 |
|
| Adriano hails from Trebanos, South Wales. He seemed destined to sing from an early age, listening with his Italian father to recordings of the great tenors from Stuart Burrows to Pavarotti.
Adriano began his studies with a private based teacher in London. After entering numerous competitions at local music festivals, he decided to apply for the 2004 International Eisteddfod in Llangollen, where he thoroughly impressed the top adjudicators and took second place in the vocal solo competition. He then decided to take his studies further and was accepted by the Royal College of Music, London to study as a full time student.
In 2005 Adriano took part in the Artists Development Programme in Wexford - a new initiative established by Wexford Opera to coach and train up to 20 talented singers who are in the early stages of a professional operatic career.
Adriano was the winner of the 'Beckenham Young Musician of the Year' competition in 2003.
He won second prize in the 'Il Concorso Internazionale Per Cantanti Lirici' in Orvieto, Italy.
In 2006, he was a finalist again in the MOCSA competition at the Brangwyn Hall, Swansea.
Adriano made what can only be described as a sensational debut at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival 2006, in a lunchtime concert at St Giles Cathedral where he received a standing ovation from the audience of over 350.
He completed his studies at the Royal College of Music, under the tutelage of International tenor Ryland Davies - who continues to coach him.
At the beginning of 2007, Adriano performed the Tenor role in the Essential Scottish Opera Tour. In May 2007, he performed the role of Arturo in Scottish National Opera's 2007 production of Lucia di Lammermoor.
He recently recorded his first CD of his favourite Operatic arias and songs for the Tenor voice which is available at our online CD Shop.
Most recently, Adriano performed with Glyndebourne Touring Opera, where he covered the role of Macduff in Macbeth for their Autumn 2007 tour. In January 2008 he will be attending the Cardiff International Voice Academy to study with Dennis O'Neill.
|
|
 |
|
| Annette was born in the village of Deiniolen in Gwynedd, in which she still resides. Annette graduated at the Royal Northern College of Music in, she then joined the Music Department of the University of Wales, Bangor as a piano tutor to students following B.A. and B.Mus. degree courses. Annette has regularly accompanied many of Wales Top Opera Stars – Bryn Terfel, Rebecca Evans, Jason Howard to name but a few, both at home and abroad.Annette has accompanied at the Albert Hall, London on several occasions and Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber, Sir George Solti, Prince Charles and the late Princess Diana have been amongst her private audiences.
She has worked regularly with Welsh National Opera for the last three years with the MAX Dept, and is currently performing as a soloist in a series of six Mass Male Voice Choir concerts throughout the North West at venues such as Liverpool Empire, Palace Theatre - Manchester and Grand Opera House, York.
Annette made her debut at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in 2005, and performing there has now become an annual event in her busy schedule.
Annette has been the musical director of Cor y Traeth Male Voice Choir in Anglesey since 2002, and is one of the founders and director of the William Mathias Centre in Caernarfon. Annette has recorded and produced over forty CD's, accompanying Welsh and International singers and choirs, and produced Bryn Terfel and Rhys Meirion's CD 'Benedictus', which was nominated for an award at the Classical Brit Awards 2006.
Annette is also one half of the popular Piano/Harp Duo 'Piantel' with harpist Dylan Cernyw. They have recently released an album together. |
|
 |
|
| The distinguished young baritone Anthony Stuart Lloyd is from Cardiff. He studied at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama and after winning the Sir Geraint Evans Scholarship gained a place at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama where other awards and accolades soon followed including: Royal National Eisteddfod Blue Riband, a National Mozart Competition prize, an Arts Council of Wales Young Welsh Singers Competition prize at St. David's Hall, The Morriston Orpheus Choir MOCSA Young Welsh Singers competition and the inaugural Sir Geraint Evans Memorial Prize. Anthony is also a recipient of a Walton Foundation Award enabling him to attend the Il Cantante Attore course at the composer's estate in Ischia, Italy.
