The Magic Flute Programme

Programme Notes

September 4th, Market Place Theatre, Armagh September 6th, Strule Arts Centre, Omagh September 10th & 11th, Lyric Theatre, Belfast September 13th, Millennium Forum, Derry-Londonderry 1 Welcome to this evening’s performance Brendan Collins, Richard Shaffrey, Sinéad of The Magic Flute in association with O’Kelly, Sarah Richmond, Laura Murphy Nevill Holt Opera - our first ever Mozart and Lynsey Curtin - as well as an all-Irish production, and one of the most popular chorus. The showcasing and development operas ever written. of local talent is of paramount importance Open to the world since 1830 to us, and we are enormously grateful for The Magic Flute is the first production of the support of the Arts Council of Northern Austins Department Store, our 2014-15 season to be performed Ireland which allows us to continue this The Diamond, in Northern Ireland. As with previous important work. The well-publicised Derry / Londonderry, seasons we have tried to put together financial pressures on arts organisations in Northern Ireland an interesting mix of operas ranging Northern Ireland show no sign of abating BT48 6HR from the 18th century to the 21st, and however, and the importance of individual combining the very well known with the philanthropic support and corporate Tel: +44 (0)28 7126 1817 less frequently performed. Later this year sponsorship has never been greater. I our co-production (with Opera Theatre would encourage everyone who enjoys www.austinsstore.com Company) of Donizetti’s L’Elisir d’Amore seeing regular opera in Northern Ireland will tour the Republic of Ireland, following staged with flair and using the best local its successful tour of Northern Ireland operatic talent to consider supporting us last year. In February we will bring by either joining our new Friends scheme an exciting new production of Strauss’ or by investing in one of our sponsorship notorious opera Salome to Belfast’s Grand packages, details of which are in the Opera House, and we have also revived enclosed leaflet. our acclaimed production of Britten’s The Turn of the Screw with performances in the We are delighted to welcome back to UK and Russia at different times throughout Northern Ireland Stephen Richardson the year. who sang the roles of Daland in The Flying Dutchman and, unforgettably, Lady All four of these productions are Bracknell in our production of Gerald celebrations not only of great opera Barry’s The Importance of Being Earnest imaginatively staged, but also of the last year. We also extend a warm incredible depth of operatic talent here welcome to some wonderful international on the island of Ireland. The Turn of artists making their NI Opera debuts - the Screw and L’Elisir d’Amore are Anthony Gregory, Ruth Jenkins-Róbertsson, both designed by Omagh’s Annemarie and John Graham-Hall, whose recent Woods, and both feature young local engagements have taken him to the singers. The cast of Salome is led by Metropolitan Opera in New York, the Belfast-born Giselle Allen - undoubtably Royal Opera House Covent Garden and one of Northern Ireland’s finest and La Scala Milan, where he sang the title most successful Sopranos - whilst The role in Peter Grimes alongside Stephen Magic Flute boasts no fewer than eight Richardson. principals from Northern Ireland and the Irish Republic (including two past winners Enjoy the show! of the Festival of Voice, and three current and former members of our Young Artists’ Roy Bailie

Mozart wrote The Magic Flute, his final Mozart, troubled by financial worries and precipitate decline in freemasonry’s (Papageno, Monostatos) have no place in opera, in 1791. A fantastical hybrid of ill-health, declining fashionability and political and moral significance since its it, except perhaps as servants. Similarly, the serious and the comic, whose generic waning patronage, masonry was also a heyday in the late eighteenth and early masonry’s ritual and symbols, secrecy and multiplicity is held together by Mozart’s way to belong, of mixing with some of nineteenth centuries, when some of the interrogations, its fetish for masculinity extraordinary music, Flute is also a the highest-born in society on theoretically great figures of the age (not least many of and order, appear less satisfactory from revealing reflection of its time and the equal terms. Mozart took his masonic the founders of the American state) were the perspective of the depredations of priorities of its composer. At one level responsibilities seriously, sticking with his masons. Perhaps this is because the values the twentieth century’s mass-scale sects a popular entertainment, a pantomime, local brotherhood when many others were which Mozart takes to be givens no longer in Germany, Russia and elsewhere. As The Magic Flute was also political (as leaving under pressure from the Austrian seem quite as progressive now as they a mason, however, Mozart regarded Orwell insisted all art is). Perhaps this is state, composing masonic pieces while were to him. male-dominated super-elites as something not such a surprise; the French Revolution the government of the time increasingly positive and necessary – even if to us they was a mere two years old, and the frowned on the masonic project in Consider the oft-remarked status of seem a rather more dubious product of the Austrian Queen of France – portrayed general, and saturating his new opera women in the opera. It is hardly fair to eighteenth century mind-set. by contemporary radicals in as luridly with esoteric references and numerology. judge Mozart by the standards of today, unsympathetic a light as Mozart’s Queen Because with all its humour, Flute has a but nevertheless the male chauvinism of Perhaps not just an eighteenth century of the Night - was about to be similarly message. Sarastro and his brotherhood is striking mind-set. Elites are resilient, and people cast into oblivion (in Marie Antoinette’s (and in this, a logical development from will always want to be members of the case, via decapitation). Enlightenment A central part of this message is, of Cosi Fan Tutte, whose casual and at times best clubs; and both elites and clubs often idealism was being tempered by the course, Mozart’s memorable celebrations vicious misogyny is reflected not only trade on an anti-progressive fondness for bloody realities of radicalism. Where did of love and music, themes which meant in its title). Women are excluded from old times and old ways. Nostalgia for the Mozart and his opera stand in all this? most to him as both man and artist. Sarastro’s brotherhood, and derided for past is very often a nostalgia for when Repeatedly, music is seen as unlocking their dupilicity and pride. Pamina becomes people knew their place, not least women One cannot escape the masonic allegory characters’ potential, reviving and an initiate, but for all her inner nobility, and servants – witness the contemporary of The Magic Flute, investigated in ennobling them, a solution to their it is made very clear that she is a highly appeal of Downton Abbey, even among exhaustive detail by Jacques Chailley problems and predicaments. And music unusual exception. Sarastro might espouse those parts of society who would have in The Magic Flute Unveiled. Doubtless is an extension of love, of sensibility, of enlightened and benevolent opinions, but been the most disenfranchised had they Mozart intended his opera to idealise the feeling – the capacity for which defines seen from the perspective of now, in some actually lived a hundred years ago. Masonic Brotherhood, as he understood Man’s ability to be human. This emphasis ways he seems rather unenlightened. He Mozart’s opera was prescient even in his it. In Mozart’s era, for all its archane surely gives us the work’s true and relies on force and violence to impose time. As with all great art, it is reflective of mysticism and exclusivity, masonry was lasting ethical core. But at the same time, his will (kidnapping Pamina, ordering our time, too. a movement dedicated to many of the Mozart is also celebrating a minority Monostatos to be flogged, and consigning most progressive impulses of the age – sect, explicitly refuting the dark rumours his enemies to the ‘darkness’, despite his Oliver Mears to ideals of honour, learning, integrity that they are responsible for devilish professed commitment to forgiveness), and comradeship. Certainly it was conspiracies or worse. To us, Mozart’s while his brotherhood is both rigidly opposed to both tyrannical monarchs efforts in this direction can seem puzzling hierarchical and deliberately exclusive. and bloodthirsty revolutionaries. For or even irrelevant, especially given the Women and working class characters

