”
(The Observer)
“she is a gem in any operatic context“
(Bachtrack)
“…the gorgeously toned coupling of Quirijn de Lang and Jeni Bern”
(The Stage)
“…the soaring voices of Jeni Bern and Quirijn de Lang”
(The Express)
Alison Kettlewell returns to Longborough Festival Opera as Venus in Tannhäuser. This new production is directed by Alan Privett and conducted by Anthouny Negus. Performanes take place from 9 June 2016.
The last time Alison performed at Longborough was as Fricka and Waltraute in their acclaimed performances of Der Ring des Nibelungen.
