Productions
Spring season 2012
L'elisir d'amore (The elixir of love)
Composer: Gaetano Donizetti
Director: Darren Royston
Producer: Clementine Lovell
Musical Direction by James Henshaw
Cast:
Nemorino - Cliff Zammit Stevens/Joe Morgan
Dulcamara - Tom Kennedy
Belcore - Ricardo Panela
Adina - Clementine Lovell
Gianetta - Penelope Manser
Nemorino is madly in love with Adina, who either ignores him or taunts him. In desperation he purchases a love potion from wheeler dealer Dulcamara, who assures him of its immediate effect. Sure enough, the 'potion' (a potent alcoholic brew) gives Nemorino a boost of confidence. The gossip that Nemorino has suddenly come into money reaches the ears of the ladies, who begin to take great interest in him. Nemorino, convinced this is the effect of the potion, rejoices that Adina will soon be his. Meanwhile, his love rival Belcore pushes Adina to agree to marry him. Nemorino, frantic that he will not win Adina in time, goes to buy more of the elxir, but realises he can't afford it. In desperation he signs up to work with Belcore. Adina, seeing girls falling at Nemorino's feet realises that she is jealous and that she is really in love with Nemorino, but is it too late?
Cast Biographies
Cliff Zammit Stevens, Tenor
Cliff is currently doing a Bmus (hons) voice degree at the Royal College of Music in London and will begin a Masters in Performance degree there from September 2012.
Cliff has worked with many great musicians including; Delfo Menicucci, Juliette Bisazza, Janis Kelly and Sally Burgess. His operatic roles include Bellini's 'Norma' (Flavio), Verdi's 'Il Trovatore' (Ruiz), Britten's 'The Little Sweep' (Clem), Mozart's 'The Magic Flute' (Monostatos) and Humperdinck's 'Hansel and Gretel' (witch). He also performed in Britten's War Requiem at the RCM, Mozart's 'Ascanio in Alba' at King's Place, Mozart's 'The Magic Flute' and Purcell's 'Dioclesian', both at the RCM.
Cliff's recent achievements include representing the RCM at the prestigious Junior Ferrier awards and successfully making it to the final rounds to high critical acclaim - "He has the commitment, drive and charisma to be a performer and the quality and appeal of voice to complete the essential qualities to fulfill his potential." Also, he performed at the Royal Albert hall in London and had the honour of performing in a master class for Robert Sutherland (Maria Callas' ex-accompanist). Recently, he performed a recital in Malta to a 300 strong audience and was described by the Sunday Times as having an "absolutely ethereal voice and knows instinctively what to do with his voice".
Joe Morgan, Tenor
Born and raised in Swansea, South Wales tenor Joe Morgan graduated from the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in July 2008, having studied with David Pollard with whom he continues to study.
Joe's debut on the operatic stage was with Welsh National Youth Opera performing the role of Vanderdendur in an acclaimed production of Bernstein's Candide under the direction of Nik Ashton; following this he understudied the title role of Tom Rakewell in Stravinsky's Opera The Rakes Progress also with Welsh National Youth Opera and sang the role of Figaro in a modern touring production of Rossini's Barber of Seville with Unexpected Opera under the direction of Lynn Binstock.
Since graduating from the Guildhall Joe has sung the role of Nemorino in the Opera at Bearwood production of L'elisir d'amore under the direction of Eileen Pinkarchevski; the role of Pluto in Offenbach's Orpheus in the Underworld in a return to Unexpected Opera; chorus for Garsington Festival Opera in Rossini's Armida under the direction of Martin Duncan and the baton of David Parry and the tenor chorus in Marco Portugal's Marriage of Figaro under the baton of Robin Newton with Bampton Classical Opera.
As an oratorio artist Joe has sung Mendelssohn's Hymn of Praise, Mozart's Requiem, Saint-Saëns Messe de Requiem, Bach's Magnificat in D major, Handel's Dettingen Te Deum, Haydn's Nelson Mass and Stainer's Crucifixion.
The 2010-2011 season saw Joe perform the roles of Paris and Ajax 1 in Offenbach's La Belle Helene with The Merry Opera Company under the direction of Kit Hesketh-Harvey; Jupiter in Semele for Opera In Space in London and Berlin; chorus in Garsington's Il Turco in Italia under the direction of Martin Duncan and baton of David Parry and First Priest (cover) and Armed Man (cover) for Garsington Festival Opera's Die Zauberflote under the direction of Olivia Fuchs and baton of Martin Andre.