4 5 Synopsis

Act 1 Pamina. He is discovered by the Queen of Three Ladies in the service of the Queen the Night, who dismisses him. She gives of the Night save the fainting Tamino her daughter a dagger with which to from a serpent. When they leave to tell murder Sarastro. the Queen, the bird catcher Papageno enters and boasts to Tamino that it was The weeping Pamina is confronted he who killed the creature. The Three and consoled by Sarastro. Tamino and Ladies return to give Tamino a picture of Papageno are told by a priest that they the Queen’s daughter, Pamina, who they must remain silent and refrain from eating, say is enslaved by the evil Sarastro, and a vow that Papageno immediately breaks they padlock Papageno’s mouth for lying. when he takes a glass of water from a Tamino falls in love with Pamina’s face flirtatious old lady. The old lady vanishes in the picture. The Queen, appearing in when he asks her name. The Three Boys a burst of thunder, is grieving over the appear to guide Tamino through the rest loss of her daughter; she charges Tamino of his journey and to tell Papageno to be with Pamina’s rescue. If he succeeds, quiet. Tamino remains silent even when he can marry Pamina. The ladies give Pamina appears, which breaks her heart a magic flute to Tamino and silver bells since she cannot understand his reticence. to Papageno to ensure their safety, Ben McAteer and Lynsey Curtin appointing the Three Boys to guide them. The Priests inform Tamino that he has only in rehearsal two more trials to complete his initiation. Sarastro’s slave Monostatos pursues Papageno longs for a young wife but Pamina but is frightened away by settles for the old lady. When he promises Papageno, who tells Pamina that Tamino to be faithful she turns into a young Stephen Richardson in rehearsal loves her and intends to save her. Led Papagena, but soon disappears. by the Three Boys to the Temple of Sarastro, Tamino is told by a Priest that it is the Queen, not Sarastro, who is evil. After many dangers, Pamina and Tamino Hearing that Pamina is safe, Tamino are reunited and face the ordeals of water charms the animals with his flute, then and fire protected by the magic flute. rushes to follow the sound of Papageno’s pipes. Monostatos and his cohorts chase Lonely without his longed-for Papagena, Papageno and Pamina but are left helpless Papageno is saved from attempted suicide by Papageno’s magic bells. Sarastro, by the Three Boys who remind him that entering in great ceremony, promises if he uses his magic bells he will find true Pamina eventual freedom and punishes happiness. When he does, Papagena Ruth Jenkins-Róbertsson Monostatos. Pamina is enchanted by a appears and the two plan for the future, in rehearsal glimpse of Tamino, who is led into the which includes producing many children. temple with Papageno. The Queen of the Night, her Three Ladies, and Monostatos attack the temple but are Aoife Miskelly and Anthony Gregory in rehearsal Act 2 defeated and banished. Sarastro joins Sarastro tells his priests that Tamino will Pamina and Tamino as the people hail Isis, undergo initiation rites. In a garden, Osiris, and the triumph of courage, virtue, Monostatos tries to kiss the sleeping and wisdom.

6 7 CREATIVE TEAM CAST

Conductor – Nicholas Chalmers Pamina – Aoife Miskelly Director – Oliver Mears Tamino – Anthony Gregory Set & Costume Designer – Simon Holdsworth Papageno – Ben McAteer Lighting Designer – Kevin Treacy Sarastro – Stephen Richardson Movement Director – Anna Morrissey Queen of the Night – Ruth Jenkins-Róbertsson Associate Costume Designer – Laura Stanfield Monostatos/1st Armed Man – John Graham Hall Assistant Director – Edwina Casey Speaker/1st Priest /2nd Armed Man – Brendan Collins Répétiteur – Chris Hopkins 1st Lady – Sinéad O’Kelly 2nd Lady – Sarah Richmond 3rd Lady – Laura Murphy 2nd Priest – Richard Shaffrey PRODUCTION TEAM Papagena – Lynsey Curtin 1st Boy – James Osborne Production Manager – Patrick McLaughlin 2nd Boy – Dylan Scullion Company Stage Manager – Sarah Taylor Kent 3rd Boy – George Rohan Assistant Stage Manager – Georgina Ross Costume Supervisor – Melanie Carmichael Master Carpenter – Nic Reé CHORUS ORCHESTRA Technical Manager – Steve Anderson Production Electrician – Hallam Knight Sopranos Lynsey Curtin 1st Violin – Alan McClure Muireann Mulrooney 2nd Violin – Larissa O’Grady ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Viola – Lisa Dowdall Mezzo-Sopranos Cello – David McCann TBC Laura McFall Double Bass – Sarah Halpin Maria McGrann French Horn – Jacqueline McCarthy Clarinet – Anne Harper Clarinet – Damian Frame Tenors Flute – Colin Irvine Conor Breen Oboe – Erwin Shaw David Lynn Bassoon – Éanna Monaghan Andrew Masterson Timpani – Nick Brown Richard Shaffrey

