January News
We started the year with our baritone Young Artists at centre stage, with one recital from Peter Edge in London and another from Hugo Herman-Wilson in Henley. Peter delivered his lecture recital ‘Cracking the Count: Preparing the Great Baritone Roles’ with much insight and skill, coaching the audience through his process in preparing some of Mozart’s greatest baritone roles, particularly Count Almaviva and Don Giovanni. He was followed later in the week by Hugo and his recital on smaller (but no less great!) roles in Henley. We were so glad that Hugo could be joined by his parents, Natalie Herman and Paul Wilson, who are opera singers themselves and spoke during the lecture
Elsewhere, we heard some wonderful updates from our Young Artists. Bridget Esler, soprano, appeared as a semi-chorus in LSO’s performance of Mendelssohn’s Elijah over two performances at the Barbican Centre. She appeared on stage alongside Gerald Finley, Dame Sarah Connolly, Masabane Cecilia Rangwanasha and Allan Clayton – some of the finest soloists around! – and was conducted by Antonio Pappano. The performances received excellent reviews, and the semi-chorus itself was spotlighted by the Guardian, who said: “Soloists from Guildhall School of Music and
Annabel Kennedy, mezzo-soprano, shared this month that she will be joining the Deutsche Opera am Rhein’s Opera Studio from next season. We are so thrilled with this brilliant news, as she is so deserving of this opportunity as a wonderful, passionate young singer. We can’t wait to hear more once she makes the move to Düsseldorf after the summer.
Dan D’Souza, baritone, competed in and made it to the semi-final of Concurso Internacional de canto Tenor Viñas, a singing competition held at the Gran Teatre Liceu in Barcelona. Singing competitions can be a real challenge, especially when you need to travel abroad for them, so we are glad to see that Dan thrived and got to share his talent with an international audience!
