Mid-September Newsletter - Verdi Prize Finalists Announced, Ägyptische Helena in rehearsal, Jenufa workshop
Greetings from Fulham / Regents Opera, where things are inCREDibly busy!
In this newsletter, we have the announcement of the finalists for the Verdi Prize, the first week of rehearsals for Die Ägyptische Helena, which have now wrapped and tickets are hurtling out the door, and we have an orchestral workshop coming up on Janáček's opera: Jenůfa.
First up: The Announcement of the Finalists for the Fourth Fulham Opera Robert Presley Memorial Verdi Prize:
From left; Luci Briginshaw, Jillian Finnamore, Georgia Mae Bishop, Emelie Kroon, Edwin Kaye, Dongyong Noh, Roberto Abate, Joel Balzun - their short biographies are below.
Book tickets for the Verdi Prize Final, which will take place at Rudolf Steiner House (map) on Sunday 17th October 2021, starting at 5.30pm
Die Ägyptische Helena - First week’s rehearsal wraps!
Justine Viani as Helena, Brian Smith Walters as Menelaus, Luci Briginshaw as Aithra, and the Elves
It’s been a joyous week to be back in a rehearsal room rehearsing huge opera. We are giving this opera in the later Vienna version, that tightens up the story somewhat and has some new material not present in the original “Berlin” version. We believe this will be the UK premiere of that Vienna version.
We will be performing in a reduced arrangement by our pianist Paul Plummer, for piano, clarinet, horn, violin, ‘cello, organ and percussion.
Jenůfa - orchestral workshop, 9 & 10 October
We’re hugely looking forward to another one of our orchestral weekends, this time working on Janáček's remarkable opera. Philippa Boyle leads the cast and Ben Woodward conducts.
The workshop will take place at Greycoats Hospital School in Central London. There will be a run-through the opera at 6pm on Sunday, to which observers are welcome.
If you are an instrumentalist, of at least Grade 8 standard and you would like to play in the workshop, please do get in touch.
Verdi Prize Finalists’ Short Biogs (in alphabetical order):
Roberto Abate (tenor, Australia/Italy, lives in London) This Season; Azeal, L'enfant Prodigue ( Pegasus Opera) Previously; Don Carlos (Grange Park Opera [Cover]), Rinuccio (Opera North [Cover]), Cavaradossi Opera North [Cover]), Canio (Opera North [Cover] / Kentish Opera)
Joel Balzun (baritone, Canada, lives in USA). This season: Dandini (La Cenerentola) at Pacific Opera Project, Giorgio Germont (La traviata) at Opera Santa Barbara, recitals featuring world premiere work by Tom Cipullo. Previously: Don Quichotte (Don Quichotte at Camacho’s Wedding, Georg Philipp Telemann) at Opera Saratoga, Gianni Schicchi (Gianni Schicchi) at Pittsburgh Festival Opera and Social Distance Opera.
Georgia Mae Bishop (mezzo, Jersey, lives in UK). This season: Opera Prelude young artist, concert performances of Rossweisse Die Walküre, Flosshilde Götterdämmerung (GAFA), cover Forester’s wife, owl (ENO). Previously Young Artist (Institute of Young Dramatic Voices), Flosshilde RhineGold (Birmingham Opera Company), cover Annina Der Rosenkavalier, cover Mistress Quickly Falstaff (Garsington Opera), Madame Arvidson Un ballo in maschera (Opera Holland Park YAP), La Prieure Dialogues des Carmélites, Zita Gianni Schicchi (Guildhall Opera).
Luci Briginshaw (soprano, UK).
This season: Aithra (Die Ägyptische Helena) for Fulham Opera, Tsaritsa Shemakha (The Golden Cockerel) and cover Mimi (La Bohème) for ETO.
Previously: Queen of Night (Magic Flute) for Glyndebourne (cover), Fennimore (The Silver Lake, Kurt Weill) cover Konstanze (Abduction from Seraglio) for ETO.
Debut album, Peter Warlock Songbook, released on Convivium Records, November 2021.
Jillian Finnamore (soprano, USA, lives in Berlin, Germany).
This season: Michäela for Regents Opera. Previously: Aida in Columbia, MD, Tosca in Sicily, Mimi in Ann Arbor, MI, Desdemona Otello and Violetta La Traviata in Harrisburg, PA.
Edwin Kaye (bass, UK, lives in London). This season: Fafner (Das Rheingold, Siegfried), Rosneau Sinfonia, London, Zaccaria (Nabucco), St. Paul's Opera, London, Bluebeard (Bluebeard's Castle), Gothic Opera, London. Previously: Il Re (Aida), Banco (Macbeth), Colline (La Bohème), The Royal Northern College of Music.
Emelie Kroon (dramatic mezzo soprano, Sweden). This season: Madam Flora, The Medium, Gothenburg (film project) Previously: 2nd maid, Elektra, Gothenburg opera. Annina/Flora, La traviata, Linköping concert hall.
Dongyong Noh (Verdian baritone, Republic of Korea, lives in France). This season : Cavalleria Rusticana (Alfio), Pagliacci (Tonio) at Théatre de l'Opéra, FRA. Previously : Rigoletto (Rigoletto) in Verdi festival (Italy). Winning in 7 international competitions (1st prize) including Piero Cappucilli competition.
And finally, many thanks as ever to our sponsor: Big Yellow Storage in Camberley, to whom we are hugely grateful for keeping all of our stuff safe!
