THE MUSICIANS’ COMPANY

John Christie Award 50th Anniversary Celebration

Britten Theatre, Royal College of Music Monday 12th October 2015 7.00 pm

Music Sales Congratulations John Christie.indd 1 30/09/2015 15:25 . Le nozze di Figaro

THE MUSICIANS’ “I knew when I stepped onto the stage COMPANY of the Britten Theatre for my audition, that the Royal College of Music would be top of my wish list” John Christie Award th , RCM graduate and recipient of the 2014 50 Anniversary Celebration Glyndebourne Festival John Christie Award

Britten Theatre, Royal College of Music Monday 12th October 2015, 7.00 pm

Louise Alder soprano Marie Arnet soprano

Image taken from the 2012 Royal College of Music Opera School’s production of College of Music Opera School’s production Royal the 2012 from Image taken Nikola Hillebrand soprano Lyuba Petrova soprano Support the StarS of tomorrow at Duncan Rock Kate Royal soprano royal College of muSiC Simon Lepper piano Royal College of Music supporters play a critical role in the success of Duncan Williams piano our young musicians and the future of music. There are many ways to Royal College of Music String Sextet get involved, while enjoying a range of exclusive benefits: The Cataleya Wind Quintet • Become an RCM Friend • Join the Circles for Excellence • Provide a scholarship Introduced by Ryland Davies Find out more at www.rcm.ac.uk/support

Royal College of Music Prince Consort Road, London SW7 2BS | +44(0)20 7591 4300 50th Anniversary Celebration

Glyndebourne Ad Sir Anthony Cleaver 2015.indd 1 28/09/2015 12:40:37 GOUNOD THE MUSICIANS’ COMPANY

THE MUSICIANS’ COMPANY

The Worshipful Company of Musicians has, for over 500 years, been a guiding light and supportive arm to the music profession in all its guises. It is testament to the various custodians throughout the centuries that they have enabled the organisation to continue to help build the careers of generations of exceptionally talented artists, by awarding a substantial range of annual awards, scholarships and prestigious medals which helps smooth the transition from study to a professional career. 2015 marks the 50th anniversary of The John Christie Award, one of the Company’s most revered honours which has been bestowed on some of the most celebrated opera stars of recent times. Wide-ranging support stretches Sir Mark Elder across numerous disciplines including Classical Music, Jazz, Pop, Brass Band Erin Morley, Javier Camarena and Military Schools Music, making the company one of the most inclusive organisations in the UK. Michèle Losier, Laurent Naouri Our Yeomen Programme delivers a 5-year period of performance Hallé opportunity, inviting each individual award winner to be considered for Gounod’s delightful and rarely-heard opera appearances at British festivals and concert halls in a range of high profile La Colombe featuring an exceptional cast concerts. In 2015 alone our Yeomen gave 89 performances in the UK, of the finest young opera stars enabling them to raise their profile on their journey to becoming respected New release on 2CDs 30 October 2015 professional artists. Order now at opera-rara.com Our Yeomen are also invited to support our extensive Outreach programme, which presents music in deprived inner-London primary schools to those who have no music provision. We are proud that in 2015, 35 of our Coming soon in concert award winners made 85 visits to schools, reaching 4,283 children, meaning that 33 children have learnt from a Musicians’ Company award winner on LEONCAVALLO : ZAZA every school day and our goal is to build on this achievement year on year. Ermonela Jaho, Riccardo Massi, Nicola Alaimo, Patricia Bardon If you would like to hear more about our campaign to help young people BBC Symphony Orchestra conducted by Maurizio Benini enjoy the benefits of music or the support we give to our talented award winners, 27 November 2015 - Barbican Hall or if indeed you wish to support our Yeomen and join us at our events please For tickets visit barbican.org.uk or call 020 7638 8891 visit our website at www.wcom.org.uk or contact our Clerk – Hugh Lloyd at [email protected] – we would be most grateful to hear from you.

