Programme

 

  • After an entire opera of heartbreak and vanishing food and booze, Papageno finally finds a lady friend, and they immediately begin to start discussing having babies! Mozart as his most quirky.

  • From Lehár’s Land of Smiles this aria is more controversial than it’s creamy romanticism suggests. Sung by the hero of the opera - a Chinese Prince - to his Viennese wife, it is a plea for her to believe that he loves her alone, despite having an entire harem. Oh, Opera!

  • Who doesn’t love Gilbert and Sullivan? This is one of their most famous pieces in which three young Japanese school girls explore their coming of age and the upcoming marriage of their ring-leader, Yum Yum.

  • This is one of Ivor Novello’s most famous songs. Written during the Second World War and rising in popularity during the Covid 19 pandemic, it is a touching tribute to separated lovers and family members.

  • While many people still believe that this is a tragic aria about a lost child, it is actually a whimsical piece from Puccini’s only comic opera, in which Lauretta is busily convincing her “babbino” or “little daddy” to let her marry the man of her dreams (or she’ll throw herself off Florence’s most famous bridge).

  • From Bizet’s powerful tragedy Carmen, this aria perfectly captures the virility and strength of the Spanish bullfighter or Torreador who sings it. Carmen’s attraction to him ultimately leads to her death at the hands of her lover, Don José.

  • This is the most famous drinking song of all time. From the start of Verdi’s La Traviata, it is the hero’s only slightly veiled seduction of the heroine, Violetta.

  • Made famous by British Airways, this beautiful duet comes from Delibes’ Lakmé. The title character and her servant go down to the river to carry flowers singing this iconic harmony.

  • Carmen’s aria of seduction, in which she warns men to beware of loving her. The irony is, it is her who loses her life because of love. It’s famous tag-line is - “Love is a rebellious bird”.

  • From Puccini’s most famous opera, La bohème. This is Musetta’s tongue in cheek Walz, in which she teases her former lover Marcello and revels in her own beauty.

  • This glorious trio sees Fiordiligi and Dorabella mourn the departure of their fiancés who they believe are off to war. Alfonso, who joins them in their grief, knows that the boys have, in fact, only gone round the corner to get into fancy dress and will shortly return to attempt to seduce one another’s wife to be.

  • This is a genius aria from Rossini. From The Barber of Seville it is Figaro’s manic response to his busy life, running backwarrds and forwards fixing the world for his rich clientele (as well as their hair).

  • This patriotic song has long been used by both the British army and Navy. It is based on a poem by James Thomson, and set to Music by Thomas Arne. It is over 260 years old.

  • Written by Ross Parker and Hughie Charles in 1939, this was one of the most popular songs of World War Two, and was made famous by Dame Vera Lynn.

  • This moving hymn is often called Britain’s unofficial national anthem. It is a poem by great English poet William Blake, set to music by Sir Edward Elgar.

  • Also by Edward Elgar, this song is a popular staple of sporting fixtures and The Last Night of The Proms. Intriguingly, it was King Edward VII who suggested that the text be sung to Elgar’s pomp and circumstance march.

  • This anthem was first sung in 1745, and became our national anthem in the nineteenth century.

    Please do sing along!

    God save our gracious Queen!

    Long live our noble Queen!

    God save the Queen!

    Send her victorious,

    Happy and glorious,

    Long to reign over us,

    God save the Queen.

    Thy choicest gifts in store

    On her be pleased to pour,

    Long may she reign.

    May she defend our laws,

    And ever give us cause,

    To sing with heart and voice,

    God save the Queen.

  • Philip Clieve

    Philip Clieve gained both his MMus and Bachelors’ from the Royal Northern College of Music.

    Operatic roles include Max Der Freischütz, Alfred Die Fledermaus, Prince Philippe A Dinner Engagement, Gherardo Gianni Schicchi, Zorn Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg, Ralph H.M.S. Pinafore, The Defendant Trial by Jury, Mr Box Cox and Box and Colonel Fairfax Yeoman of the Guard.

    Philip returns to the National Opera Studio as an Associate artist for the 21/22 season.

  • Alison Holford

    Alison Holford read music at Huddersfield University and Trinity College of Music, where she was principal cello in the college Symphony Orchestra and the Contemporary Music Group.

    Performing work includes: principal cello of St Paul's Sinfonia; solo cello in Splinter Cell, cellist in Bridgetower Music, principal and continuo cello of Opera de Baugé.