Basses Danny Boyle David Howes Aaron O’Hare

8 9 Biographies

Edwina Casey, Nicholas Chalmers, Brendan Collins, Lynsey Curtin, Assistant Director Conductor Speaker / 1st Priest / Papagena Dublin-born Edwina Nicholas is the artistic 2nd Armed Man Dublin-born Soprano studied directing at director of Nevill Holt Born in Cork, Brendan Lynsey Curtin received LAMDA. She has Opera and artistic Collins trained at Cork her honours Bachelor presented work in director of Second School of Music where of Music degree from Ireland, UK and Movement Opera he was awarded the the DIT Conservatory Holland. Company. He studied music at Oxford Pro Musica Singer of the Year Award. He of Music and Drama in 2012 under University and conducting at the continued his studies at the DITCMD and the tutelage of countertenor Stephen She is an international member of Piacenza Conservatoire. From 2008 won a scholarship to study at La Monnaie Wallace and répétiteur Aoife O’Sullivan. the Director’s Lab at the Lincoln until 2011 Nicholas was Assistant de Munt Opera Studio. He holds a Gold Centre Theatre, New York, and of Chorus Master of English National Medal in acting from LAMDA. Lynsey’s performance experience the European Young Performing Arts Opera. With ENO he prepared 24 includes the role of Wood Sprite 2 in Lovers network. Later this year she will operas for conductors including Edward Among his roles are Conte Almaviva Lyric Opera’s production of Rusalka in be making her first foray into feature Gardner, Mark Wigglesworth, Sir Le nozze di Figaro, Schaunard & Marcello the Gaiety Theatre, Soprano Soloist with film-making. Directing work includes: Charles Mackerras, Baldur Bronnimann La Bohème, Escamillo & Dancaire Carmen, Dun Laoghaire Choral Society for their Purple by Jon Fosse at Project Arts and Sir Richard Armstrong. For Second Aeneas Dido and Aeneas, Leporello Don Mozart Mass Challenge, Soprano Soloist Centre; Down Onto Blue by Pom Boyd Movement he has conducted Mozart Giovanni, and Demetrius A Midsummer in the Messiah with DIT Conservatory (rehearsed reading), Dublin Fringe; I and Salieri (October 2004), Trouble Night’s Dream. He has performed with of Music and Drama, Witch and female Dreamt Tom Stoppard’s Email Address in Tahiti (June 2005), The Medium and Opera Ireland, Opera Theatre Company chorus in NI Opera’s Macbeth in the as part of The Theatre Machine Turns Impresario (January 2006), Les Deux (OTC), English Touring Opera, Scottish Grand Opera House Belfast, soloist with You On: Vol II; We Are All in The Aveugles, Rothschild’s Violin and The Opera and Northern Ireland Opera. Dublin Youth Opera Company at the Gutter as part of Absolut Fringe 2010; Knife’s Tears (May 2007). Conducting Boyle Arts Festival. Lagan, Grey and Green by Stacey engagements with NI Opera include The He made his American début at the Gregg (rehearsed reading at RADA); Medium (Feb 2011), Tosca (Best Opera Kennedy Center, Washington D.C. with Lynsey has also been involved with After the Accident by Julian Armitstead - Irish Times Theatre Awards – April OTC performing the American Première of numerous Lyric Opera productions (LAMDA); A Boys Dream (Acteer’s 2011), Turn of the Screw (March 2012 the Irish composer Steven Deazley’s opera including The Merry Widow, Don Studio, Holland); Titus: Reworked and Buxton Festival July 2012), Noye’s Bug Off! Giovanni, Il Trovatore, Aida and La (LAMDA); Krapp’s Last Tape by Samuel Fludde (Belfast Zoo - August 2012, Traviata. Opera excerpts with DIT Beckett (Andrew’s Lane Studio). Beijing October 2012 and Shanghai With Glyndebourne Festival Opera he include Susanna Le Nozze di Figaro, July 2013), The Flying Dutchman (Ulster appeared as Arthur Jones in Billy Budd Love Police Orpheus in the Underworld She has worked as an assistant Orchestra – Feb 2013), The Bear (March at both the Festival and the Brooklyn and chorus of Die Fledermaus, Amahl director for The Gate Theatre Dublin, 2013) and Macbeth (February 2014). Academy of Music in New York City. and the Night Visitors and Cendrillon. NI Opera, Landmark Productions and With Nevill Holt Opera: The Magic Flute Lynsey will begin her Masters in Bath Theatre Royal and as an associate (June 2013), La Boheme and Turn of the His radio appearances have included Performance at the DIT Conservatory for OTC. Screw (June 2014). broadcasts on RTE Lyric FM. With BBC of Music in September 2014. Radio 3 he performed Haydn’s Creation Future engagements include The Turn of with the Ulster Orchestra, and on RTE the Screw (Zurich Opera) and Salome Radio 1 he performed a programme of (NI Opera). operatic arias. He sang on the original cast recording of the Irish composer John Gibsons’ Judith and Holofernes singing the title role of Holofernes.