Welsh National Opera, recognizing the immense potential of the young Welsh artist soon cast him in several roles, including Timur - Turandot, Bartolo - Le Nozze di Figaro, Basilio - Il Barber di Siviglia, Commendatore - Don Giovanni, Gran Sacerdote - Nabucco, Bonze - Madam Butterfly and La Voce - Idomeneo.
His Vocal talent drew him to the attention of continental Europe where he sang at Freiburg Opera initially where his roles included: Leporello - Don Giovanni (for which he was nominated, with special acclaim, as the best newcomer in the region on the Opernwelt Jahrbuch magazine), The King of Clubs - The Love for Three Oranges, Mephistopheles - Faust, and Selim - Il Turco in Italia and for Toulouse Capitole Opera, Mercure and Chef Greque - Les Troyens, under the baton of Michel Plasson. Anthony's vocal versatility has also seen him make his West End debut as Jacob in Lloyds Webber's Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.
Concert performances throughout the UK include: Brander - La Damnation de Faust with Kent Nagano at the helm, and the Les Troyens (roles as above) under Sir Colin Davies for The London Symphony Orchestra, Mozart Mass in C Minor and Bruckner Te Deum with The Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, Beethoven Symphony No. 9 and Dvorak Te Deum with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, for the Welsh Proms, the title role in Mendelssohn's Elijah with the National Chamber Orchestra of Wales and Gower Chorale, Bach Magnificat and Mozart Requiem with the Westwood Chamber Orchestra and Rossini Stabat Mater and Beethoven Mass in C for the Royal National Eisteddfod, broadcast on S4C.
For HM The Sultan of Oman's 30th Jubilee Royal Command Performance, Anthony was invited to give the first ever vocal performance at the Bait al-Barakah Palace, with the Royal Oman Symphony Orchestra, which led to a return invitation for a Grand Opera Gala at the Oman Auditorium, Al Bustan Palace Hotel, Muttrah.
Anthony's numerous BBC and S4C television appearances have included: the title role in Hughes 'Saint David' with the National Chamber Orchestra of Wales, conducted by Owain Arwel Hughes, a concert of sacred arias 'A Night to Remember' with the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, Black Bob The Little Sweep, Beti and The Orchestra with the BBC National Orchestra of Wales and A Song of Celebration from St. David's Hall. Anthony's voice features as Sparafucile on the Operavox puppet animation of Rigoletto and in the feature film Twin Town. He has also supplied the speaking voice of Jisan in the feature film The Warrior.
Anthony has headlined on numerous luxury cruise liners with his one-man show Broadway Baritones. He was invited to perform for Fred. Olsen's cruise lines inaugural 'Arts Club' cruises and was the final vocalist onboard SAGA Rose's and Fred. Olsen's Black Watch recent World Cruises.
Appearances at prestigious private and corporate events include: Wales@WAFI at Dubai's Wafi City and Wales in Paris at the British Ambassador's Residency for the Welsh Assembly Government; The Wales Tourist Board's 'The Wonder of Wales' Road-show, performing at New York's Waldorf Astoria and Rockefeller Center's Rainbow Room; numerous private functions at the Carlton Club, St James'; The 'Let Paul Robeson Sing' Exhibition; pre-match singing for Cardiff City FC; the official opening of Llancaiach Fawr Manor House and Cardiff Bay Development Corporations 'The Emerging Vision' in the presence of the late Diana Princess of Wales.