50th Anniversary Celebration

ORC53_ad0001.indd 1 20/09/2015 22:01 Festival 2016 PAST WINNERS A season of John Christie Award midsummer magic Awarded annually to a singer nominated by Glyndebourne Since 1965, the Worshipful Company of Musicians has been funding the John Christie Award, Glyndebourne Festival 2016 which was established in memory of Glyndebourne’s founder. Over the years the award, which is given to the young performer considered by Glyndebourne to have shown the most promise 21 May – 28 August during the season, has been won by singer after singer who has gone on to international renown. WAGNER Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg Become a Member and enjoy priority booking ROSSINI for Festival 2016 and beyond 1965 Ryland Davies 1991 Andrew Slater Il barbiere di Siviglia Priority booking dates: 1966 Richard Van Allan 1992 Edith Pritchard JANÁČEK Members: 1 December 2015 1967 Jill Gomez 1993 Julie Unwin The Cunning Little Vixen 1968 Jill Gomez 1994 Howard Quilla Croft Associate Members: 18 January 2016 1969 no award 1995 no award MOZART Under 30s: 29 February 2016 Le nozze di Figaro 1970 Teresa Cahill & Yvonne Fuller 1996 Lisa Milne BERLIOZ Public booking opens: 7 March 2016 1971 Anthony Roden 1997 Linda Tuvas Béatrice et Bénédict 1972 Ian Caley 1998 Daniel Borowski Find out more at glyndebourne.com BRITTEN 1973 Linda Esther Gray & John Tomlinson 1999 Darcy B’leiker A Midsummer Night’s Dream 1974 Elizabeth Gale & Anthony Rolfe Johnson 2000 Sarah Fox 1975 Anthony Rolfe Johnson & Alan Watt 2001 Marie Arnet 1976 John Rawnsley 2002 Alfie Boe 1977 Kate Flowers 2003 Lubya Petrova 1978 Fiona Kimm 2004 Kate Royal 1979 Keith Lewis 2005 Clare Ormshaw 1980 Christopher Blades 2006 Matthew Rose 1981 Helen Walker 2007 Peter Gijsbertsen 1982 Glen Winslade 2008 Allan Clayton 1983 John Hall 2009 Natasha Jouhl 1984 Louise Winter 2010 Duncan Rock 1985 Anna Steiger 2011 David Butt Philip 1986 Peter Rose 2012 Katherine Watson 1987 Alastair Miles 2013 Ulyana Aleksyuk 1988 Robert Poulton 2014 Louise Alder 1989 Alison Hagley & Gerald Finley 2015 Nikola Hillebrand

1990 Sarah Pring & Christopher Ventris

Awards in 2003-2014 were part-funded by the Richard Lewis/Jean Shanks Trust

© Mike Hoban/The Hoban Gravett Archive Gravett Hoban/The Hoban © Mike Be part of an extraordinary performance 50th Anniversary Celebration

GLY F15 Telegraph Advert A5 v3.indd 1 21/09/2015 11:38 MESSAGES

With thanks...

“I used the John Christie award specifically for voice lessons in New York, which set me on a secure path in my singing. It was a perfectly timed support at a crucial moment in my early career. I am very grateful.”

Gerald Finley (John Christie Award 1989) LMM Award Holder Alexandra Soumm performing to students at an LMM school “The prestigious John Christie Award is not only a great honour to win, but something that has enabled me to London Music Masters Congratulates the Musicians’ continue my vocal studies through lessons with my Company for supporting exceptional musical talent for teacher and coachings with several brilliant coaches on the vast amount of repertoire I am learning at this 50 years through the John Christie Award! beginning stage of my career. I have also used the award to finance German lessons in order to set me up for London Music Masters (LMM) provides performance and career development life in Germany and my new job at Frankfurt Opera opportunities for highly-talented young violinists from around the world through House, and also for Czech coaching on the role of Vixen its innovative LMM Awards. for a new production of The Cunning Little Vixen at Frankfurt Opera in April next year.”