10 11 Biographies

John Graham-Hall, Anthony Gregory, Simon Holdsworth, Chris Hopkins, Monostatos / Tamino Set & Costume Répétiteur 1st Armed Man Anthony Gregory is Designer Conductor and pianist, John Graham-Hall studied a recipient of the Ian For NI Opera Simon Chris Hopkins has at the Royal College of Fleming Award and Lies has previously designed performed around the Music. Recent and future Askonas Prize. Currently The Bear, The Flying world, appearing as engagements include a Harewood Artist at Dutchman, Noye’s song and instrumental Aschenbach Death in Venice (for which English National Opera, he is an alumnus Fludde, Orpheus in the Underworld, accompanist, chamber and solo pianist he won the 2012 Franco Abbiati prize for of the Jerwood Young Artist programme Hansel and Gretel, Tosca and The Medium. in Japan, New York, Singapore, South best male singer from the Italian National at Glyndebourne and the National Opera Recent designs include La Bohème America, and throughout Europe and the Association of Music Critics) and Grimes Studio. (Nevill Holt Opera, England) and UK, in venues including the Wigmore Peter Grimes‚ also on DVD (both La Scala‚ Benvenuto Cellini (Münster, Germany). Hall, Concertgebouw, Royal Festival Milan)‚ Valzacchi Der Rosenkavalier and Operatic highlights include his debut at Hall, as well as live and recorded on Triquet Eugene Onegin (Metropolitan the 2013 Verbier Festival as Roderigo Other designs for operas include: Ariadne BBC Radio 3 and Classic FM. He is Opera)‚ Peter Grimes (title role) for Opéra Otello alongside Anna Netrebko, auf Naxos (St Gallen, Switzerland), Musical Director of the Orchestra of the de Nice‚ Ashenbach (ENO and on DVD)‚ under the baton of Valery Gergiev; his Gianni Schicchi and La Notte di un City and has worked with numerous Shuisky Boris Godunov (ROH‚ Paris‚ 2014 return to Verbier as Agenore Il Re Nevrastenico (Magdeburg, Germany), international soloists including Guy Toulouse‚ Oviedo and Pamplona)‚ Mayor Pastore alongside Rollando Villazon; and Der Freischütz (Salzburg, Austria), Don Johnston, Nicola Benedetti, Charlie Albert Herring (Toulouse)‚ Zivny Osud appearances in three new productions Giovanni (Yekaterinburg, Russia), Die Siem, Craig Ogden and Linda Lin. (Stuttgart)‚ Kaufmann Jakob Lenz (La for English National Opera: The Magic Fledermaus and The Merry Widow Recent solo appearances include Monnaie and Stuttgart)‚ Schoolmaster The Flute (First Armed Man and cover Tamino), (Hyogo, Japan), Orlando (Irish tour), concertos by Mozart, Schumann, Cunning Little Vixen (Netherlands Opera), Rigoletto (Borsa) and The Thebans Bluebeard (Buxton Festival, England). Grieg, Shostakovich and Rachmaninoff. Beadle Sweeney Todd (Châtelet) and (Haemon). Basilio (Metropolitan Opera‚ New York‚ Work in theatre includes Richard II In opera, he has worked as assistant La Monnaie‚ Glyndebourne and Aix en Equally in demand on the concert (Ludlow, England and Almagro, Spain), to conductors including Sir Charles Provence). platform, highlights have included Messiah Messiah (Old Vic, West End), The Secret Mackerras, Jane Glover, Dominic at Cadogan Hall; Schubert’s Rosamunde Love Life of Ophelia (London, Edinburgh Wheeler and Trevor Pinnock. Conducting Other roles include Albert Herring‚ with the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra; Festival, Elsinore Festival), Ritual in Blood at Sadler’s Wells, he worked with the Tanzmeister Ariadne auf Naxos‚ Basilio Bach’s B Minor Mass with Ludus Baroque (Nottingham Playhouse) all with writer/ Pet Shop Boys with their ballet The Most and Monostatos (Royal Opera House‚ at the Edinburgh Festival; Mozart’s director Steven Berkoff. Incredible Thing in 2011 and 2012. Kudrjas Katya Kabanova‚ Basilio‚ Requiem with the Royal Philharmonic He has been a member of the music Eisenstein Die Fledermaus and Albert Orchestra and his debut in concert at the For BBC Television Simon designed staff of both Welsh National Opera and Herring (Glyndebourne)‚ Vitek The Lufthansa Baroque Festival. The Waltz King docudrama. English National Opera, as well as with Makropulos Case‚ Alwa Lulu (English Garsington Opera, Co-Opera company, National Opera), title role The Excursions The 2014/15 season sees Gregory take Simon is an Artistic Director of Second Opera North, Clonter Opera and the of Mr Broucek (Opera North and Scottish on leading roles including Peter Quint Movement – an opera company providing Aldeburgh Festival, working with Sir Opera)‚ Kurt Schwitters in the premiere The Turn of the Screw with Glyndebourne a platform for new talent. He was short- Mark Elder, David Parry and Edward of Nyman’s Man and Boy: Dada on Tour; Tamino for Opera de Limoges listed for an International Opera Award Gardner amongst others. (Almeida Opera)‚ Young Man/A Naked (debut); Oronte in a new Katie Mitchell in 2013. Youth Moses und Aron (Netherlands production of Alcina for Aix en Provence Opera‚ Salzburg Festival and Deutsche Festival and the title role of Monteverdi’s Currently Simon is designing Hansel Grammophon recording), and the title role L’Orfeo at ENO. He also makes his Royal and Gretel, Alcina and Der Wildschütz in Pascal Dusapin’s Perela‚ L’homme de Opera debut in L’Orfeo at the Roundhouse for various theatres in Germany. Fumée (Bastille and Montpellier). Theatre. 12 13 Biographies