|
|
 |
|
| Dewi, a native of Rhosllanerchrugog, studied at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama with Rudolf Piernay. Following a two year Opera Course at GSMD, Dewi worked for two seasons with English Touring Opera (ETO) with whom he performed the roles of Basilio - The Marriage of Figaro and Nadir - The Pearl Fishers. In 1997, he joined Welsh National Opera where his roles included 1st Commissionaire - The Dialogue of the Carmelites, A Priest - Magic Flute and Sailor - Tristan und Isolde. Dewi has completed UK tours of the Magic Flute and La Traviata for ETO in which he sang the roles of Tamino and Alfredo respectively. He has also appeared at the Buxton Festival and sang the role of Don Ottavio - Don Giovanni for The Opera Project. He has sung Pinkerton - Madam Butterfly at the Queen Elizabeth Hall for London City Opera, and has recently completed a tour with Opera Box performing the role of Don Jose in Carmen, a role which he has also performed for Kentish Opera. His television appearances include programmes such as Margaret Williams, Heno, Pencerdd and Noson Lawen on S4C as well as a Dennis O'Neill Masterclass on HTV. Dewi's concert work includes 'Handel's Messiah by Candlelight' at the Royal Festival Hall and Bridgewater Hall and two successive appearances at the annual Formula I Launch Party, Royal Albert Hall. He has released a CD of popular Italian Songs - available via our on CD shop. |
|
 |
|
| Dylan Resides in Colwyn Bay and was educated at Creuddyn School, Llandudno. He received tuition by many recognised Harp tutors in Wales - Gwennant Pyrs, Dafydd Huw and Robin James Jones.
Dylan has won in the National Eisteddfod in 1989, 1991 and 1994, and was also a winner in the Gerdd Dant Festival in 1992.
Around Wales he is a well known Accompanist and is always in demand at different Festivals. He is resident Harpist for Bodnant Gardens, North Wales and Plas Tan Y Bwlch, Maentwrog - two very popular and award winning venues.
A well known concert entertainer in Wales, Dylan has also travelled abroad - France, Germany, Holland, Canada, Prague, Switzerland, Edinburgh, Paris and Ireland as a Harp Soloist and Accompanist, appearing and broadcasting on the BBC network.
Dylan appeared in the 1,000 Voices Festival at the Royal Albert Hall, where he was Guest Soloist in 1997 and shared the platform with Soprano Rebecca Evans. Other Soloists he has accompanied and shared platforms with include Bryn Terfel, Eirian James, Katherine Jenkins, Hayley Westenra, Shan Cothi, Gwyn Hughes Jones, Rhys Meirion, John Eifion, and Annette Bryn Parri to name but a few.
He made his debut at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in 2005 and performing there is now an annual event in his diary. He is also engaged in a Mass Welsh Male Voice Choir Concert tour, appearing as a Soloist throughout the North West in theatres including Liverpool Empire and Palace Theatre, Manchester.
Dylan enjoys all kinds of music from light to classical,songs from the shows to current chart songs, and of course, Cerdd Dant. He has released 3 CD's with the record comapny Sain. The first was released in 2000, the second in 2002 and the thrid in 2004. In 2006 he released yet another album with his "Piantel" partner Annette Bryn Parri. These are all listed on his CV. |
|
 |
|
| Gareth John is a Welsh Tenor who trained in the Opera School at the Guildhall, School of Music and Drama. He also has a B.Mus (2:1) from the University of Wales, Bangor 2002, and an M.Mus from Guildhall School, 2005. He currently studies with David Pollard.
In 2003, he was awarded the David Lloyd memorial scholarship as the most promising Tenor at the National Eisteddfod of Wales and the Blue Ribbon for the best soloist under the age of twenty-five.
Engagements have included a tour of Johannesburg, with the South African Welsh Society; a performance of Britten's Winter Words at the Chipping-Campden Festival and the opening concert at the Machynlleth Music Festival. He has also had much experience as a Soloist in Oratorio and Sacred Music.
His Opera experience to date includes the roles of Ivan in the second performance of a new opera-The Crocodile by Llywelyn Ap Myrddin (Oxford Festival); Fracasso-La Finta Semplice (GSMD); played the Butler and the auctioneers' assistant in the first performance of Violet by Roger Scrutton (GSMD); sung the roles of Bardolfo in the spring production of Falstaff (GSMD), the Song-Seller in Il Tabbaro and Gherrardo in Gianni Schicchi (GSMD). He was Lenski (cover) for the British Youth Opera's production of Eugene Onegin (Tchaikovsky) in September 2006. HRH Prince Phillipe, The Dinner Engagement (GSMD); Roderick II, The Long Christmas Dinner (GSMD); Don Basilio and Don Curzio, Le Nozze di Figaro (GSMD; Flamand, Capriccio (GSMD); Jupiter, Semele (Winterbourne Opera); Mr Upfold, the Mayor, Albert Herring (BYO); Carmen (Opera Project). |
|
 |
|
| Joanne Thomas was born in the Rhondda. She studied at the Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama and the Royal Academy of Music with Beatrice Unsworth. She represented Wales in the BBC Cardiff Singer of the World 2001.
