Tenor Samuel Boden sings Acis in Handel Acis and Galatea at the Buxton International Festival in a production by Martin Constantine with Christian Curnyn conducting the Early Opera Company. The performances at Buxton Opera House take place on July 12, 19 (pm & eve) and 20 (pm & eve).
Director Polly Graham, Artistic Director of Longborough Festival Opera, appears as a guest on BBC Radio 3 In Tune on July 9. Her staging of Monteverdi The Return of Ulysses will be performed in the Big Top at the festival on July 13, 15, 17 & 18. Conducted by CPM artist Robert Howarth the production also features tenor Andrew Irwin as Telemaco. View Graham’s short animated film here.
Conductor and harpsichordist Steven Devine joins host Sean Rafferty on BBC Radio 3’s In Tune on July 5 talking about his varied career. He appears with The Mozartists at Cadogan Hall, London on July 8 playing CPE Bach Harpsichord Concerto in C Minor and will be joined by CPM artists mezzo Bethany Horak-Hallett and tenor Guy Cutting at King’s Place, London for the next instalment of the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment’s Bach, The Universe and Everything series, of which he is Artistic Director, on July 11. The programme will include Bach Cantata 156 and will be live streamed on KPlayer.
Tenor Bradley Smith appears at the Cheltenham Festival on July 4 in Awakening Shadow, a chamber opera fusing original scenes by operatic composer Luke Styles with a complete performance of Benjamin Britten’s five Canticles. The work is staged by Richard Williams and George Vass conducts his Nova Music Ensemble who are co-producers with the Presteigne Festival where the work will be performed on August 26.
Tenor Samuel Boden replaces a cancelled Johann Sebastian Bach St Matthew Passion in Rotterdam by joining viol consort Fretwork in a Bach-free event on Good Friday with Johan Sebastiani (1622-1683) St Matthew Passion from Wigmore Hall. Available online at from 15:00 BST on April 2 for 90 days.
Tenors Guy Cutting and Bradley Smith appear in the Oxford Bach Soloists Virtual Easter Festival conducted by Tom Hammond-Davies. Filmed in stunning Oxford venues Bradley and Guy share the tenor arias in the St John Passion with Guy also singing tenor solos in the Bach Cantata Der Himmel lacht! Die Erde jubilieret BWV31. Thomas Guthrie has directed a socially-distanced but compelling and atmospheric celebration of Bach’s works. Available online from April 2 until April 30.
Against all odds tenor Samuel Boden reached Barcelona for the long-awaited Spanish première of George Benjamin’s Lessons in Love and Violence. Reprising the roles of Boy and Young King he makes his début at the Gran Teatro Liceu with performances on Feb 26, Mar 1, 4, 7, 9 & 11. Josep Pons conducts Katie Mitchell’s staging adapted for the pandemic by Dan Ayling.
Tenor Guy Cutting appears with Collegium Vocale Gent and Philippe Herreweghe on the new Belgian arts streaming platform Podium 19. The concert from De Singel, Antwerp includes Bach Cantatas 127, 138 and 161 and is available from 17:00 CET on January 31.
Tenor Andrew Irwin has been selected to receive a BBC Northern Ireland & Arts Council of Northern Ireland Young Musicians Platform Award. As well as funds towards career development projects the award includes BBC broadcast opportunities and an appearance with The Ulster Orchestra. Hear more on BBC In Tune.
Fundraising for the victims devastated by the explosion in his native Beirut last year tenor Bechara Moufarrej joins the Bayerische Staatsoper Orchestra under Toufic Maatouk to perform Salam Li Beirut – To Beirut with Peace by Fadi Kassis. The contribution from Antonine University Choir was filmed in the ruins of Beirut’s Grand Theatre and the venture was made possible with support from Schulterschluss Initiative and the Bayerische Staatsoper.