Ruth Jenkins- Ben McAteer, Oliver Mears, Aoife Miskelly, Róbertsson, Papageno Director Pamina Queen of the Night Newry-born baritone Ben Oliver read English Belfast-born soprano Opera Now’s Artist of McAteer trained at the and History at Oxford, Aoife trained as a Sickle the Month for February National Opera Studio and began his career Foundation Scholar at 2014, Winner of the and the Guildhall School assisting playwright Royal Academy Opera, 2012 John Scott Award of Music & Drama. Howard Barker. As graduating in 2012. The from the Scottish Opera Endowment Trust, Before embarking on his musical career, Artistic Director of Second Movement 2013/14 season saw Aoife make several Second Prize at the 2012 Kathleen Ferrier he received a BSc (Hons) in Chemistry Opera, Oliver directed many site-specific notable role debuts; Gilda (Rigoletto) and Awards and the 2011 Leonard Ingrams from the University of St Andrews. opera productions in London, including Gretel for Cologne Opera, Cecily in the Award from Garsington Opera, Ruth works by Mozart, Bernstein, Rimsky- Irish premiere of Gerald Barry’s opera The Jenkins-Róbertsson studied at Cambridge A finalist at this year’s International Korsakov, Shostakovich/ Fleischmann, Importance of Being Earnest for NI Opera, University and London’s Belvedere Singing Competition, Ben was Barber, and a Czech Republic tour of and Thérèse in Poulenc’s Les Mamelles Royal Academy of Music. runner-up at the 2012 Kathleen Ferrier Martinu’s The Knife’s Tears. He has also de Tiresias for Aix-en-Provence and La Awards and is a former winner of Opera directed a prison project with lifers, Monnaie. In July 2014, Aoife returned to the She has sung Frasquita Carmen for les Azuriales Ozone prize and Northern Sweeney Todd (HMP Kingston/Pimlico Aix-en-Provence Festival for their production Raymond Gubbay Ltd, Dew Fairy Hänsel Ireland Opera’s inaugural Festival of Opera), La Calisto (Early Opera of Trauernacht, directed by Katie Mitchell. und Gretel and Papagena Die Zauberflöte Voice. Company), Hansel and Gretel (Opera for Garsington Opera at Wormsley, North), the National Opera Studio A natural performer of modern music, Aoife Queen of the Night Die Zauberflöte for Ben’s operatic roles include: Sharpless Showcase 2010, The Bear (National performed the role of Sophie Scholl in the Garsington Opera at West Green House Madama Butterfly, Il Conte Almaviva Reisopera, Holland), Albert Herring world premiere of Kommilitonen! by Sir and at the Bath International Music Le Nozze di Figaro, Le Chevalier des (Aldeburgh), David Almond’s My Dad’s a Peter Maxwell Davies, Mary Crawford in the Festival, Lisette La rondine for Iford Arts, Grieux Le Portrait de Manon, Remigio La Birdman (Young Vic), and The Magic Flute London Premiere of Jonathan Dove’s opera Messiah with the Royal Northern Sinfonia, Navarraise, Mr Webb Our Town, Father (Nevill Holt Opera). Mansfield Park, covered Diana (Diana and the Nelson Mass at St John’s, Smith Hansel & Gretel, Captain Corcoran HMS Acteon) by Jonathan Dove for the Royal Square, Mozart Mass in C Minor with Pinafore, Tarquinius The Rape of Lucretia As Artistic Director of NI Opera, Oliver has Opera House Covent Garden, and with the Choir of King’s College, Cambridge, and Aeneas Dido & Aeneas. Other directed Tosca (Irish Times Theatre Award for Camerata Ireland, the world premiere Mozart Requiem with the English Chamber performances include appearances with Best Opera Production, 2011), The Turn of of Mark Anthony Turnage’s At Sixes and Orchestra and The Cholmondeley the LSO and Ulster Orchestra, the world the Screw (nominated for Irish Times Theatre Sevens. Castle Proms Fireworks Concert with the première of At Sixes & Sevens (Turnage), Awards 2012 Best Opera Production and Manchester Camerata. Orff’s Carmina Burana at the Barbican, Best Director), Orpheus in the Underworld For the 2014/15 season Aoife will join and concerts with Sir Thomas Allen and (coproduction, Scottish Opera), Hansel Cologne Opera ensemble where her roles Featured in The Daily Telegraph’s New Dame Kiri te Kanawa. He has performed and Gretel, Noye’s Fludde (Belfast Zoo, will include: Despina, Harey (Solaris by Music Column, she made her debut with at the Wigmore Hall, Royal Festival Hall, Beijing and Shanghai), The Flying Dutchman Detlev Glanert), Valencienne (The Merry Scottish Opera as Papagena in Sir Thomas Queen Elizabeth Hall, Ulster Hall, The (Achievement in Opera nomination, UK Widow), Papagena, Servilia, Frasquita Allen’s new production of The Magic Flute, Sage and Windsor Castle. Theatre Awards 2013), The Bear, L’Elisir (Carmen) and Eliza Doolittle (My Fair Lady) returning in 2013 / 2014 to sing Norina d’Amore (Best Opera nomination, Irish Times at the Royal Opera House Muscat. Don Pasquale and Zerlina Don Giovanni. Future engagements include Opera Theatre Awards 2014) and Macbeth. In 2012 Future engagements include her debut at Highlights with Scottish Opera and a he was nominated for an Achievement in the Theater Biel Solothurn in King Arthur. Christmas concert with the Philharmonia Opera award by the TMA for his leadership Orchestra at the Royal Albert Hall. of NI Opera, and was nominated for Best Newcomer in the 2013 Opera Awards. Future plans include Don Giovanni for Bergen National Opera. 14 15 Biographies