Joanne's Opera experience includes the role of Mme Larina in Tchaikovsky's Eugene Onegin for Welsh National Opera, Witch and Mother in Humperdink's Hansel and Gretel for WNO Max, the title role in Bizet's Carmen for WNO educational workshops and workshop performance of a new opera Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Peter Ash for the National Theatre Studio. Other roles include Ramiro (Mozart's Die Gartnerin aud Liebe), 2nd Lady (Mozart's The Magic Flute), Mama (Grace Williams' The Parlour), Charlotte (Massenet's Werther), Mrs Peachum (Britten's realisation of The Beggars Opera). Also Mrs Slender (Salieri's Falstaff) for Bampton Classical Opera.
Her extensive concert and Oratorio work has taken her to Germany, Malta, USA, New Zealand and Australia including performances at the Sydney Opera House. Other notable performances include Berliz' Les nuits d'ete and Elgar's Sea Pictures with BBC NOW, both broadcast on BBC radio, Verdi's Requiem, and Rossini's Stabat Mater at Eton College.
Recital work has included The Songmakers Almanac at the Wigmore Hall, St David's Hall lunchtime concerts and a BBC Radio 3 broadcast from the Fishguard Festival 2001 where she premiered Rhian Samuels' Ancient Songs. Also the premiere of Mervyn Burtch's Three Shakespeare Portraits and a series of recitals at the Klavierfest Ruhr 2000 to 2003 under the direction of Graham Johnson.
Joanne is currently a full time chorister with Welsh National Opera. Recent performances include a recital series for Vancouver Chamber Music Festival with Graham Johnson, and her recording debut to include songs and duets by Roger Quilter.
Forthcoming engagements include the cover of Santuzza for Welsh National Opera.
|
|
 |
|
| Kate was born in Cardiff and obtained a B.Mus degree at Sheffield University before going on to post-graduate study at the Royal Academy of Music. Her copius awards include the Osborne Roberts Blue Riband at the National Eisteddfod, and the Alfredo Hodgson Memorial Bursary given by the National Federation of Music Societies. Kate has performed with the majority of this country's Opera Companies including Welsh National Opera, English National Opera, Glyndebourne Festival Opera, Wexford Festival Opera, Opera Factory, Travelling Opera and Pocket Opera. Her roles include Carmen, Dorabella, Hansel, Suzuki, Flora, Marcellina, Dinah and Varvara in a newly commissioned work for Welsh National Opera entitled Katerina. As an Oratorio artist she has sung at the Wigmore Hall and with the BBC National Orchestra of Wales, toured Hungary and Germany and has performed the majority of the Mezzo/Contralto repertoire. Kate is equally at home on the recital platform as she is on the operatic stage and has given recitals across the country specialising in American and English song. This year (2007) saw Kate perform at tyhe cathedrals of Gloucester, St David's, and Llandaff and join the C.B.S.O at the Cheltenham festival. She is currently touring with Swansea City Opera in The Barber of Seville and has just completed a nationwide tour of a new commission for Welsh National Opera called Dolffin, with a libretto by Gwyneth Lewis. In it Kate took the lead role of a pregnant dolphin! |
|
 |
|
| Meriel Andrew was born in Ciliau Aeron. After teaching English for six years she decided to study at the Royal Northern College of Music. In her final recital last year she was awarded a PPRNCM with distinction. Prizes have included the John Ireland Competition and The London Welsh Singer of the year. Roles performed include Pamina, Mimi, the Governess and Romilda (Xerxes at the Queen Elizabeth Hall), and she has recently covered the Countess for Diva Opera. Oratorio appearances have included The Messiah, Mozart's Requiem and A Child of Our Time. Currently Meriel can be heard as the singing voice of Rachel Griffiths in the motion picture 'Very Annie-Mary' Meriel is a member of the Welsh National Opera chorus. |
|
 |
|
| Owen was brought up in Pontlliw, South Wales. He studied at The Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama with Beatrice Unsworth where he won numerous awards. His present teacher is Stephen Roberts.
