http://www.rayfieldallied.com/news Latest news from Rayfield Artists en ben@rayfieldartists.com Copyright 2013 2013-05-24 http://www.rayfieldallied.com/news/2013/Rayfield-Allied-artists-feature-strongly-as-ENOs-new-season-announced/ http://www.rayfieldallied.com/news/2013/Rayfield-Allied-artists-feature-strongly-as-ENOs-new-season-announced/#When:00:00:00Z The forthcoming seasons at English National Opera bring a wealth of exciting productions –  both old and new – to the stage of the Coliseum and with them a host of artists from Rayfield Allied. The numerous and varied roles and performances include Pamela Helen Stephen as Lilian Disney in the UK premiere of Philip Glass’s new opera The Perfect American directed by Phelim McDermott, as well as reprising the role of Suzuki in Madam Butterfly, one for which she has been described as being “a force to be reckoned with” (The Evening Standard); Adrian Dwyer - whose Andres stands out in Carrie Cracknell’s current new production of Wozzeck, one of “outstanding musical quality” (The Financial Times) - returns to the Coliseum as the Strolling Player in Deborah Warner’s critically acclaimed production Death in Venice, which will then go on tour to the Holland Festival in July.  Adrian will also sing the role of Jaquino in Calixto Bieito’s hotly anticipated new production of Fidelio; Julia Sporsén sings Rosalinde in Christopher Alden’s new production of Johann Strauss II’s hugely popular Der Fledermaus, as well as the role of Antigone in the UK premiere of Julian Anderson’s first opera The Thebans; Barnaby Rea sings the roles of Ceprano in Rigoletto, another new production by Christopher Alden, and that of Nourabad in The Pearl Fishers; countertenor Christopher Ainslie appears alongside Julia Sporsén singing the role of The Messenger in The Thebans, as well as singing the role of Unulfo in a new production by Richard Jones of Handel’s Rodelinda; and Kate Valentine - whose Mimi in Jonathan Miller’s much lauded current revival of La Bohème has been described as “deliciously ardent” (The Arts Desk) - returns in the summer of 2014 to sing the role of Fiordiligi in a new production by Katie Mitchell of Mozart’s Così fan tutte. To find out more about these productions and to book tickets follow the link to the ENO website. 2013-05-21 http://www.rayfieldallied.com/news/2013/peter-bronder-debut-rienzi-frankfurt/ http://www.rayfieldallied.com/news/2013/peter-bronder-debut-rienzi-frankfurt/#When:00:00:00Z Reflecting his move towards the heavier German repertoire, Peter Bronder sings his first performances of Rienzi (title role) in a concert version of the opera in Frankfurt during May 2013. Conducted by Music Director Sebastian Weigle, the performances take place at the Alte Oper Frankfurt on May 17 and 20 2013. Bronder has been a regular guest at Oper Frankfurt in recent seasons, and praised for his performances of the titles roles in Zemlinsky’s Der Zwerg and Pfitzner’s Palestrina, which is also available on CD. His most recent performances there were as Luzio in Wagner’s rarely performed early work Das Liebesverbot. Following Rienzi he returns to La Scala Milan for further performances of Mime in The Ring during June. Co-produced with the Berlin Staatsoper, this production reaches the conclusion of its first run in London in July, when semi-staged performances with the Berlin Staatskapelle and Daniel Barenboim will be heard at the BBC Proms. 2013-05-15 http://www.rayfieldallied.com/news/2013/ensemble-360-win-at-the-rps-awards/ http://www.rayfieldallied.com/news/2013/ensemble-360-win-at-the-rps-awards/#When:00:00:00Z Rayfield Allied is delighted to congratulate RPS Music Award winners Ensemble 360 who are the resident chamber ensemble at Music in the Round in Sheffield. Music in the Round has won the coveted Chamber Music and Song Award at the Royal Philharmonic Society Awards.  The awards, presented in association with BBC Radio 3, are the UK’s most prestigious accolade for live classical music, and the Chamber Music and Song Award recognises the work that Music in the Round does in presenting the highest quality chamber music and musicians to around 30,000 people of all ages in areas of the country with little or no provision. Winners of The RPS Music Awards, presented in association with BBC Radio 3, were announced at a dinner at London’s Dorchester Hotel on Tuesday 14 May. Music in the Round has beaten off strong competition from Elias String Quartet, themselves former members of Music in the Round’s Ensemble 360, and Exaudi Vocal Ensemble to win the award, which recognises outstanding contribution to the performance of chamber music or song by an ensemble, partnership, individual or organisation in the UK during 2012. Angus Smith, Artistic Director of Music in the Round comments:  “For many years we have been recognised as the largest promoter of chamber music outside London, but we believe it is our record of innovation and engagement that has won us this award. Our fresh approach to programming gives audiences around the country a chance to hear our brilliant resident musicians, Ensemble 360, emerging young musicians, and established artists of international standing deliver inspirational