Anna Morrissey, Lisbon). Anna is a Visiting Lecturer for Sinéad O’Kelly, James Osborne, Movement Director Central School of Speech and Drama, 1st Lady 1st Boy Anna studied at and an associate education practitioner Belfast-born Sinéad has James Osborne is a year Cambridge University for the Royal Shakespeare Company and just been awarded a 9 student at Our Lady and the Central School Shakespeare’s Globe. First Class BMus (Hons) and St Patrick’s College of Speech and Drama. from the Royal College Knock. James is a She is currently Artist in Laura Murphy, of Music in London, longstanding member Residence at Historic Royal Palaces making 3rd Lady where she studies with Russell Smythe and of Cathedral Voices and Charles Wood site specific dance theatre. Her most recent Wexford-born Christopher Glynn. She is a RCM Scholar, Boys Choir Armagh. He has been a work On Progress performed at Hampton Mezzo-Soprano supported by a Neville Wathen Award member of St Peter’s Cathedral Schola Court and Latitude Festival. Laura Murphy graduated and the Catherine Judge Memorial Award. Cantorum choir for almost 5 years, with a first class Masters She will continue on the Masters course during which time he has sung with the Her movement and choreography credits in Performance from this September. London Ariana Choir, the Winchester include Charles III (Almeida/ West End), the Royal Irish Academy of Music with College Quiristers, MT4UTH, the Ulster Boeing Boeing (Sheffield Crucible), Circles Mary Brennan. Sinéad is NI Opera’s Voice of 2013, Youth Orchestra and The Priests. As (Birmingham REP), World of Extreme having won the main prize and the a Schola member James has sung on Happiness (The National Theatre), Pericles, Laura was a young artist with NI Opera audience prize at the Glenarm Festival Radio 2, Radio 4, and Radio Ulster, and Antony & Cleopatra, The Grain Store, The in 2012-13. of Voice last year. She is also a keen has also performed in Paris, singing at Drunks, The Tragedy of Thomas Hobbes, I’ll advocate of Song repertoire and is the Notre Dame de Paris, Saint-Eustache and Be the Devil, Cordelia Dream, Marat/Sade Laura recently performed as one of Jenny’s 2013 winner of the Courtney Kenny Saint Sulpice. The Scholas’ third CD, (Royal Shakespeare Company), Orpheus Girls in OTC/Rough Magic’s production of English Song Award. She was also O Vos Omnes was recorded this March. In The Underworld (Scottish Opera), Kurt Weil’s The Rise and Fall of the City of runner up in the RCM’s biennial The London 2012 Olympic Opening Mahagonny in Dublin. She was a member Schumann Competition this year. As part of the centenary celebrations Ceremony (Movement Assistant), Noye’s of the chorus of Wexford Festival Opera James participated in Philip Hammond’s Fludde, The Flying Dutchman, Hansel & 2013 in their productions of Nino Rota’s Il On the stage, Sinéad has portrayed Requiem for the Lost Souls of the Titanic Gretel, Macbeth (NI Opera), Dunsinane, Cappello di Paglia di Firenze and Jacopo Catherine (La Jolie Fille du Perth), at St Anne’s and St Peter’s Cathedrals. Caledonia (National Theatre of Scotland), Foroni’s Cristina Regina di Svezia. She was Fiordiligi (Cosi fan Tutte) and Nerone L’Elisir D’amore (Opera Holland Park), also a recital soloist in the ‘Back to Titanic’ (L’incoronazione di Poppea) in opera This year as part of his ongoing studies, The Magic Flute (Nevill Holt Opera), concert series during the festival. Roles scenes. James is preparing for Grade 3 Violin, Bus Stop (New Vic Theatre), My Dad’s performed by Laura include Third Lady Grade 6 Piano and Grade 8 Singing. A Birdman (Young Vic), The Village Bike (Die Zauberflöte) with Nevill Holt Opera, Sinéad is also a keen choral singer, and In June, James was awarded the Mgr (Sheffield Crucible), The Comedy of Errors Sorceress (Dido and Aeneas), Sally (A has sung with ensembles including Sestina, (Dean) Ryan Organ Bursary for 2014 (Royal Exchange Theatre), My Generation Hand of Bridge), Popova – cover (The Bear) Mousai and Reverie Choir. She is an by the Canons of the Cathedral Chapter (West Yorkshire Playhouse), Hansel and all with NI Opera, Nancy (Albert Herring) ex-choral scholar at All Saints Fulham and of St Peter’s Cathedral Belfast. In Gretel (Opera North), 101 Dalmatians with RIAM, Ino (Semele) with RIAM, and was a member of Genesis Sixteen with August he entered the Northern Ireland (Northampton Theatre Royal), The Barber Kate (The Pirates of Penzance) at the Harry Christophers and Eamonn Dougan International Organ Competition and of Seville and Manon Lescaut (Opera National Concert Hall, Dublin. She was in 2012/13. was placed joint second. Holland Park). also a member of the chorus of Wexford Festival Opera 2012 in their productions of Upcoming engagements include a recital Her direction credits include Beating Heart Le Roi Malgré Lui and L’Arlesiana. as part of the London Song Festival, Cadaver (Finborough Theatre), Masque Papagena in Die Zauberflöte with Arias (RSC New Work/ Stratford River Future engagements include Wexford RCMIOS and a Messiah tour in December Festival), Ghost Plays (RSC, Young People’s Festival Opera 2014 and touring in OTC/ with the Irish Baroque Orchestra. Project), Memories Cabaret (Chapito, NI Opera’s production of L’Elisir D’Amore. 16 17 Biographies