At Welsh National Opera he was an Associate Artist and the recipient of the WNO Schafer Bursary 2005/2006 and the WNO Chris Ball Bursary. Roles included Dancaire - Carmen, Baritone in Seven Deadly Sins, Schaunard - La Boheme, Masetto - Don Giovanni, Marullo - Rigoletto, Cappadocian - Salome, 1st Officer - The Carmelites, Kuligin - Katya Kabanova, Helmsman - Tristan und Isolde, The Official Registrar - Madama Butterfly. Other roles include Papageno - The Magic Flute, Zurga - The Pearlfishers, Escamillo - Carmen, Guglielmo - Cosi fan tutte, Dr Falke - Die Fledermaus, Lord Tristan - Martha. In addition to main house productions, Owen performs and leads many workshops for WNO MAX Education Department, in both mainstream and special needs. Recent projects include Through Listening Eyes which was made into a DVD and won Best Short Film at the Calgary Film Festival, Canada and The Merman King, which has also been made into a DVD. Recent concert performances include Dvorak Mass in D, Puccini Messa di Gloria, Five Mystical Songs, Carmina Burana, Dvorak Requiem, Les Nuits D'ete, Petite Messe Solennelle, Karl Jenkins' Mass for Peace (S4C recording), St John Passion, St Matthew Passion, Christmas Oratorio, Mass in F Major, Messiah, Mozart and Faure Requiem.
Owen has recently made a solo recording entitled 'Some Day' and has just recorded the role of Kuligin in Katya Kabanova with Chandos.
Owen was the winner of the 1997 Morriston Orpheus Choir Subscribers Award. In 2004, Owen came runner up in the De Vive Voix competition at the Festival International D'Art Lyrique de Vivonne in France.
Owen was a performer with Live Music Now! which included recitals at the Purcell Rooms, South Bank and a performance for Her Majesty The Queen at Buckingham Palace.
Future engagements include Papageno - The Magic Flute in Germany and concert performances throughout the country. |
|
 |
|
| Piantel is an established musical duo that has been performing as soloists on harp and piano for years, and decided to combine their musical talents in 2005 to bring you Piantel. In their time together they have achieved success with a varied and wide range of experiences.
Both Dylan and Annette are extremely well known all over the country for their individual style and performances, accompanying and performing alongside some of our biggest stars: Bryn Terfel, Katherine Jenkins, Hayley Westenra, Rhys Meirion, Shan Cothi, Gwyn Hughes Jones - to name just a few. Between them they have recorded 5 solo albums with the record company Sain, and have appeared on many more recordings as accompanists. Engagements have included recitals at Edinburgh Fringe Festival in 2005, 2006 and will be returning again in August 2007, performances alongside Hayley Westenra in June 2006 at Venue Cymru.
2007 is very busy for Piantel. In April they will be appearing in Beaumaris; in June they will be performing in Sheffied and at the Rhyl Pavilion Theatre at a Mass Male Voice Choir Concert. In July 2007 they have been invited to perform at the 7th European Harp Symposium held at the Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff.
In August they have been invited to perform at the opening concert for the National Eisteddfod of Wales in Flint, then travel up to Edinburgh to commence a week of concerts at the Fringe Festival. Also in August they will be performing, once again, at the Machynlleth Festival and then returning to the Rhyl Pavilion to perform in October. These are just a few of the concerts they have arranged. A full list of concerts and booking details can be viewed through the shows diary page.
