Katya Kabanova

Michael performs a wide and varied operatic repertoire, working at the ROH, Covent Garden, ENO and ETO with regular appearances at festivals including Aldeburgh, Buxton and Montepulciano. As a member of the music staff of the Wiener Staatsoper, he assisted Claudio Abbado and worked closely with many of the world’s leading singers. He has conducted extensively throughout Germany notably Kassel, Wiesbaden and Mannheim, holding the position of resident staff conductor and as Associate Conductor for the London Handel Society, he has introduced many rarely performed Handel operas to the London stage. His recording with tenor Alfie Boe and the Orchestra of SO will be released this autumn.
Michael is Music Director for ETO and Director of Opera at RCM.

James is General Director of ETO and has written original libretti for two operas and translations for three others, as well as several works of fiction.

Operatic work includes: Katya Kabanova, Rusalka, Susannah, Eugene Onegin, Orfeo, Erismena, Jenufa, Anna Bolena, Mary, Queen of Scots, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, as well as Teseo and Alcina (ETO); Ariodante, The Cunning Little Vixen (ETO and OTC); Tolomeo (London Handel Festival/ ETO); Flavio, Tamerlano, Amadigi, Rodelinda, L’elisir d’amore, Katya Kabanova and The Rake’s Progress (OTC); Cinderella (De Vlaamse Opera/ Transparant); Don Giovanni (Canadian Opera Company); La Voix humaine (Teatro Nacional São João, Oporto); staging of Kurt Weill songs (Culturgest, Lisbon); La Spinalba (Casa da Musica, Porto).

Linda studied at RNCM and at the National Opera Studio. As an ENO Company Principal, her roles included Virtue/The Coronation of Poppea, Fiordiligi/Così fan tutte, Lauretta/Gianni Schicchi, Micaela/Carmen, Gretel/Hansel and Gretel, Gilda/Rigoletto, Zerlina and Donna Anna/Don Giovanni, Sophie/Der Rosenkavalier, Mimi/La Bohème, The Fairy Queen/The Fairy Queen, Alcina/Alcina, Violetta/La Traviata, Woglinde/Rhinegold, Helena/A Midsummer Night´s Dream. Elsewhere, she has appeared as Gilda/Rigoletto, Nanetta/Falstaff and Countess/The Marriage of Figaro (ON); Lisetta/La Vera Constanza (Garsington); Norina/Don Pasquale (Clonter Opera); First Niece/Peter Grimes (Netherlands Opera), Countess/Figaro (Diva Opera) and Amina/La Sonnambula (OHP). Future engagements include Mimi/La Boheme (OHP). Recordings include Hearts and Flowers, a collection of Victorian Parlour Songs` and Oscar/Un Ballo in Maschera for Chandos.

Sion trained at GSMD and the Benjamin Britten International Opera School. Operatic roles include Sarastro/Die Zauberflöte, Tiresias/Oedipus Rex, Simone/Gianni Schicchi, Claudio/Agrippina, Superintendent Budd/Albert Herring, Snug/Lion/Quince/A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Bonze/Madama Butterfly, Frank/Die Fledermaus, Gremin/Zaretsky/Eugene Onegin, Sparafucile/Rigoletto, Truffaldine/Lakai/Ariadne auf Naxos, Kaspar/Eremit/Der Freischutz. He has performed with the Norwegian Royal Opera, Opera Valladolid Spain, Clonter Opera, Mid Wales Opera and Glyndebourne on Tour. Concert work includes Haydn The Creation, Scarlatti St. Cecelia Mass; Mozart Requiem, Coronation Mass and Vesperae Solennes de Confessore. He has also performed Osmin/ Die Entführung aus dem Serail with the ETO. Future plans include Pistola in Falstaff for Glyndebourne on Tour Autumn 2009.