Stephen Richardson, Sarah Richmond, George Rohan, Dylan Scullion, Sarastro 2nd Lady 3rd Boy 2nd Boy Stephen Richardson Supported by the Arts Born in Belfast in Dylan Scullion is a third studied at the Royal Council of Northern 2001, George attends year pupil at Methodist Northern College of Ireland, Belfast-born Methodist College Belfast College Belfast and is Music. Recent and future Mezzo Soprano Sarah where he is a member a member of the School engagements include the Richmond was a NI of the Junior Singers Choir and the Junior King of Hearts in Unsuk Chin’s Alice in Opera Young Artist 2013-14 after and plays French Horn in the Band and Singers. Wonderland (Los Angeles Philharmonic being an artist on ENO’s Opera Works Orchestra. He also studies percussion and and The Barbican)‚ Claggart Billy Budd 2012-13. Sarah graduated from three piano. George has also appeared in a He has grade 5 distinction in his Music (Reisopera)‚ Geronte di Ravoir Manon postgraduate years at the RNCM with number of the junior drama productions & Theatre and Grade 3 piano. He is a Lescaut (WNO and Savonlinna Festival)‚ Distinction as a Drapers’ de Turckheim at Methodist College including playing member of St Patrick’s Choral Society Rocco Fidelio (Garsington)‚ Micha The Scholar, and trained on the National Cagey Joe in Bugsy Malone and the and has played the part of Oliver in Bartered Bride (Opera North)‚ Opera Studio Intensive course. Wizard in The Wizard of Oz. their musical production of Oliver. He Messiah with the Danish National has also played the Tin Man in his Vocal Ensemble, Rocco Fidelio (BBC Roles include Bianca/Gabriella La George has been a member of the Dance school production of The Wizard of Philharmonic Orchestra), Baron Ochs Der Rondine for Iford Arts, Flora La Traviata Studio in Bangor since he was 6 years old Oz. Rosenkavalier (Bolshoi Theatre‚ Moscow)‚ (highlights) for Castleward Opera, and has particularly enjoyed street jazz. Hobson Peter Grimes (la Scala‚ Milan‚ Dido/Sorceress Dido and Aeneas, Erika He quickly took to musical theatre and has In 2013 Dylan played the part of ROH, Opera North‚ and Aldeburgh)‚ Vanessa, Nancy Albert Herring, Mercédès majored in a number of the company’s Charles Brooke Pickard’s son in an Daland The Flying Dutchman and Lady Carmen, Harvest Home Peace, Gossip annual productions. episode of the RTE’s Cracking Crime Bracknell in Barry’s The Importance of Noye’s Fludde, Lady in Waiting (cover) series. Being Earnest (Northern Ireland Opera)‚ Macbeth for NI Opera, Gwendolen He has also been a member of the Youth Frank Die Fledermaus (Korean National (learning role) The Importance of Being Lyric in Belfast where he has been studying More recently Dylan has been a Opera)‚ Flint Billy Budd (Netherlands Earnest for NI Opera/Wide Open Opera drama and dance. He has held major choir boy in Peter Corry’s Music Box Opera)‚ Sir Joshua Cramer in Barry’s and Daniel (cover) Belshazzar for RNCM/ roles in the company’s productions of production in the Waterfront Hall and The Intelligence Park (Irish Museum of Manchester Camerata. She performed The Witches, Alice in Wonderland and performed a duet with opera singer Modern Art‚ Dublin)‚ Lady Bracknell Peep Bo The Mikado, Phoebe The Yeomen Magical Mayhem at the Waterfront Hall in Michelle Baird in the Down Arts (Los Angeles Philharmonic)‚ Ludwig van of the Guard and Phyllis Iolanthe for recent years. Centre. Beethoven in Gerald Barry’s Schott and Scratch Opera. Sons‚ Mainz (National Chamber Choir Earlier this year he was cast as one of the As part of the Down Cathedral’s of Ireland)‚ Commandant From The House Highlights of solo engagements include children for the Scottish Ballet’s production Christmas service he sang solo on of The Dead (Opera North)‚ Ferrando Beethoven’s 9th Symphony with RLPO of Hansel & Gretel at the Grand Opera Radio Ulster and at the Cathedral’s Il Trovatore (Den Jyske Opera) and under Vasily Petrenko and A Midsummer House Belfast. He is also appearing in recent Easter concert he again sang Stromminger La Wally (Opera Night’s Dream under Sir Mark Elder. Evita The Musical with Music Theatre for a solo on an evening headlined by Fr Holland Park). Sarah recorded Songs of Spring and Youth. Martin O’Hagan. Winter conducted by Paul Daniel for Stephen has created roles in many Stretto Records, has been broadcast on George made his screen debut in the contemporary works including Thomas BBC Radio 3 and has performed several acclaimed short film The Sycamore by Adès’s The Tempest (Royal Opera House); times on BBC Radio Ulster. Jim Crone. Tan Dun’s Orchestral Theatre II‚ Re‚ and Tea (Suntory Hall‚ Tokyo) and the British premiere of Ruders’ The Handmaid’s Tale (ENO). 18 19 Biographies

Richard Shaffrey, 2nd Laura Stanfield, Kevin Treacy, Theatre Designs include Unfaithful (Traverse Priest Associate Costume Lighting Designer Theatre Edinburgh) The Seafarer (Perth Dublin-born Richard first Designer Kevin Treacy was born in Theatre and Lyric Theatre, Belfast), The trained with After studying Theatre Limerick. Opera designs Government Inspector and Arrah-na- Dr. Veronica Dunne, Design at Wimbledon include Macbeth, L’Elisir Pogue (Abbey Theatre, Dublin), Beside the while completing a School of Art, Laura has d’Amore, The Flying Sea (Southbank Centre), Theatre Brothel degree in Physiotherapy, worked predominantly in Dutchman, The Bear, The (Almeida Festival, London), Anything But and now trains with Robert Dean in theatrical costume. Turn of the Screw, NI Opera Shorts and Love (Belltable Arts Centre, Limerick), The London. In 2011 he was contracted to As Head of Costume at Laine Theatre Arts Tosca (NI Opera), Faramondo (Händel Shawshank Redemption (West End and Irish sing with the Schleswig-Holstein Music she designed and produced costumes Festspiele Göttingen), Imeneo, Rodelinda Tour), Twelfth Night (Nottingham Playhouse), Festival International Choir for tours to for ballet, dance and musical theatre, (Royal College of Music), The Magic Flute, The Nose (The Performance Corporation) Germany, Turkey, Spain, Japan and collaborating with many choreographers The Turn of The Screw and La Bohème Irish Times award for Best Lighting Taiwan. In the RIAM productions of including Derek Deane. She has also (Nevill Hot Opera), Flavio, Xerxes, The Design, Drive-By (Dublin Fringe Festival 2013 and 2014, Richard played the been Head of Costume on the MS Disney Fairy Queen and La Tragédie de Carmen and Canterbury Festival), The Yokohama role of Albert in Albert Herring, The Wonder (Bahamas) and works regularly (English Touring Opera), Orpheus in the Delegation (Kilkenny Festival), Dr Ledbetter’s Cock in Stravinsky’s Renard, and The for English National Opera’s costume Underworld (Scottish Opera, NI Opera), Experiment (Edinburgh Fringe Festival and Schoolmaster in The Cunning Little department. Acis and Galatea, The Barber of Seville, Kilkenny Festival) nominated Best Production, Vixen. He played The Tenor in Ulysses Xerxes, La Cenerentola, The Kiss, Hansel Irish Times awards. Opera Company’s critically acclaimed Design Credits include: La Bohème, Nevill and Gretel, Bastien and Bastienne and production of Flatpack, and was a Holt Opera (costumes); Macbeth, NI The (Little) Magic Flute (Opera Theatre member of the Wexford Festival Chorus Opera (Associate Costume Designer); The Company), La Voix Humaine, Suor (2013) and the Wide Open Opera Flying Dutchman, NI Opera (costumes); Angelica, The Medium and La Tragédie Chorus, performing in the production Magic Flute, Nevill Holt (Associate de Carmen (Wexford Festival Opera), of Tristan und Isolde, playing Male Costume Designer); Noye’s Fludde, NI Orango (Royal Festival Hall). Student 1 in The Alma Fetish, and Opera (costumes); King – A Cathedral understudying the role of Mao in their Opera, by Stephen Barlow (costumes); recent production of Nixon in China. Britain’s Got Bhangra, (costume - After completing a Diploma in Music collaboration); 118 118 Summer tour Performance and Teaching at the RIAM, (costumes); Three Wishes (excerpts for Tete he was accepted onto the NI Opera a Tete Opera Festival), Second Movement Young Artists’ Programme, and has (costumes); Parallel Lives by Jon Oram (set understudied Macduff in NI Opera’s and costumes); Matters of Chance by Jon Macbeth amongst other engagements. Oram (set and costumes); Royal Palace, France (cabaret costumes). Supervising credits include: Royal Gala – Wales Millennium Centre, Hansel and Gretel (Opera North and NI Opera), Tosca, The Medium, Noye’s Fludde, Turn of the Screw and The Flying Dutchman (all NI Opera). Paul Bunyan and The Secret Marriage for British Youth Opera 2013 Summer season.