    Recently she has been the solo cello in OperaUpClose’s production of Tosca in the West End and on tour.

  • Carolyn Holt

    Carolyn recently covered the role of Mrs Sedley (Peter Grimes) ROH, and performs with Irish National Opera, Garsington, Scottish Opera and Welsh National Opera.

    She sang Sister Helen Prejean in the UK premiere of Dead Man Walking. Other roles include Annina Der Rosenkavalier (Irish National Opera), Mrs Grose The Turn of the Screw and Madame Larina Eugene Onegin (Garsington).

    Critics acclaim Carolyn’s “wonderfully dark, rich tone”.

  • Louis Hurst

    Louis Hurst studied at the Royal Northern College of Music, supported by Michael Oglesby, the Drapers Guild and the Musician's Benevolent Fund, and participated in the 2015/2016 ENO Opera Works Programme.

    Louis has worked with Mark Elder, Richard Hickox, Martyn Brabbins, Stephen Wilkinson and Nicholas Kraemer. Roles include: Enrico (Lammermoor), Balstrode (Grimes), Gobrias (Belshazzar), Colline (Boheme), Father (Hansel and Gretel), Luka (The Bear), Mr Peachum (Beggar’s Opera).

  • Matthew Kellett

    Matthew Kellett, is a graduate of The Royal Northern College of Music and Trinity College of Music, where he was awarded the TCM Trust’s Silver Medal for vocal studies.

    Matthew's roles include: Papageno (The Magic Flute), Basilio (The Barber of Seville), Robin Oakapple (Ruddigore), Pooh Bah (The Mikado) and Dick Deadeye (HMS Pinafore).

    In 2022/23 Matthew will perform in The Man in the Moon (Iford Arts) and will tour with The National Gilbert and Sullivan Opera Company as The Lord Chancellor in Iolanthe.

  • Elizabeth Marr

    Elizabeth Marr is a London-based flautist and teacher. She graduated with a BMus (1st) from Trinity Conservatoire; and completed her Masters at the Royal Conservatoire of The Hague.

    Elizabeth is on the extra list for Principal Flute with the Birmingham Royal Ballet Orchestra and performs regularly with St Paul’s Sinfonia.

    Recent opera work includes Wagner’s Ring Cycle and performing with The Opera Makers for Grimeborn. This Summer she will perform with Opera de Baugé and Surrey Opera.

  • Becca Marriott

    Becca Marriott holds a Masters degree in voice with distinction, from Trinity Laban, where she studied under Alison Wells.

    She has performed leading roles, including: Suor Angelica, Tosca, Madama Butterfly, Violetta (Traviata), Mimi (Bohème), and Donna Elvira (Don Giovanni).

    She won the UK-wide Patricia Routledge Prize (2017), and the IMEP Prize at the inaugural Namur International Lyric Art Competition, and was invited to perform at the Opera Royal de Wallonie in Liege.

  • James Widden

    James Widden studied at Newcastle and Sussex Universities, and then as a postgraduate at Trinity College of Music, under the tutelage of Nona Liddell on violin and Nic Pendlebury on viola.

    He has performed with the BBC Philharmonic, Halle, Manchester Camerata and Philharmonia orchestras, at the BBC Proms with Endymion, and at Carnegie Hall with the London Sinfonietta.

    Opera work includes: solo violin for St Paul's Opera; and co-leader of Opera de Baugé.

  • Panaretos Kyriatzidis

    A Britten Pears young artist, Panaretos Kyriatzidis is in high demand as a collaborative performer, vocal coach and musical director.

    He has won the Gerald Moore Award, Oxford Lieder Young Artist Platform, Emmy Destinn Awards accompanist prize and London Song Festival duo prize.

    He is the Musical Director of St Paul’s Opera and co-founder of The Opera Makers. He has performed extensively across the UK and abroad, has broadcast live on BBC Radio 3 and has musically directed award-winning opera productions.

  • Opera Makers for you?

    We can provide mini concerts and soloists for all occasions. With prices starting at just £500, you could have the Opera Makers at your very own soirée. We’ll help organise everything, depending on your budget, so just get in touch.

    Singer and piano (from £500)

    Singer and duo (from £700)

    Mini gala (from £1,000)

    info@theoperamakers.com

    07789390814