LMM Award Holders are given performance opportunities such as concertos with Louise Alder (John Christie Award Winner 2014) the London Philharmonic Orchestra and recitals at Wigmore Hall. In addition, they have new works commissioned for them by outstanding young composers. “Glyndebourne were very good to me in my early years LMM Award Holders become role models inspiring and working alongside the as a soloist - those years when no one gives you work 650 children who participate in LMM’s award-winning inner-city schools music because you have no experience and you can’t get education programme. As they work alongside and inspire the next generation, experience until you have some work! I sang my first the Award Holders are opening doors into the world of music to those who might roles professionally on the Tour in 71 and 72, and then in not otherwise have access. 73 was awarded money for further study from the John Christie fund. It was invaluable at the time and enabled me to work intensively with Rupert Bruce-Lockhart, my Save the Date: Tänze by Gavin Higgins teacher in those years, with whom I was making great Performed by London Philharmonic Orchestra and 70 primary school children progress. The process of learning to be a good singer from LMM schools. Commissioned by London Music Masters takes years, and can be elusive; often two steps forward and one step back; you need all the help you can get, Friday 23 October 2015, 6pm | Royal Festival Hall and I will always remember Glyndebourne’s belief in Free Admission. No Advance Booking. me during those early years.”

For more information email [email protected] Sir John Tomlinson (John Christie Award Winner 1973) www.londonmusicmasters.org 50th Anniversary Celebration ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The Musicians’ Company is very grateful to all those that have contributed to make this evening possible: Glyndebourne Royal College of Music All the past winners of the John Christie Award who have given their services this evening and to Simon Lepper and Duncan Williams our accompanists

All those whose contributions have helped to endow the John Christie Award for the future: Brunswick Group Sir Anthony Cleaver Kevin Knott Victoria Robey OBE Guy Willner

Charles Alexander Primrose Arnander Kathleen Duncan OBE Richard Salter QC

Sir John Baker Lady Brewer OBE Paul Cleaver Sir Vernon Ellis Alderman Sir Roger Gifford Michael Hockney MBE Lord Lloyd of Berwick Hon Richard Lyttelton Ian Odgers Sir Richard Stilgoe OBE Matthew Tobin

Sir Win Bischoff Paul Campion John S. Cohen Foundation Lady MacGregor Sir Martin Smith

50th Anniversary Celebration PROGRAMME PROGRAMME

Introduced by Ryland Davies

Accompanists: Simon Lepper and Duncan Williams

Cataleya Quintet Mozart (arr. Wendt) Le nozze di Figaro RCM String Sextet Prelude to Capriccio Op 85 Overture Se vuol balare Kate Royal Richard Strauss Morgen Non piu andrai Mahler Um Mitternacht Voi che sapete Finale Act 3 Louise Alder Millöcke Ich schenk mein Herz Die Dubarry Frank Bridge: Goldenhair Kate Royal Mozart Porgi amor Act 2 Le nozze di Figaro When most I wink Love went a riding Kate Royal Mozart Letter Duet Act 3 Le nozze di Figaro & Louise Alder Duncan Rock Britten Look through the port Billy Budd

Nikola Hillebrand Schumann Myrthen op 25: Lyuba Petrova Handel Da tempeste il legno infranto Guilio Cesare Die Lotosblume Lied der Braut I Nikola Hillebrand Johann Strauss Spiel ich die Unschuld Die Fledermaus Lied der Braut II vom Lande Der Nussbaum

Marie Arnet Emil Sjögren songs from Op. 12; Du schaust mich an mit stummen Fragen Jahrlang möcht’ ich so Dich halten