In addition to a busy recital schedule as Piantel, they have a demanding diary as soloists in their own name, performing and recording with various soloists and choirs. They have just released a new CD called Piantel, which can be purchased from our online CD shop. |
|
 |
|
| Ros, born in Swansea, was educated in King's College, London and The Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama. Operatic roles include Marcellina (Le Nozze di Figaro), Berta (Il Barbiere di Siviglia) and First Lady (The Magic Flute) for Welsh National Opera, Leila (Pearl Fishers) and Lady Billows (Albert Herring) for Opera de Bauge in France, Belinda (Dido and Aeneas) for Musica Rediviva in Rome and Fenena (Nabucco) for National Eisteddfod 2000. Elsewhere, Countess Almaviva (Le Nozze di Figaro), Giorgetta (Il Tabarro), Tebaldo (Don Carlos) Abigaille (Nabucco) and Anna Page in Nicolai's Merry Wives of Windsor. Also for WNO she has performed Mother Kite in the bilingual commission Red flight Barcud and Boris in Katerina.
Oratorio performances include Haydn's Maria Theresa, Mass in Paris, Mozart's Requiem; with NOW, Verdi's Te Deum at St David's Hall and John Rutter's Requiem performed under the baton of the composer. She has also performed Karl Jenkins' mass for the Armed Man at St. David's Hall and also as part of the composer's sixtieth birthday celebrations.
Prizes awarded include the Sir Geraint Evans Scholarship, Rowland Jones Memorial Prize, Francis Willinger Memorial Scholarship and bursaries from the Patrons of the Swansea Festival.
Ros has performed in the Basilica in Cairo and last year she returned to the Edinburgh Festival to great critical acclaim. Ros appears regularly on television and radio, most recently on on S4C's Dechrau Canu Dechrau Canmol and Noson Lawen, and with Dennis O'Neill on BBC TV's Masterclass series. Concert performances include Cressida in Walton's work Troillus and Cressida, Mozart's sacred work Exultate Jubilate and Britten's Les Illuminations. Recent engagements include appearances in Proms concerts with the RPO and numerous concerts with the National Chamber Orchestra of Wales.
|
|
 |
|
| Hailing from Dolgellau, Meirionydd Sian studied at The Royal Academy of Music with Patricia Clarke and Kenneth Bowen. Her numerous awards include The Tankard Lieder Competition, Flora Nielson Prizes, Colin Murray Award, Amanda von Lobb Memorial Prize, Young Welsh Singer London Award and The Blue Ribbon at The National Eisteddfod 2001. Sian was also a Young Welsh Singer finalist at St Davids Hall.
Opera roles include Annina - La Traviata, Giovanna - Rigoletto, Inez - Il Trovatore for Welsh National Opera; Page - Salome, Orphan - Der Rosenkavalier, Bridesmaid - Le Nozze di Figaro for The Royal Opera House; Baba the Turk - Rakes Progress, Sourceress - Dido and Aeneas for The Opera Factory; Title role Carmen and Olga - Eugene Onegin for Morley College Opera; Zita - Gianni Schicci, Dido - Dido and Aeneas for The North Wales Opera Group.
Chorus work includes Musica nel Chiostro - Batignano, Opera Factory and ROH.
Oratorio highlights include Bach's Mass in B Minor at Queen Elizabeth Hall and St John Passion in Paris; Handal's Messiah at St Martin;s in the Field, Dvorak's Requiem in Tours; Rossini's Stabat Mater at Montbourg Abbey, Vivaldi's Gloria at The Purcell Room and Verdi's Requiem in Guernsey.
Concert work includes a recital tour of South Africa, Soloist in the World Premiere of "Mr Wordly Wise" (Twyla Tharp's Ballet) for the Royal Opera House, S4C "Musicale", S4C Craig Y Nos Opera Masterclass, Solo Recital at Quiltar's home in Sussex, Recitals at Southwark Cathedral and St Martin's in the Field, BBC Radio 4's Daily Service, Air Ed El Studios Advert recordings, and Soloist at The Best of Welsh Festival at The Royal Albert Hall.
