Teseo

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.

James has directed a range of operas for ETO – including, most recently, the critically-acclaimed Il tabarro (Puccini) and Mozart’s La clemenza di Tito. In 2010, he directed the world premiere of Alexander Goehr’s opera, Promised End. His production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream (performed by ETO in 2004 and revived in 2010) was nominated for an RPS Award.

Other operatic work includes Katya Kabanova, Rusalka, Susannah, Eugene Onegin, Orfeo, Jenufa, Anna Bolena, Maria Stuarda, as well as Teseo and Alcina (ETO); Ariodante, Erismena, Flavio, The Cunning Little Vixen (ETO and OTC); The Marriage of Figaro (RCM and ETO); Tolomeo (London Handel Festival/ ETO); 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), The Cunning Little Vixen (Moravian National Theatre, Brno).

Michael began his conducting career in Germany before joining the Vienna State Opera. In Vienna he assisted Claudio Abbado and worked closely with the world’s leading singers, notably Pavarotti and Domingo. Michael has conducted in Kassel, Wiesbaden; Mannheim, where he was resident staff conductor; ENO, and at numerous international festivals, including Buxton, Bath, Perth and Montepulciano. He has appeared at the Aldeburgh Festival and is recognised as one of the leading interpreters of Britten’s music. In concert he has worked with many European orchestras and broadcast on Radio France Musique and Südwestfunk. Michael has conducted Le nozze di Figaro, A Misummer Nights Dream, Katya Kabanova, Norma and Teseo for ETO and recorded a CD with Grammy award winning tenor Alfie Boe and the Orchestra of Scottish Opera. He is currently Opera Director at the RCM and Music Director for ETO.

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 design for I was Looking at the Ceiling and then I Saw the Sky (Stratford East Royal Theatre); Roméo et Juliette (ON); Le nozze di Figaro (RNCM); 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, Katya Kabanova and Teseo.

Aideen was born in Dublin and trained in Dublin and London. Her opera engagements include Turn of the Screw, Le nozze di Figaro, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Cosi fan tutte, Mary Queen of Scotts, Jenufa and Tosca (all for ETO); Dialogues des Carmélites (RCM). In theatre, Aideen’s work has included Lighten Up, The Thought That Counts and In One Ear (Theatre Rites); Greed and Kiss My Echo (Clod Ensemble); Hirja and Dogs Barking (Bush Theatre); Coyote on a Fence (Royal Exchange Manchester/ West End). Aideen’s dance work includes A Compas (Paco Pena); Ether and Bhakti (Angika Dance Co.); Kaash and Polaroid Feet (Akram Khan Co.).

William studied at Durham University and went on to RADA where he took his MA in Directing and Dramaturgy. He has directed Ghosts (The Young Vic); Kean (Hori Pro and Thelma Holt, Tokyo); Scenes from An Execution (Hackney Empire); Two Noble Kinsmen (RSC). In 2010 William will direct Don Pasquale for ETO.

Claire studied at Oxford University; GSMD; NOS, where she was sponsored by ON. She was a finalist in the 2004 Kathleen Ferrier Awards. Operatic highlights include Nora/ Riders to the Sea (ENO); Mrs Green/ Down by the Greenwood Side and Soprano Narrator/ Into the Little Hill (Royal Opera Linbury Theatre); Mélisande/ Pelléas et Mélisande (OTC); Elle/ La Voix humaine, 1st Niece/ Peter Grimes and Zerlina/ Don Giovanni (ON); Anicia Eritea/ Eliogabalo (GPO); Concert engagements include appearances with the CBSO; CSO; BBCSO; BBCSSO; Miranda/ The Tempest (NRO); London Sinfonietta. Recent performances include Benjamin A Mind of Winter (Lucerne International Festival) and George Crumb Ancient Voices of Children (Proms). Future engagements include performances with the BBCSO, London Sinfonietta and the Nash Ensemble.