This season Joe has performed the role of The Defendant in Trial by Jury with Opera Minima under the baton of Nick Bosworth, the tenor solos in Mozart's Coronation Mass and Schubert's Mass in G for ACS and further performances of Semele on the Isle of Wight. Also this season Joe won the Wynford Evans Memorial Prize at the Young Welsh Singer of the Year Competition. Future engagements include a return to Merry Opera performing the role of Alfredo in Verdi's La Traviata.
Tom Kennedy
Previously a choral scholar at New College, Oxford, Tom taught maths before returning to postgraduate study at the GSMD, where he won the English Song Prize. Since graduating with distinction in 2009, highlights include the title role in Rossini's Il Signor Bruschino for British Youth Opera, Marcello and Schaunard in OperaUpClose's Olivier Award-winning production of La Boheme at the Soho Theatre and Alidoro in Rossini's Cinderella at the King's Head Theatre. Most recently Tom sang the role of his namesake in Opera South's production of Merrie England. Other roles include Mozart's Figaro and Count Almaviva, Onegin and Belcore, and other operatic work includes roles for New Chamber Opera, Barber Opera and Bury Court, and chorus for ENO, Grange Park and Garsington.
Highlights of his concert work include The Messiah with the Cyprus Symphony Orchestra, Iain Burnside's song project The lads in their hundreds at Kings Place and on BBC Radio 3, in which his contribution was singled out by Opera Now as 'a tour de force', and Ives' General William Booth enters the Kingdom of Heaven with Sir Andrew Davis and the BBCSO at the Barbican Hall.
Future plans include Colline for the New London Opera Players in summer 2012.
Ricardo Panela, Baritone
Baritone Ricardo Panela studied Voice Performance and Teaching at the University of Aveiro - Portugal, under the guidance of Antonio Salgado (PhD), and is currently doing a Masters in Performance (Vocal Studies) at the Guildhall School of Music & Drama, in London, with his teacher Laura Sarti. He has also participated in Voice Masterclasses with Patricia MacMahon (FRSAMD), Robin Bowman (MMus AKC FGSM FRCO ARCM), Susan McCulloch (FGS, ARCM Hons), Graeme Broadbent (Dip RCM) and with the singers Dame Emma Kirkby and Montserrat Caballe.
Ricardo has sung the operatic roles of Malatesta in Don Pasquale, by G. Donizetti (Pop-Up Opera, UK), Papagueno in Die Zauberflote (Aveiro Music Festival), Premier Vieillard in La Cour de Celimene by A. Thomas (Wexford Festival Opera), Maestro Spinelloccio in Gianni Schicchi by Puccini, (Wexford Festival Opera), Buff in Der Schauspieldirektor (Leiria Music Festival), Guglielmo in Così fan tutte, and Ballad Singer/Mr. Filch in The Threepenny Opera by Kurt Weill (both for OperaNorte/Dramma Per Musica). He has also performed as baritone soloist in numerous oratorios.
Upcoming engagements include Marco in Gianni Schicchi for Fullham Opera (March 2012) and Belcore in Elisir d'Amore for Pop-Up Opera (May 2012). Ricardo is sponsored by the Nicholas Boas Charitable Trust.
Clementine Lovell, Soprano
Clementine read Archaeology and Anthropology at Cambridge University and worked as an archaeologist before taking up a place at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in 2006 to study singing full time. She later spent two years living in Italy, studying opera and bel canto repertoire. She returned to London last year to form Pop-up Opera.
Her operatic roles include Norina in Don Pasquale (Pop-up Opera 2011), Despina in Cosi Fan Tutte and Serpetta in Mozart's La Finta Giardiniera (both Hand Made Opera), Dido in Purcell's Dido and Aeneus, and Angelo in the premier of a new opera Hagoromo by Massimo Priori (Teatro Riva del Garda). She has also portrayed Musetta (La Boheme), Rosina (Barber of Seville), Papagena (Magic Flute), and Zerlina (Don Giovanni) in GSMD operatic scenes, and this summer took part in the Tete a Tete contemporary opera festival at Hammersmith Riverside Studios.