Sian also takes pride in being a National Eisteddfod Voice Adjudicator.
|
|
 |
|
| Born in Sydney, baritone Simon Lobelson spent his childhood in Brussels and currently resides in London. On a scholarship from the University of Sydney, he obtained first-class honours in 2001 in his Bachelor of Music degree. Later, whilst studying with John Pringle, he won the Tinkler Award in the 2003 Australian Singing Competition. Awarded a Stanley Picker Scholarship and a Martin Harris Scholarship from London’s Royal College of Music, Simon began his postgraduate studies in September 2003 under the tutelage of Roderick Earle. He has recently completed his studies at the prestigious Benjamin Britten International Opera School of the RCM, with distinction.
Simon has done much ensemble singing, having sung and toured with some of Sydney’s finest companies, including Cantillation, ACO Voices, the Renaissance Players, Sydney Philharmonia Motet Choir and the Song Company. He now frequently performs and records in the United Kingdom with the Geoffrey Mitchell Choir, BBc Singers and London Voices, for Chandos and Opera Rara labels. Simon can be heard on John William’s soundtrack for Star Wars 3: Revenge of the Sith with London Voices.
Amongst several other concert appearances, Simon was a soloist with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra in Sofia Gubaidulina’s Jetzt immer Schnee, in which “all acquitted themselves with distinction, in particular bass Simon Lobelson.” He repeated his performance of this in September 2006 for the Lucerne Festival with Pierre Boulez conducting, after returning from giving recitals in Vienna, of music from the First and Second Viennese Schools. He has also sung the baritone solos in Rameau’s Les Grands Motets with Sydney Philharmonia Choirs, Fauré’s Requiem, Orff’s Carmina Burana, Mozart’s Requiem and Great Mass in C minor, Mendelssohn’s Elijah, Haydn’s Missa in Tempore Belli, Vaughan Williams’ Dona nobis pacem, Charpentier’s Messe de Minuit and Magnificat, Shostakovich’s Rayok, Vaughan William’s Fantasia on Christmas Carols at St. Martin-in-the-Fields and Bach’s Johannes-Passion, as well as having appeared as a soloist on both ABC Classic FM and 2MBS FM and on the in-flight soundtrack for British Airways and Qantas flights.
Most recent operatic appearances include Doctor Falke in Die Fledermaus “who fielded beautifully rounded tone and phrased extremely elegantly” (Rodney Milnes, Opera), Don Alfonso in Mozart’s Così fan tutte, L’Horloge Comtoise and Le Chat in Ravel’s L’Enfant et le Sortilèges, Ramiro in Ravel’s L’Heure espagnole, Junius in Britten’s The Rape of Lucretia and Geôlier in Dialogues des Carmélites for the Benjamin Britten International Opera School, Nottingham in Donizetti's Roberto Devereux in Spain, Don Alfonso for British Youth Opera, Plunkett in Martha with Haddo House Opera, Marcello in La Boheme for British Youth Opera in Italy and France, L'Horloge Comtoise and Le Chat in L'Enfant et les Sortileges for the European Opera Centre in Greece and Cyprus, the Drunken Poet in Purcell’s The Fairy Queen with Pinchgut Opera (which he has recorded for ABC Classics) and the world premiere of Errollyn Wallen’s Another America: Fire – a collaboration between Push, ROH2 at the Royal Opera House and English National Opera. Opera Now magazine hailed him as “an outstanding Junius . . . a beckoning future, not free of lurid ambition,” while of the same role Opera called him “a vigorous baritone with a watchful, Iago-like depiction of the character who originates rather than enacts the crime.” Opera Now recently wrote that “Better yet was Simon Lobelson’s Doctor Falke: a classy performance, his baritone finessed and honed (like a young Gidon Saks) – and a dab hand as an actor too.” The March 2007 edition of Opera wrote, of his performances in Greece of L'Enfant et les Sortileges, that "Simon Lobelson's warm, centred baritone thrillingly threw off the frenzied plaints of the Grandfather Clock, and gave a seductive edge to his sinuous feline Lothario." His stage repertoire in Australia and the UK has included the title roles in Le Nozze di Figaro and Britten’s Noye’s Fludde, Guglielmo in Così fan tutte, Dancaïro in Carmen, Aeneas in Dido and Aeneas, Pirate King in the Pirates of Penzance, King Hildebrand in Princess Ida, Macheath in The Beggar’s Opera, Indian Boy in Purcell’s The Indian Queen and Papageno in The Magic Flute. A review of the latter in Opera~opera stated that “Simon Lobelson’s musicality was made manifest as soon as he opened his mouth and he continued to reaffirm that snap judgement all night . . . obviously, too, he is one of those guys who loves being on stage; a born performer, radiating a charm which is all but impossible to resist . . . an ebullient, unselfconscious stage presence coupled with his natural singing style.”