Lyuba Petrova Bellini O Quante volte I Capuleti e i Montecchi

Marie Arnet Gounod Jewel Song Faust

Interval

John Christie Award 50th Anniversary Celebration PERFORMERS PERFORMERS

Louise Alder Marie Arnet

Louise Alder is a graduate of the Royal College of Music Marie Arnet was born in Sweden and studied at the Royal International Opera School where she was the inaugural Kiri Academy of Music in London and at the National Opera Te Kanawa Scholar. She was awarded 2nd Prize in the 2013 Studio. Competition and is the recipient of Marie made her debut at the Glyndebourne Festival Glyndebourne’s 2014 John Christie Award. stepping in at the last minute as Susanna Le nozze di Figaro and She is a member of the Frankfurt Opera Ensemble where went on to sing Diane Iphigénie en Aulide, Ilia in Idomeneo her roles this season include Susanna Le nozze di Figaro and the (conducted by Sir Simon Rattle), and Drusilla L’incoronazione di title role in a new production of The Cunning Little Vixen. Her Poppea for Glyndebourne. She has sung the role of Mélisande 2015/16 also includes the title role in L’incoronazione di Poppea Pelléas et Mélisande in Palermo, Glyndebourne and at La Scala, with the and Richard Egarr, her Ilia Idomeneo for Hamburg State Opera and Xenia Boris début with Garsington Opera as Ilia in a new production of Godunov, and Ginevra Ariodante at the Liceu in Barcelona. Idomeneo and her début for as Euridice in Concert repertoire includes Bach’s St John Passion and Luigi Rossi’s Orpheus. Mass in B Minor, Mahler 2nd and 4th Symphonies, the Brahms She has also sung Lucia The Rape of Lucretia at the and Fauré Requiems, Rossini’s Petite Messe Solennelle, Pergolesi Glyndebourne Festival; Gretel Hänsel und Gretel, Silandra in Stabat Mater, Haydn’s Creation and Bruckner’s Te Deum. She Cesti’s L’Orontea and Musetta La bohème for the Frankfurt appeared in Berlioz’s L’enfance du Christ at the Three Choirs Opera; Clomiri Imeneo for the London Handel Festival and Festival, Mozart’s Requiem with Paul McCreesh and the Rapunzel Into the Woods for the Théâtre du Châtelet. Gabrieli Consort and for the London Symphony Orchestra Highlights on the concert platform have included with Sir Colin Davis in London and New York, A Child of Our Beethoven’s Choral Fantasy at the Edinburgh Festival with the Time and Stravinsky’s Les Noces with the Orquesta Radio RSNO and Peter Oundjian, Sophie with the Televisión in , Handel’s Solomon, Bach’s Christmas Glyndebourne Festival at the BBC Proms with the London Oratorio on tour with Les Arts Florissants, and Brahms’ Philharmonic Orchestra and Robin Ticciati, Zelidie in the German Requiem at the BBC Proms with James Conlon. British premiere of Rameau’s Zaïs with the Orchestra of the Marie won critical acclaim in the title role in David Age of Enlightenment and Jonathan Williams and Mozart Pountney’s production of for with Concert Arias with Classical Opera and Ian Page. Her whom she also performed Wendy in Richard Ayres opera Peter performances have also taken her to the Aldeburgh, St Magnus Pan. She sang two concert performances of Zais with Les and London Handel Festivals and as far afield as Munich, Talens Lyriques, Cheshire Cat Alice in Wonderland with Los Budapest and Moscow. Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra and at the Barbican in Louise is also a passionate recitalist, appearing at the London. This season she returns to WNO as Susanna in a new Musikverein in Graz, the Brighton Festival, the Frankfurt commission, Figaro Gets a Divorce, and sings Anne Trulove The Opera, Birmingham’s Barber Institute, the Elgar Room at the Rake’s Progress in a co-production with Caen, Reims, Rouen & Royal Albert Hall, the Purcell Room at the Southbank Centre, Limoges. the Crush Bar at the Royal Opera House, the Holywell Music Room in Oxford and in the Perth Concert Hall with pianists Helmut Deutsch, , Gary Matthewman, John Paul Ekins and Matthew Fletcher.