Robert studied at the University of Sheffield and GSMD. He received the 2003 Erich Vietheer Memorial Award at Glyndebourne and appeared as Mr. Gedge/Albert Herring, Marcello/La Boheme, Count Almaviva/Le Nozze di Figaro and Doctor Falke/Die Fledermaus on the Festival Tour. Other notable roles at Glyndebourne include Curo/Julio Cesare, Indian/The Bartered Bride, Guccio/Gianni Schicchi, Shepherd/Pelleas et Melisande and Guide/Carmen. He was Greek Captain in the Gramophone Award-winning production of Les Troyens at (Châtelet Theatre). Other roles include Lalo’s premiere of Verrina/Fiesque (UCL); Belcore/L’Elisir d’Amore and Sharpless/Madame Butterfly (Opera Box); Dancaïre/Carmen and Jailer/Tosca (Diva Opera). Concert performances include Monteverdi Vespers (St. Mark’s, Venice), Handel Messiah (St. David’s Hall, Cardiff), Elgar The Kingdom and Caractacus, Mendelssohn Elijah and Orff Carmina Burana.

Richard studied at the University of Kansas. Operatic engagements include Matteo/Arabella (Opera Australia); Truffaldino/The Love of Three Oranges and Witch/Hansel and Gretel (Staatstheatre Kassell); Rinuccio/Gianni Schicchi, Platon Karataeyev/War and Peace and Goro/Madame Butterfly (ENO); Pinkerton/Madame Butterfly (OHP). Concert appearances include Salome (LSO at the Barbican); Beethoven Choral Symphony (Brighton Dome); Die Meistersinger von Nurnberg (Stadhalle Kassel); Mozart Requiem (RFH); Steuermann/Flying Dutchman (RPO at the Barbican). He recorded the role of Bardolf in Falstaff for Chandos Records and is the voice of the Cockerel on the BBC Films animated version of Janacek’s Cunning Little Vixen. He has recently performed Prince/Rusalka, Rudolfo/La Boheme and Steva/Jenufa with the ETO.

Patricia trained at RCM and the National Opera Studio.  She was the 2006 winner of the Alfred Alexander Prize, finalist in the 2006 Royal Overseas League Competition and a 2008 finalist in the Bruce Millar Competition.  She has received an Independent Opera Voice Fellowship, a Donald Dewar Arts Award, a Madeline Finden Award and Sir Richard Stapley Award. Operatic roles include Laura/Iolanta (OHP); Enfant/L’Enfant et les Sortilèges, Bianca/The Rape of Lucretia, Prince Orlovsky/Die Fledermaus (RCM); Tolomeo/Tolomeo (London Handel Society); Yolande/The Sofa (Independent Opera), in addition to covering Conception/L’Heure Espagnole (RCM); Flora/La Traviata and Tisbe/Cenerentola (SO); Rosina/Il Barbiere di Siviglia (ENO) and Julia/The Departed (Independent Opera). In concert, Patricia has worked with the London Mozart Players, the English Chamber Orchestra, the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra and the Edinburgh Quartet. She has recently performed the Sorceress/Dido and Aeneas and Orimeno/Erismene with ETO. Future plans include Varvara/Katya Kabanova (OHP).

From Moville, Co Donegal, Niamh graduated from the RNCM in 2006 with a Postgraduate Diploma in Performance with Distinction, and currently studies with Anne Mason. Niamh’s operatic performances include Smeton/Anna Bolena, Mrs Ott /Susannah (ETO); Olga/Eugene Onegin (ETO and BYO); Cherubino/Le Nozze di Figaro, Mercedes/Carmen (Opera Brava); Eurynome/Penelope (WFO); La Maestra della Novizie/Suor Angelica, Rosina Il barbiere di Siviglia; Mistress Quickly/Falstaff’ (RNCM) ; and ensemble member in Macbeth, L’elisir d’amore, Carmen and Die Zauberflote (GTO). Concert experience includes Lieder Recitals with ETO under the direction of Richard Jackson and Mezzo soloist in Stephan McNeff’s Names of the Dead, in association with Opera North. As an oratorio soloist Niamh has performed works including Beethoven’s 9th Symphony; Handel’s Messiah and Alexander’s Feast; Mendelssohn’s Elijah; Haydn’s Nelson Mass and Mozart Requiem.