concerts and education projects that embrace well-loved pieces and bold new music in equal measure.” The award citation read: “imaginative and eclectic programming and an exemplary model of working from Music in the Round.” Winners received their trophies from Dame Janet Baker, herself an RPS Gold Medallist and BBC Radio 3’s Sara Mohr-Pietsch and Sean Rafferty as hosts of classical music’s big night out. A special programme devoted to the RPS Music Awards will be broadcast on BBC Radio 3 at 2pm on Sunday 19 May. 2013-05-15 http://www.rayfieldallied.com/news/2013/julia-jones-makes-welcome-return-to-the-royal-opera-house/ http://www.rayfieldallied.com/news/2013/julia-jones-makes-welcome-return-to-the-royal-opera-house/#When:00:00:00Z Julia Jones has made a “welcome return” (Opera Britannia) to the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden: following on from her highly successful performances of Così fan tutte in 2010, Jones’s conducting of Die Zauberflöte has been hailed as one that can “hardly be criticised musically… the ROH orchestra lively, sensitive and warm” (Hannah Sander, classicalsource.com).  Taking a lively and heart-felt approach to the work, Tim Ashley writes “Jones’s speeds are swift and energetic.  There are genuine frissons of alarm in the whirling strings that indicate Tamino’s terror at the start, and later on, a real sense of victory in the trumpets and drums when trials are faced and overcome” (The Guardian), whilst Hilary Finch observes how “her sheer skill in pacing and in sustaining long, energised lines of orchestral playing stepped up the momentum” (The Times).  David Karlin also comments: “Often, [Julia Jones] would throw in a deliciously long rubato in the closing cadence of a phrase before picking up the pace at the start of the next.  Overall, it was a very assured orchestral performance, bright, upbeat and perfectly balanced against the singers” (bachtrack.com).  Sebastian Petit sums up Julia Jones’s interpretation as one possessing “no shortage of delicacy… Jones gauged a fine balance between the ponderous epics of the Klemperer type Flutes and the over-fleet versions which lose the sense that anything of import is involved.  The orchestra responded with excellent playing throughout” (Opera Britannia). 2013-05-14 http://www.rayfieldallied.com/news/2013/may-festival-begins-for-ensemble-360/ http://www.rayfieldallied.com/news/2013/may-festival-begins-for-ensemble-360/#When:00:00:00Z Ensemble 360 are the resident musicians at the May Festival in Music in the Round starting today through to 18 May 2013 at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield. Highlights from this festival, an un unabashed celebration of British music,  include a collaboration between Ensemble 360 and tenor John Mark Ainsley, a tribute to Benjamin Britten in his 100th anniversary year and a new commission by Charlie Piper at the Showroom Cinema.  For all the programme details and booking information please visit Music in the Round’s website here.  Music in the Round has been nominated for the prestigious ‘Chamber Music and Song Award’ at this year’s Royal Philharmonic Society Awards. Considered the ‘Oscars’ of the British classical music world, this is the second year running that Music in the Round has been nominated for the award. Angus Smith, Artistic Director of Music in the Round comments: “This nomination comes at a particularly exciting time for Music in the Round as we embark on a five year plan to extend our regional and national portfolio of events with emerging young chamber musicians and artists of international standing. The recognition of an RPS award would really cement our national reputation as a truly innovative promoter and presenter of chamber music, and also the ever more prominent place that chamber music has in the cultural landscape of our country.” The final deliberation of the jurors will be announced at a dinner at the Dorchester Hotel on Tuesday 14 May 2012 when the RPS Music Awards will be presented. 2013-05-10 http://www.rayfieldallied.com/news/2013/new-york-times-jessica-walker/ http://www.rayfieldallied.com/news/2013/new-york-times-jessica-walker/#When:00:00:00Z Jessica Walker’s one-woman show The Girl I Left Behind Me reached New York in May 2013 with a residency at the 59E59 Theater as part of the Brits Off Broadway festival. Writing in the New York Times, Charles Isherwood describes Walker as a “bewitching performer” who possesses “a pure, bright soprano of such melting beauty I think I could listen to it forever”. Read the full review here. The show, co-devised by Jessica Walker and Neil Bartlett, has 8 performances a week and runs in New York until May 19. More information and tickets can be found on their website. 2013-05-07 http://www.rayfieldallied.com/news/2013/von-steinaecker-to-conduct-orchestra-mozart/ http://www.rayfieldallied.com/news/2013/von-steinaecker-to-conduct-orchestra-mozart/#When:00:00:00Z Philipp von Steinaecker will take over from Claudio Abbado to conduct the Orchestra Mozart for half of this evening’s programme at the Auditorium Manzoni in Bologna. He will conduct Mendelssohn’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Mozart’s Symphony No.39 in E flat Major, K 543. To see the full programme, please click here . Philipp von Steinaecker’s future highlights include engagements with the New Japan Philharmonic, the Haydn Orchester Bozen, the Hague Philharmonic, with his own orchestra Musica Saecolorum and at Cité de la Musique. 