Born in Lancashire, Claire studied at the RNCM and NOS. In 2005, she received the prestigious John Christie Award from Glyndebourne Opera for the most promising young singer. Other awards include a Peter Moores Foundation Major Scholarship and scholarships from ENO, the Sybil Tutton Charitable Trust and the Countess of Munster Trust. Opera engagements include Emmie/ Albert Herring (GFO and GTO); Blonde/ Entführung (Frankfurt Opera), Nannetta/ Falstaff (WNO and GPO), Barbarina/ Le nozze di Figaro (ENO and GFO). Recently her roles include Despina/ Cosi fan tutte (Ivan Fischer in Budapest and Spain); Marzelline/ Fidelio (Garsington Opera). Future plans include Blonde/ Entführung (WNO); Tytania/ A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Susanna/ Le nozze diFigaro (ETO).

Paula received the Tagor Gold Medal from the RCM and the Karaviotis Prize at the Les Azuriales International Competition. At RCM, she was a finalist for the Young Concert Artists Trust and received the Coutts & Co. Award along with the Sir Thomas Allen Scholarship supported by a Clayton Award. Operatic roles include Norina/ Don Pasquale, Gilda/ Rigoletto (Preggio Opera Festival, Italy); Atalanta/ Atalanta (Handel Society); Bastienne/ Bastien und Bastienne (Skipton Camerata); Mimi/ La bohème, Inez/ Il trovatore (both Opus I Opera); Grasshopper/ The Cunning Little Vixen (RCM). Covers include Governess/ Turn of the Screw (Opera North). Concert engagements include Mozart Unwrapped (King’s Place with Roger Vignoles November 2011), City of Dreams (Philharmonia Orchestra concert series 2009); City Music Society series (Eric Falk Trust Award). Paula has also recorded a Peroni advert soundtrack. Previously for ETO, Paula has performed the roles of Pamina/ The Magic Flute, Clizia/ Teseo, Emilia/ Flavio, Susanna/ Figaro.

Lina was born in Sweden, started her singing studies there and completed them at GSMD. She has recently performed Cherubino/ Le Nozze di Figaro and Dorabella/ Così fan tutte (Théatre des Champs Elysées; Atelier Lyrique de Tourcoing) with Jean-Claude Malgoire. Other roles include Arcane/ Teseo (ETO), Second Woman in Katie Mitchell´s After Dido (ENO; The Young Vic); Second Woman in Deborah Warner’s Dido & Aeneas (Les Arts Florissants for Wiener Festwochen; Opéra Comique; The Netherlands Opera); Messaggiera/Ninfa/ L’Orfeo (Drottningholm); Carmen/ La Tragédie de Carmen, Third Sprite/ Rusalka (both Wexford Festival); Doris/Zaide/ L’Europe Galante (Academie Baroque d’Ambronay, cond. William Christie). In concert she has performed the roles of Idamante/ Idomeneo (Chelsea Opera Group), Idamante and Sesto in extracts from Idomeneo and La Clemenza di Tito (Mozart Galas, English Baroque Soloists, cond. John Eliot Gardiner). Future plans include Sesto/ Giulio Cesare with Jean-Claude Malgoire (Atelier Lyrique de Tourcoing at L’Opéra Royal; Versailles; on tour across France).

Derek trained at the Sweelinck Conservatorium, University of Maryland and Oberlin Conservatory. He received 1st Prize in the International Munich Competition and in the Purcell-Britten Prize of Concert Singers. Operatic engagements include Egeo/ Teseo (ETO); Prometheus/ Prometheus (Dawe Production); Mr. Lies/ Nurse/ Angels in America (Opera de Châtelet); Oberon/ A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Metropolitan Opera). Concert engagements include Handel/ Porpora Mi palpita il cor (Florilegium). Derek has also made a number of recordings including Gluck L’Orfeo with John E. Gardener (Philips/ Decca) and Negro Spirituals with Moses Hogan (EMI and Channel Classics).