Clementine has performed as soprano soloist in numerous oratorios, including Vivaldi Gloria, Britten's Rejoice in the Lamb, Handel's Messiah, Scarlatti's Stabat Mater, Pergolesi Stabat Mater, Bach Magnificat and Ascension Oratorio, Faure Requiem, Mozart Requiem and Exultate Jubilate. She has performed at London County Hall, Guildhall Theatre, Brecon Theatre, and various venues in Northern Italy, including Teatro Riva del Garda.
For the last two years running she has performed a series of recitals in New Zealand, and returns for a third tour in February 2012. Clementine also performs as a folk singer and accordionist and is due to release a debut album with musicians Tony Thompson and Matt Tweed in early 2012.
Penelope Manser, Soprano
Having successfully completed her postgraduate music studies at Sheffield University, Penelope was awarded the Lillian Baylis scholarship to undertake The Knack intensive opera training course (English National Opera) which culminated in a performance at the Royal Opera House Clore Studio. She then continued her training at the Opera School, Morley College (2008 - 2010) and has travelled internationally to perform with Handmade Opera Company (Fiordilligi, Cosi Fan Tutte). Other roles include: Mercedes (Carmen), Marenka (Bartered Bride), First Lady (Magic Flute), Nella (Gianni Schicchi), Lizette (La Rondine), Marzelline (Fidelio).
Penelope was awarded a finalist place in the Patricia Routledge Competition (Association of English Speakers and Singers) held at Royal College of Music early last year. Her other prizes include Julian Payne Scholarship, Chelmsford Competitive Festival Oratorio and Italian Aria Prize and David Clover Prize for English Song. Penelope's oratorio works include; Vivaldi Gloria; Purcell Fairy Queen; Bach St John Passion; Handel Messiah; Haydn Seasons, Creation; Pergolesi Stabat Mater.
Penelope was invited to sing at the Maulden Summer Festival last year. Her other recent recital engagements have been in association with; Oxford and Cambridge Music Club, Saffron Walden Arts Trust, Knack Singers, Maulden Choral Society, Golalming Choral Society and Debden Music Association. Earlier this year, Penelope travelled to France to sing for Opera Rustica in Brittany, whilst closer to her home in London, she will be performing Carmina Burana in the coming months. Penelope also works as a vocal animateur in and around the London area and is heavily involved with Spitalfields Festival Education as well as the English National Opera Baylis centre with whom she recorded a new composition based on Hansel and Gretal. Penelope currently studies with Colin Baldy.
Summer season 2011
Don Pasquale
Composer: Gaetano Donizetti
A new production by Clementine Lovell and Darren Royston
Directed by Darren Royston
Musical direction by Chris Huntley
Cast:
Don Pasquale - Raul Baglietto
Doctor Malatesta - Ricardo Panela
Ernesto - Juan Carlos Echeverry
Norina - Clementine Lovell
Don Pasquale is a comic opera (opera buffa), the story of a young man, Ernesto, in love with the beautiful but penniless Norina. Ernesto's uncle, Don Pasquale, a wealthy land owner, opposes the match and chooses a more suitable girl for Ernesto to marry. Ernesto refuses; the Don decides he will cut Ernesto out of his will; plans to marry to produce sons. Ernesto enlists the help of his uncle's doctor, Malatesta (Doctor Headache), to dupe the Don into allowing Ernesto to marry Norina. Malatesta presents to the Don his demure 'sister' Sofronia, apparently a shy novice from the convent. She is really Norina in disguise. Pasquale is enchanted, they are marry in a fake ceremony. The ceremony over, 'Sofronia' becomes a complete shrew. She turns the Don's life upside down, spends his money, demands to be waited on hand and foot. Completely miserable, Don Pasquale is so relieved when the plot is revealed, that he consents to the marriage of Norina and Ernesto.
Cast Biographies
Raul Baglietto, bass-baritone
Born in Madrid, Raul began his vocal training as a tenor with Pilar Jurado, Julian Garcia Leon and Inmaculada Egido. He initially decided to focus his career on Early Music repertoire after meeting Charles Brett and David Mason. He studied with Mason until 2006, when he moved to London to take up a place on the Masters course at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama. Here he studied with internationally renowned singers such as Emma Kirkby, Mhairi Lawson, William Carter or Adrian Thompson.