2013-05-02 http://www.rayfieldallied.com/news/2013/kate-valentines-deliciously-ardent-debut-as-mimi/ http://www.rayfieldallied.com/news/2013/kate-valentines-deliciously-ardent-debut-as-mimi/#When:00:00:00Z Kate Valentine’s debut in the role of Mimì in English National Opera’s La Bohème has been met with five star reviews.  Singing in the revival of Jonathan Miller’s much loved production, “the performances are glorious.  Valentine has the seeming ability to unleash tremendous depths of emotion with the most restrained means… This is one of the best Bohèmes to be heard in London in recent years” (Tim Ashley, The Guardian).  Kate Valentine’s Mimì has also been described as being “warmly and expressively sung, especially when [she] opens out her luscious top notes” (Richard Morrison, The Times) and as “no simpering young waif, but a tall and dignified Mimì, whose soprano…comes into its own as the tension mounts” (Richard Fairman, The Financial Times).  Alexander Coghlan goes on to describe Valentine’s Mimì as “a genuine innocent and deliciously ardent with it… Mimì feels like a role she may never play better dramatically” (The Arts Desk), whilst Warwick Thompson commented on how she “soars in the pathos-heavy later scenes” (Metro). ENO’s production of La Bohème runs until 29th June.  To find out more and to book tickets click here.  Kate Valentine will return to ENO next season when she will sing the role of Fiordiligi Così fan Tutte in a production directed by Katie Mitchell. 2013-05-01 http://www.rayfieldallied.com/news/2013/la-perichole-brilliantly-conducted-by-plasson/ http://www.rayfieldallied.com/news/2013/la-perichole-brilliantly-conducted-by-plasson/#When:00:00:00Z Emmanuel Plasson’s conducting of Christopher Alden’s new production of Offenbach’s La Périchole closes New York City Opera’s 12/13 season, and the critics have been full of praise: “And with the fine French conductor Emmanuel Plasson in charge, the orchestra gives a stylish and confident account of Offenbach’s breezy and tuneful score.” Anthony Tommasini, New York Times “Conductor Emmanuel Plasson exuded operetta verve” Heidi Waleson, Opera News “Emmanuel Plasson conducted brilliantly, never letting the orchestra overwhelm the singers. He gave free rein to the frequent enchanting flute and clarinet passages, and the strings vibrated with thrilling luminosity.” Victor Wheeler, ClassicalSource.com “Conductor Emmanuel Plasson showed grace and style in this light music” BachTrack.com For more information about this production, please click here. 2013-04-30 http://www.rayfieldallied.com/news/2013/new-artist-natalie-clein/ http://www.rayfieldallied.com/news/2013/new-artist-natalie-clein/#When:00:00:00Z Rayfield Allied is delighted to announce the General Management of British cellist Natalie Clein.  Described by The Times as a “mesmerising” cellist who “plays everything with passion”, Natalie is a performer who has been praised for her soulful, sensitive and profound approach to music making.  She regularly performs with orchestras including the Philharmonia, Hallé, Royal Philharmonic, Vienna Chamber and English Chamber orchestras; the symphony orchestras of Bournemouth, City of Birmingham, Montreal and New Zealand; and Academy of St Martin-in-the-Fields, Northern Sinfonia, all the BBC orchestras of the UK, Britten Sinfonia, Orchestre de Lyon, and Orquesta Filarmónica de Buenos Aires.  She has worked with conductors including Sir Charles Mackerras, Sir Mark Elder, Gennady Rozhdestvensky, Heinrich Schiff, Sir Neville Marriner, Daniel Harding and Leonard Slatkin.  Immediate future engagements include the Boston Symphony with Charles Dutoit, a tour with the Philharmonia and a UK tour with the Moscow Philharmonic. In recital Natalie has appeared at venues including the Wigmore Hall,  Concertgebouw, Lincoln Centre, the BBC Proms, Aldeburgh, Manchester International Festival, and in Salzburg, Vienna, Tokyo, Sydney and Seoul.  A dedicated chamber musician, Natalie has collaborated with numerous international artists (please see her full biography for more information) and is the artistic director of her own chamber music festival in Purbeck, UK. Natalie’s continuing commitment to the cello repertoire has included commissions and premieres (including BBC Prom Première) of works by Thomas Larcher, Sir Peter Maxwell Davis, Sir John Tavener, Dobrinka Tabakova and Fyfe Dangerfield, as well as collaborations with the dancer Carlos Acosta , director Deborah Warner and writer Jeanette Winterson. Natalie recorded three CDs for EMI Classics including the Elgar Cello Concerto with the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic and Vernon Handley. She now records exclusively for Hyperion Records for whom she has released a recital CD of works by Kodály and a CD of works for cello and orchestra by Bloch and Bruch with the BBC Scottish Symphony and Ilan Volkov. 2013-04-24