20 21 Biographies

THE RTÉ CONCERT ORCHESTRA PRESENTS A Night Viennain TUESDAY / 9 DEC / 8PM NATIONAL CONCERT HALL, DUBLIN

TICKETS: €15–€40 (conc. €13–€36) BOOKING: +353 (0) 1 417 0000, nch.ie or rte.ie/co No booking fees apply. www.opera.ie

22 23 63rd 22 October – Festival 2 November 2014

Winner of ‘Best Re-discovered Work’, 2014 International Opera Awards

EUROPEAN PREMIERE Salomé Don Bucefalo Silent Night Antoine Mariotte Antonio Cagnoni Kevin Puts 22, 25, 28, 31 October 23, 26, 29 October 24, 27, 30 October 1 November 2 November Winner of the Pulitzer Prize in Music

ShortWorks: The Wandering Scholar (Holst) + Trial by Jury (Gilbert & Sullivan), Il Tabarro (Puccini), La Cenerentola (Rossini) / Recitals/Gala/Film/Lectures/Concerts Booking Tickets Online: Wexfordopera.com / Phone: +353 53 912 2144 In Person: Wexford Opera House, High Street, Wexford, Ireland ` t y v

24 25 BOARD Roy Bailie OBE, Chairman Fionnuala Jay-O’Boyle CBE, Vice-Chair James Hunt Stephen Kingon CBE “There’s a real buzz and Ken Lindsay Professor Dolores O’Reilly sense of purpose about Jane Wells “There’s a real buzz and sense of purpose about what this company is doing” – The Guardian what this company is doing” PATRON AND AMBASSADORS “The youngest and feistiest of Britain’s regional – The Guardian Sean Rafferty, Patron companies” – The Independent on Sunday The Countess of Caledon Macbeth (2014) The Viscountess Dunluce “This production is another memorable landmark NI Opera was formed in 2010, with a mission William Montgomery OBE for a company that’s just four years old” - The Times to provide the highest quality opera to the “The stars of the show are undoubtably the terrific Noye’s Fludde (2012) widest possible audience, and to promote chorus...who could hold their own with any MANAGEMENT TEAM comparable full-time association” “A stunningly effective spectacle... a resonant, young Northern Irish talent. Generously - The Daily Telegraph entrancing production” – Opera Magazine supported by the Arts Council of Northern Artistic Director Oliver Mears The Importance of Being Earnest (2013) “An enchanting show” – The Sunday Times Ireland, NI Opera has a philosophy of “Work of such uncompromising brilliance “Simply gorgeous” – Irish Times excellence and risk-taking underpinned by an General Manager from a provincial UK company is, quite simply, imaginative programming policy and first-rate Clíona Donnelly astounding” – Opera Now The Turn of the Screw (2012) “This is a first–rate cast…It’s a Screw that any casting. NI Opera is committed to broadening Marketing & “It is hard to imagine a more colourful, witty company would be proud to tour. From a the audience for this incredible art form Communications Director and deliriously enjoyable staging than this” company that is barely a year old, it’s remarkable” – The Sunday Times that famously combines exciting stories, big Simon Goldrick – The Independent on Sunday spectacle, and great music. Financial & Artistic Administrator “Hugely, riotously engaging and an absolute “Absolutely superb” – Opera Magazine must–see” – Belfast Telegraph Rachel Clarke Hansel and Gretel (2011) L’Elisir d’Amore (2013) “Lively, funny and provocatively gruesome” “This was among the most unaffectedly heart– – The Sunday Times warming and well–thought–out Elisirs you could hope for” – Opera Now “A feisty staging of Humperdinck’s opera… Northern Ireland Opera continues to punch “A real tour de force” – Irish Times above its weight” – The Independent on Sunday The Bear (2013) Orpheus in the Underworld (2011) “A richly enjoyable and entertaining production” “A show that’s full of fizz, contemporary relevance – Opera Magazine and belly laughter” – Irish Theatre Magazine “An effervescently enjoyable evening” “A raucously enjoyable affair, staged with – Belfast Telegraph energy and imagination” – The Daily Telegraph The Flying Dutchman (2013) Tosca (2011) “An achievement of which Wagner himself would “A triumphant debut” – The Independent on Sunday no doubt have been proud” – The Daily Telegraph “A remarkable achievement…the results “A thrilling Wagner debut” – The Independent breathed charisma and conviction” – The Times on Sunday “Electrifying” – The Observer www.niopera.com 26 27 STRAUSS SALOME FEBRUARY 6TH & 8TH 2015 GRAND OPERA HOUSE, BELFAST

TICKETS £18 – £38 BOX OFFICE: 028 9024 1919 BOOK ONLINE AT GOH.CO.UK

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