John Christie Award 50th Anniversary Celebration PERFORMERS PERFORMERS

Nikola Hillebrand Lyuba Petrova

Nikola Hillebrand was born in 1993 in Recklinghausen and is Russian-American soprano Lyuba Petrova made her currently studying at Hochschule für Musik und Theater Glyndebourne Festival debut as Adele in Die Fledermaus München with Prof. Fenna Kügel- Seifried. She is the winner in 2003 and returned to perform Louisa in Betrothal in a of the 48th Jugend musiziert Competition (1st Prize, 2011) and Monastery in 2006. the Soroptimist International Club Fünfseenland Award 2012 She made her hugely successful Metropolitan Opera for vocal and outstanding artistic performance commitment, debut as Zerbinetta in and has returned for and has attended masterclasses with Susanne Kelling and numerous roles including Sophie in Der Rosenkavalier, Pamina Fenna Kügel-Seifried. in Die Zauberflöte, Norina in Don Pasquale, Sophie in Werther, On August 30th, Nikola was announced to be the 2015 Nannetta in , Oscar in Un ballo in maschera, Adele in Die recipient of the prestigious John Christie Award. Fledermaus, and Blondchen in Die Entführung aus dem Serail. Her operatic engagements include Barbarina (Cuvilliés Lyuba played the Queen of the Night in the 2006 film of Theater), Hannchen, Anna Reich and Susanna (HMT directed by Kenneth Branagh. München). Other roles performed include Belinda, Papagena, Other performances include the title role in Manon at the and Marzelline in a new production of Fidelio at Theater Bonn. Teatro Massimo in Palermo and in Lucia di Lammermoor with Nikola was an Elf in Mendelssohn’s A Midsummer Night’s Washington National Opera, Austin Opera and Opera Lyra; Dream conducted by at the 2013 . Cleopatra in and Susanna in Le nozze di Figaro In December 2014, she made her début in Hamburg with Glimmerglass Opera Festival, Zerbinetta in Ariadne auf Laeiszhalle and Berlin Konzerthaus with Klassische Naxos with Opéra National de Paris, Dallas Opera, Teatro Philharmonie Bonn with a program of Mozart and Bach. Real in Madrid, Washington National Opera, Her further concert repertory also includes Handel Messiah, Opera and Pittsburgh Opera; Angelica in Orlando at the Palau Mozart Exsultate Jubilate, Pergolesi w and Rossini Petite Messe de les Arts Reina Sofia in Valencia, Juliet in Roméo et Juliet Solenelle as well as Lieder by Schumann, Schubert, Strauss, with Nederlandse Opera; Elvira in I puritani with Palm Beach Wolf, Mozart and Debussy. She has been invited to give her Opera and Susanna in Le nozze di Figaro with Dallas Opera; first Lied Recital at the Schumannhaus in Bonn with a and Oscar in Un ballo in maschera with Houston Grand Opera. program of Mozart, Schubert, Schumann and Strauss in Lyuba joined the Spoleto Festival USA for the title role of September. Lakme, Despina in Cosi fan tutte and further performances of In July 2015, Nikola made her Glyndebourne début as Zerbinetta in Ariadne auf Naxos. She performed Susanna in Blonde in a new production of Die Entführung aus dem Serail Le nozze di Figaro and Violetta in Traviata in South Korea and by David McVicar, conducted by Robin Ticciati. returned to Japan for Despina in Cosi fan tutte. Nikola sang Blonde in a concert version of Die Entführung On the concert stage Ms. Petrova has performed with aus dem Serail with Le Cercle de l´Harmonie under the baton some of the world’s finest orchestras under the batons of James of Jérémie Rhorer in September in Bremen. Another role début Levine, Julius Rudel, Vladimir Jurowski, Jose Serebrier and in 2016 will be Queen of the Night at Theater Bonn. Donald Runnicles.