A graduate of RNCM, Michael’s operatic roles during college included Tom Rakewell/The Rake’s Progress, Sandy and First Officer/The Lighthouse and Ruggero/La Rondine. He was the 2006 winner of the Emmy Destinn Award for Young Singers and a prizewinner at the Mezzo Television International Opera Competition and Festival 2008. Operatic roles include Tamino/The Magic Flute (ENO); Boris/Katya Kabanova (SO); First Armed Man/The Magic Flute (ENO and OHP); Lensky/Eugene Onegin, Steva/Jenufa and Cavaradossi/Tosca (ETO); Judge Danforth/The Crucible (Dicapo Opera, New York); Don José/Carmen, Rodolfo/La bohème and Jenik/The Bartered Bride (Mid Wales Opera). In concert and broadcast Michael has performed with RLPO, RPO, English Chamber Orchestra and BBC Concert Orchestra at venues including Barbican Hall and Queen Elizabeth Hall.

Helen received her postgraduate degree from Trinity College of Music with support from Malpas and Palamkote, Joan Greenfield Trust Award, Lloyd Scholarship. She studies with Anne Mason and was a finalist in the 2008 Wagner Society Bayreuth Bursary Competition. Opera roles include Bianca/Lucretia and Marcellina/Marriage of Figaro (Opera East); Jezibaba/Rusalka (Iford Arts); Mrs. Goodbody/Parson’s Pirates (Opera Della Luna); Marguerite/Faust (Pigotts). Helen covered Hatred/Armide and Boulotte/Bluebeard (Buxton) and recently sang with ENO chorus in Boris Godunov, Cav&Pag and Aida. Helen has previously performed with ETO as Kolusina/Jenufa, Filipyevna/Eugene Onegin, soloist in Spring 2008 Lieder Recitals, Cover Buryja/Jenufa, Cover Larina/Eugene Onegin and Cover Jane Seymore/Anna Bolena.

Colin studied singing at the Guildhall School of Music. Operatic roles include Snout/A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Teatro Real Madrid); Jaquino/Fidelio (Chelsea Opera Group, SO); Remendado/Carmen, L’Incredibile/Andrea Chenier (SO); Mime/Der Ring des Nibelungen (Opera National du Rhin); Jaquino/Fidelio (ONB);  Monostatos/The Magic Flute (Theatre du Capitole Toulouse); Pang/Turandot (ROH); Third Jew/Salome (ENO); Pedrillo/Die Entfuhrung aus dem Serail, Truffaldino/The Love of Three Oranges, Hirt/Junge Seeman/Tristan und Isolde, Spoletta/Tosca, Venditore/Il Tabarro, Goro/Madama Butterfly and Gaston/La Traviata (Opera Cologne); Coryphee/Le Comte D’Ory and Andrew/The Last Supper (GFO); Alfred/Die Fledermaus (SO).  A series of short operas featuring Colin was recently broadcast on BBC 2. Previous performances with the ETO include the title role in Werther.

Cheryl trained at Bath Spa University as a cellist then continued her studies as a singer with Janice Chapman. She currently studies with Jennie Caron and Ludmilla Andrew. Opera roles include Franzi/Wiener blut, Tatiana/Eugene Onegin, Donna Anna/Don Giovanni and Mrs. Hayes/Susannah with English Touring Opera, Rusalka/Rusalka, Countess Almaviva/Marriage of Figaro (Surrey Opera); Countess/Capriccio (The Wagner Society); Pamina/Magic Flute (Opera a la Carte); Eva/Meistersinger (The Mastersingers); Sandrina/L’Infedelta Delusa (Bampton Classical Opera). Concert engagements include Verdi Requiem (Blackheath Concert Halls); Mozart Exsultate Jubilate (QEH); Mozart Requiem (St John’s Smith Square). Recordings include In Tune (BBC Radio 3); Don Giovanni (Opera Anywhere/Channel 4); Film of Perfect Picnic (BBC 3/Opera Play).

Catrine studied at GSMD and Cirencester College. She was the winner of the Russell Davies Prize, Stewards of Cirencester Award and KPMG Music in the Community Award. Operatic engagements include Suor Genovieffa/Suor Angelica (Midsummer Opera); Euridice/Motion of the Heart (Ensemble Ex); Laodice/Il Siroe (Ensemble Serse); Miss Silverpeal/The Impressario (Opera Brava); Make-up Girl/Playing Away (Bregenz Festival); French Girl/Death in Venice (Aldeburgh Festival). Concert engagements include Handel Messiah (A1 Orchestra); Mozart Requiem (EMFEB Orchestra); Handel L’Allegro (Britten-Pears, Aldeburgh). In addition, Catrine was the Inn Hostess in Edward German’s Tom Jones, a Naxos recording. Previously for ETO, Catrine has covered the role of First Woman/The Magic Flute and Glasha/Katya Kabanova.