Between 2003 and 2006 Raul participated as a soloist in several concerts with the Early Music Ensemble of the Conservatorio Arturio Soria, Madrid, conducted by Jesus Sanchez. He sang the role Sancho Panza in the zarzuela "Pasajes de El Quijote" by Miguel Angel Aparicio in 2005, and performed "La Justa" by Mateo Flecha in the Auditorio Padre Soler in 2006. In London he sang in several concerts with the GSMD Early Music Ensemble and Opera Ensemble, and performed the role of Testo in "Il combattimento di Tancredi e Clorinda" by Monteverdi, conducted by William Carter.
In 2010 he starts to work with the famous tenor Raul Gimenez who suggested he move his repertoire to belcanto opera. Since then he has sung the operatic roles of Figaro (Le nozze di Figaro, Mozart), Alidoro (La Cenerentola, Rossini), Don Basilio (Il barbiere di Siviglia, Rossini), Don Geronio (Il turco in Italia, Rossini), and the title role of Don Pasquale (Donizetti) for a production in Barcelona.
Ricardo Panela, Baritone
Baritone Ricardo Panela studied Voice Performance and Teaching at the University of Aveiro - Portugal, under the guidance of Antonio Salgado (PhD), and is currently doing a Masters in Performance (Vocal Studies) at the Guildhall School of Music & Drama, in London, with his teacher Laura Sarti. He has also participated in Voice Masterclasses with Patricia MacMahon (FRSAMD), Robin Bowman (MMus AKC FGSM FRCO ARCM), Susan McCulloch (FGS, ARCM Hons), Graeme Broadbent (Dip RCM) and with the singers Dame Emma Kirkby and Montserrat Caballe.
Ricardo has sung the operatic roles of Papageno in Die Zauberflote (Aveiro Music Festival 2005), Buff in Der Schauspieldirektor (Leiria Music Festival 2006), Guglielmo in Cosi fan tutte, by Mozart, and Ballad Singer/Mr. Filch in The Threepenny Opera by Kurt Weill (both for OperaNorte/Dramma Per Musica). He has also performed as a soloist in Kroenungsmass and Vesprae Solenne de Confessore by W. A. Mozart, Missa in Angustiis by F. J. Haydn, Oratorio de Noel by C. Saint-Saens, Te Deum by Lully and Te Deum by Charpentier, Cantata 147, John Passion and Matthew Passion by J. S. Bach, Don Quichotte a Dulcinee by M. Ravel, Stabat Mater by G. Rossini, and Faure's Requiem. He has also recorded the Popular Songs Collection Vols. 1 and II by Fernando Lopes-Graca for Antena 2 (National Broadcast Company), and made a debut recording of Song for Baritone and Guitar, by the same composer.
Future engagements include soloist in Handel's Messiah with Laurence Cummings for Casa da Musica, Oporto.
Juan Carlos Echeverry
Colombian born living in Paris, Juan Carlos studied voice in Germany, at the Conservatoires of Mannheim and Cologne, in the class of Klesie Kelly. After graduating with honours, he was selected for the Young Artist Program of the Paris Opera. There he was engaged for three years, and had the opportunity to work under the guidance of Renatta Scotto, Christa Ludwig, Teresa Berganza and Ileana Cotrubas.
Continuing his career throughout France, Europe and America, he has sung the roles of Tamino (Die Zauberflote), Almaviva (Il Barbiere di Siviglia), Rinuccio (Gianni Schicchi), Alfredo (La Traviata), Don Ottavio (Don Giovanni), Belmonte (Die Entfuhrung aus dem Serail) and Ferrando (Cosi fan tutte). His interest in comedy also led him to sing in several operettas and landed him the role of Tony Candolino in the play Master class - Maria Callas, playing opposite famous French actress and pop singer Marie Laforet.
In 2010, he performed concerts in Las Vegas and Geneva and took on the role of Le Bresilien in La Vie Parisienne. In early 2011, he won the "Operette" singing competition at Marseille's Odeon Theatre and toured a new recital of Spanish songs. His upcoming projects include the title role in Offenbach's Barbe-bleue and that of Carlos in Lopez's La Belle de Cadix. He will also take on the role of Don Ottavio for cinema, in an opera filmed by the Dutch director Corina Van Eijk.