John Christie Award 50th Anniversary Celebration PERFORMERS PERFORMERS

Duncan Rock Kate Royal

Baritone Duncan Rock studied at the Guildhall School of Born in London, Kate Royal studied at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama and subsequently at the National Opera Music and Drama and the National Opera Studio. Awards include Studio. the 2004 Kathleen Ferrier Award, the 2004 John Christie Award, Fast establishing himself as an outstanding young singer and the 2007 Royal Philharmonic Society Young Artist Award. and performer he was a Jerwood Young Artist at the In concert she has appeared with many of the world’s Glyndebourne Festival and the recipient of the 2010 John leading orchestras including: Orchestra of the Age of Christie Award. He was also the winner of the 2012 Chilcott Enlightenment/Sir Simon Rattle (BBC Proms and Festspielhaus Award - the inaugural award from the Susan Chilcott Baden-Baden), Edinburgh Festival/Sir Charles Mackerras, Royal Scholarship to support a ‘major young artist with the potential Liverpool Philharmonic/Vassily Petrenko, Orchestra of La Scala to make an international impact’. Milan/Myung-Whun Chung, Los Angeles Philharmonic/Pablo His engagements in the 2015/16 season include Marcello in Heras-Casado, Boston Symphony/Thomas Adès, New York a new production of La bohème at the , Philharmonic Orchestra/Alan Gilbert, Cleveland Orchestra/ Belcore L’elisir d’amore for , Billy Bigelow Carousel Franz Welser-Möst, Le Concert d’Astree/Emanuelle Haïm, in his début for the Houston Grand Opera and Demetrius A Scottish Chamber Orchestra/Robin Ticciati, Philharmonia/ Midsummer Night’s Dream at the Glyndebourne Festival. Esa-Pekka Salonen, BBC Symphony/Jiri Belohlavek, London He has sung also Tarquinius The Rape of Lucretia for the Philharmonic/Vladimir Jurowski and Yannick Nézet-Séguin, Deutsche Oper, Berlin and at the Glyndebourne Festival; the Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra/Daniel Harding (Baltic title role in for the Boston Lyric Opera and the Sea Festival and BBC Proms) and both the Berlin Philharmonic Welsh National Opera; Papageno The Magic Flute for the and the Orchestra of Bavarian Radio under Rattle. She has English National Opera; Billy Bigelow for the Théâtre du appeared in recital throughout Europe and North America. Châtelet; Marullo at Covent Garden and English In opera she has sung Marschallin (Der Rosenkavalier), Pamina Clerk & Guide Death in Venice for the Teatro Réal in Madrid. (Die Zauberflöte), Micaela (Carmen), Female Chorus (The Rape of Future seasons see him return to the Covent Garden, the Lucretia) and Donna Elvira (Don Giovanni) for the Glyndebourne Teatro Réal in Madrid and make his début at the Metropolitan Festival; Pamina for the Baden-Baden Festival with the Berlin Opera. Philharmonic and Rattle, the Lucerne Festival with Harding, and Highlights on the concert platform include appearances at the Royal Opera; Countess (Le nozze di Figaro) and Governess (The the BBC Proms with the BBC Symphony Orchestra and Sir Turn of the Screw) for Glyndebourne on Tour; Helena (A Midsummer Andrew Davis and Sakari Oramo, the Bournemouth Night’s Dream) for , Madrid and Glyndebourne Festival; Symphony Orchestra with David Hill and the London Poppea for English National Opera; Miranda (Ades’ The Tempest) Symphony Orchestra with Valery Gergiev and Donald for the Royal Opera; Handel’s L’Allegro for the Paris Opera; and Runnicles Countess Almaviva for the Aix-en-Provence Festival. She made her Metropolitan Opera debut as Euridice, returning for Micaela. She has recorded Mahler’s Symphony No. 4 with the Manchester Camerata, and Schumann’s Liederkreis with Graham Johnson for Hyperion and has an exclusive contract with EMI Classics for whom recordings include a musical portrait with the Academy of St Martin-in-the-Fields/Edward Gardner, 20th century arias (“Midsummer Night”) with the ENO Orchestra/Gardner, and a solo recital disc with (“A Lesson in Love”).

John Christie Award 50th Anniversary Celebration PERFORMERS PERFORMERS

Simon Lepper Duncan Williams

Simon read music at King’s College Cambridge. He is a Duncan studied at the Royal College of Music and subse- professor of piano accompaniment at the Royal College of quently offered the position of Trainee Répétiteur at English Music, London where he also co-ordinates the piano National Opera under the tutelage of Sir Mark Elder. He then accompaniment course. He is an official accompanist for BBC became a full time member of the music staff of Opera North Cardiff Singer of the World Competition and the Rosenblatt and again at English National Opera. Since 1997 he has been Recital Series. working freelance for all the major international festivals in- Recent performance highlights included an invitation cluding Salzburg and Glyndebourne. Duncan has had a close from the Wigmore Hall, London to present a three concert relationship with the latter where he specialises in 19th and 20th project on the songs of Joseph Marx; a recital tour with century German Czech repertoire. He has collaborated with baritone Stéphane Degout which included the Ravinia and numerous internationally renowned conductors including Edinburgh Festivals; his debut at Carnegie Hall, New York Robin Ticciati, Sir Simon Rattle, Sir Mark Elder, Kazushi Ono, with mezzo Karen Cargill; a performance with Mark Padmore Jiří Bělohlávek, Sir Charles Mackerras and Vladimir Jurowski. of Schubert Winterreise at the Schubertiade, Hohenhems, He held a teaching position at the Royal Conservatoire of Austria; recitals with Angelika Kirchschlager at La Monnaie, Scotland for many years and is in demand for auditions for all Brussels and at the Wigmore Hall where appearances also have the major opera houses. He lives in Scotland. included recitals with , , Stephan Loges, Sophie Bevan, Christopher Purves and Lawrence Zazzo, Future highlights included performances and recordings with BBC New Generation Artists Kitty Whately, Benjamin Appl and Ilker Arcayurek and recitals with Sally Matthews at La Monnaie and in New York. Simon has also appeared at the Wigmore Hall with violinist Carolin Widmann, with whom he has given recitals in Amsterdam, Paris, Salzburg, Cologne and Madrid and recorded for ECM - Phantasy of Spring, contemporary works, including Feldman, Zimmerman and Xenakis – which received a Diapason d’Or and the German Critics Award. More recently he recorded a disc of Brahms, Schubert and Beethoven with violinist Ji-Hae Park (Universal records). Vocal recordings include Warlock Songs with (Landor), 2 volumes of Debussy Songs with Gillian Keith (Deux-Elles), the complete CW Orr Songs with (Stone Records) and a disc of Gustav and Alma Mahler songs with Karen Cargill (Linn records). Future releases include a song recital disc recorded at Aldeburgh with Dame Felicity Palmer. www.simonlepper.com