Blake was born in Melbourne where he attended the VCA, then moved to Sydney where he debuted at Opera Australia in 1997 before moving to the UK to study at the RNCM as a Peter Moores Scholar. A multiple prize-winner, Blake was awarded RNCM’s Gold Medal in 2003. Operatic roles include Danilo/Merry Widow (SO) Lensky/Eugene Onegin (SO on tour). Spoletta/Tosca (ETO) Jean Valjean/Les Miserables (Pimlico Opera) the Lawyer/Ensemble/Peter Grimes (Salzberg Osterfestspiele/Berlin Philharmonic) Alfredo/La Traviata (Pavilion Opera), Errand Boy/A Dinner Engagement (Lindbury Studio & CHANDOS recording), Panas/Cherevichki (Garsington) and Rodolfo/ La Boheme (Wedmore Opera). Concert engagements include Handel Messiah (English Symphony Orchestra), Beethoven Symphony No.9 (Northern Sinfonia). Blake’s future plans include Ravenal/ Showboat for Cape Town Opera.

Andrew studied at RNCM and St Petersburg Conservatoire. Opera roles include Patsy Love Counts (Almeida Festival); The House of the Gods (Music Theatre Wales); Leporello Don Giovanni (BOC); Falstaff Falstaff (ETO); Ben Selim Dom Sebastien (ROH). Recent concerts include Verdi Requiem (RLPO); Brahms Requiem (RTE Orchestra Dublin); Britten War Requiem (Orchestra de l’Ile de France). Recordings include Michael Berkeley Jane Eyre (Chandos); Stravinsky The Flood (Twentieth Century Classics); Mozart The Marriage of Figaro (BBC TV).

Adam received his BA with Honours in Theatre Design at the RWCMD. He was a group winner of the Linbury Biennial Prize for Stage Design in 2003. Recent operatic engagements include costume design for Roméo et Juliette (ON) and both costume and set design for Le nozze di Figaro (RNCM) and As I Crossed the Bridge of Dreams (Almeida Opera). Ballet engagements include Children of Adam and Sensorium (Royal Ballet at the ROH). Additionally, Adam worked with ETO as designer for Country Matters and Katya Kabanova.

Mezzo
Fiona trained at the RCM and National Opera Studio and was a recipient of the John Christie Award at Glyndebourne. Recent operatic engagement include: Mrs Chin and Old Crone/A Night at the Chinese Opera (SO); Jane’s Mother/Snow White (Nationale Reisopera); Ma/House of the Gods (Music Theatre Wales); Ulrica/Un Ballo in Maschera (Canadian Opera Company) Fricka /Das Rheingold and Die Walküre (Longborough), Mistress Quickly/Falstaff (Garsington) Azucena/Il Trovatore (Stowe Opera) and Rosa Mamai/L’Arlesiana (Opera Holland Park). Concert performances include work at the Concertgebouw, South Bank and Wigmore Hall. Recording and broadcast work include: In Flanders Fields (Quartz Music Label); Greek (Decca and BBC); L’Enfance Du Christ (Thames); Canciones (NMC); Rusalka (BBC).

Opera engagements include The Cunning Little Vixen (Brno), Ring Cycle, The Magic Flute, Hansel & Gretel (Longborough); Tosca, Simon Boccanegra, The Merry Widow, Cosi Fan Tutte (Opera UK). Dance engagements include Havana Rakatan (Sadler’s Wells); Mischief (Theatre Rites); Square Map of Q4 (Rafael Bonachela); Frontline (Henri Oguike); Sea of Bones (Mark Bruce); Flicker (Shobana Jeyasingh). Theatre engagements include Be Near Me (NTS & Donmar Warehouse); Waste (Almeida); Othello (West Yorkshire Playhouse); The Lion, The Witch And the Wardrobe (Birmingham Rep); Amadeus (Sheffield Crucible). Engagements in musicals include The Witches of Eastwick; All The Fun Of The Fair; Aspects of Love (UK Tours), My Fair Lady (Singapore). He has previously designed Don Giovanni, Anna Bolena, Susannah, Eugene Onegin and The Seraglio with English Touring Opera.