|
|
 |
|
| Sion Goronwy was born in Bala, North Wales, and graduated with honours in History from the University of Wales, Aberystwyth. Subsequently he studied singing at postgraduate level at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London, gaining the LGSM diploma in 1998. He became the Legal and General Junior Fellow at the Royal College of Music after completing two years on the opera course at the Benjamin Britten International Opera School, studying with Graeme Broadbent. At the RCM he held the D'Oyle Cart Scholar (2002/03), Pidem Trust scholar (01/02) and supported by Cor Godre'r Aran (Welsh Male Voice Choir). During his studies at the Guildhall he was sponsored on scholarships from the National Eisteddfod of Wales, Arts Council of Wales, S4C television, and the Lawrence Attwell, Ryan Davies, William Cox, Dr Williams' School trust funds and Meibion Llywarch (Welsh folk choir).
Roles performed are Mozart Die Zauberflöte (Sarastro), Stravinsky Oedipus Rex (Tiresias), Puccini Gianni Schicchi (Simone), Handel Agrippina (Claudio), Brockes Passion (Caiaphas/Centurion staged) and Britten Albert Herring (Supt Budd) A Midsummer Night's Dream (Snug/Lion, Quince); Puccini Madama Butterfly (Bonze); J Strauss Die Fledermaus (Frank): Tchaikovsky Eugene Onegin (Gremin / Zaretsky), Walton The Bear (Luka); Puccini Tosca (Sacristan); Peter Maxwell Davies The Martyrdom of St Magnus; Verdi Rigoletto (Sparafucile); Verdi Falstaff (Pistola), Strauss Ariadne auf Naxos (Truffaldine and Lakai); Mozart Die Entführung aus dem Serail (Osmin); Weber Der Freischutz (Kaspar and Eremit); Smetena The Bartered Bride (Micha); Menotti Amahl and the Night Visitors (Balthasar); scenes from Puccini La Boheme (Colline); Verdi Don Carlo (King Phillip), and Donizetti Anna Bolena (Enrico). He has performed at the Benjamin Britten International Opera School, Glyndebourne (Festival Chorus 2006 and understudy Quince Midsummer Nights Dream); Norwegian Royal Opera at the Oslo Music Festival Norway; Opera Valladolid Spain; Clonter Opera; Mid Wales Opera; European Chamber Opera; Dartington International Summer School, British Youth Opera; (Understudy Osmin); Osmin in Mozart’s Seraglio, English Touring Opera Spring 2007; Glyndebourne - understudy Don Magnifico - La Cenerentola; Opera Box - Colline - La Boheme; Autumn 2007 Glyndebourne on Tour, understudy Superintendent Budd - Albert Herring and Doctor/Herald/Servant - Macbeth.
Concert work include Haydn The Creation, Scarlatti St Cecelia Mass; Mozart Requiem, Coronation Mass, Vesperae Solennes de Confessore. New Year Concert series with the Kristiansand Symphony Orchestra conducted by Terje Boye Hansen in Kristiansand, Norway January 2005. He took part in concert tour of Australia and New Zeland during October 2003 and 1999 with Cor Godre’r Aran Male Voice Choir.
Forthcoming engagements include Spring 2008 - Opera North, Snug - A Midsummer Nights Dream
|
|
|