John Christie Award 50th Anniversary Celebration PERFORMERS PERFORMERS

Royal College of Music String Sextet Ryland Davies

Pierre Frapier violin In the 51 years since making his operatic debut, Ryland Davies Eunsley Park violin has firmly established himself as one of the most versatile and Lisa Bucknell viola best loved of British . At the start of his career, Ryland’s Bryony Gibson-Cornish viola beautiful lyric made him a mainstay in the major opera Yoon-Kyung Cho cello houses of the world, most notably Glyndebourne, Covent Timothee Botbol cello Garden, The Metropolitan Opera in New York and Salzburg. The group is made up of students on the RCM’s Artist Born in South Wales, Ryland studied at the Royal Diploma course. Manchester College of Music and was made a Fellow of the College in 1971. He became a member of the Glyndebourne chorus and in 1965 was the first recipient of the John Christie Award. Ryland made his debut with Glyndebourne Festival Opera in 1965 as the Major Domo Der Rosenkavalier, and went on to perform many roles including Belmonte Die Entführung The Cataleya Quintet aus dem Serail, Ferrando Cosi fan tutte, Tamino Die Zauberflöte, Nemorino L’elisir d’amore, Lensky and Flamand Diego Aceña flute Capriccio. He made his operatic debut in 1964 as Count Alasdair Hill oboe Almaviva Il barbiere di Siviglia (WNO) and his ROH debut in Pablo Ortiz French horn 1969 where his many roles have included Don Ottavio Don Sophie Robertshaw bassoon Giovanni, Ferrando, Ernesto Don Pasquale, Fenton Falstaff and Adrian Somogyi clarinet Lysander A Midsummer Night’s Dream. He made his debut at Having met originally as Masters Scholars at the Royal College of the Salzburg Festival in 1970 as Cassio Otello and his American Music, the Cataleya Quintet was formed in 2011. Their international debut in San Francisco the same year as Ferrando, a role that and diverse musical education from the UK, Europe and the also marked his debut at the Met in 1975. Since then, Ryland USA produces a musical connection which creates a unique and has regularly performed in many greatest opera halls around ambitiously driven wind quintet. From the start of their career at the world, singing the character roles that have since become the College, they frequently performed within the RCM in a variety his speciality. of public performances which included showcases of Quintets by Ryland now teaches the singers of the future as a professor Francaix, and of Poulenc’s Sextet in RCM’s Britten Theatre. Soon at the , and with the Reina Sofia after forming, they were invited to perform at the Southbank School of Music in Madrid. Centre and in the Elgar Room of the Royal Albert Hall, and had their debut performance and interview on Spanish National Radio (RNE). Cataleya was awarded the 2013 Boconnoc Music Award from the Royal College of Music where they thoroughly enjoyed their residency at the Boconnoc Estate, and shortly after were announced as Park Lane Group Finalists for 2013-2014. They have had bookings for recitals in venues such as The Purcell Room, St-Martins-in-the- Fields and St John’s Smith Square, Regent Hall and Lincoln’s Inn, and continue to give performances and mentoring sessions within the Royal College of Music.

John Christie Award 50th Anniversary Celebration