| Roles | Cast A 22, 24, 30 April & 2 May 2010 (subject to change) |
Cast B 23, 25, 29 April & 1 May 2010 (subject to change) |
| Titus |
William Balkwill | Iain Milne |
| Vitellia |
Helen Bailey | Elisabeth Poirel |
| Servilia |
Emily Phillips | Lucy Roberts |
| Sesto |
Catherine Backhouse | Sylvie Bedouelle |
| Annio |
Kate Howden | Ksynia Reynolds |
| Publio |
Jon Openshaw | Dan Roddick |
| Chorus | In alphabetical order: | |
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Sopranos Zoe Freedman Jill Noakes Anne Marie Sheridan |
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Mezzos Jill House Liz Hunt Gemma Swinard Curzon Tussaud |
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Tenors Philip Hayes Greg Monk |
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Basses David Danson Paul Ives Nigel Gee Martin Musgrave |
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| Production Team: | ||
| Production director | Bruno Ravella | |
| Music director | Oliver-John Ruthven | |
| Set designer | Sarah Bacon | |
| Costumes | Madeleine Millar | |
| Assistant Costume Designer | Sallyanne Short | |
| Vitellia wigs | Sophie Hall | |
| Costume Assistant | Katie Duxbury | |
| Lighting Designer | Gary Dooley | |
| Assistant Director & Stage manager | Laura Duncan | |
| Production Assistant | Rosellen Cassell | |
| Répétiteurs | Eunjung Lee, Suzy Ruffles | |
| Orchestra | The Dionysus Ensemble |
Catherine Backhouse grew up in Edinburgh, graduated with an honours degree in music from Durham University and in September will be starting a full-time vocal training Masters at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama. She appeared in the British Première of Flat Pack: An Opera in IKEA by Tom AZ Lane and has played the roles of Hatta in Smetana's The Bartered Bride, Michal in Handel’s Saul, Clarissa Taurus in The Beggar’s Opera by Britten/Gaye and Maria in West Side Story. She is delighted to be making her HGO debut in the wonderful role of Sesto. Future concert details can be found on www.catherinebackhouse.co.uk
Born in Middlesbrough, Helen Bailey is currently studying at The Royal Academy of Music on the MA course under the tutelage of Sarah Walker CBE. She is kindly supported by the Simon Fletcher Charitable Trust Award for Singers and the Sir Richard Stapley Educational Foundation. Helen holds an Advanced Postgraduate Diploma from Trinity College of Music and a First class honours degree in English Literature and Cultural History from Liverpool JMU. Opera roles include Eurydice (Orfeo and Eurydice), Countess (Le nozze di Figaro), Anne Truelove (The Rake's Progress) and Micaela (Carmen) and the title role in HGO's previous opera, Susannah. Helen performs regularly as a soloist in recitals, with choral societies and with the quartet 'The Barbershop Belles'.
See www.helenbailey.org for more information.
William Balkwill started his musical training at the age of eight on becoming a chorister at Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford. Throughout his secondary school education his main musical focus was the Trumpet and he was a member of the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain, becoming its principal Trumpeter at the age of 17. At the age of 18, William commenced study at the RNCM in Manchester, where he learnt Trumpet with John Miller. During his time at the college, he started to develop his Tenor voice and quickly it became his main area of study. After a two year Masters degree at the University of Manchester during which he sang in the choir of Manchester Cathedral, William was appointed as a tenor lay vicar in the choir of Westminster Abbey. In addition to his work at the Abbey, William is in demand as a consort and solo singer. He sings regularly with The Tallis Scholars and The Cardinall’s Musick and has also participated in projects with The Gabrielli Consort, The Sixteen and Tenebrae.
Sylvie Bedouelle is studying with Janice Chapman on the Opera Course at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama. She has previously been taught by David Pollard and Yves Sotin. She is supported by the Worshipful Company of Tallow Chandlers. Operatic engagements have included the title role in La Périchole, Clémentine Barbe-Bleue (Théâtre d’Asnières); Filipevna Eugene Onegin, la Bergère, la Chatte, l’Ecureuil L’enfant et les sortilèges (Théâtre de St-Maur), title role cover in Chérubin (Silk Street Theatre). She has appeared as a soloist in many oratorios including Stabat Mater Vivaldi, Messiah Handel, Mass in C minor Mozart.
Future engagements include St John Passion (Banbury), Mrs Herring Albert Herring (Silk Street Theatre).
After graduating in veterinary medicine, David Danson studied privately with Ryland Davies. Roles include Don Giovanni, Count (Figaro), Escamillo, Morales, Tonio, Belcore, Dulcamara, Kecal, Coppelius, Aeneas, Kaspar, Falstaff (Merry Wives), Basilio (Barber), Polyphemus, Capulet, and Baron Duphol. Companies worked with include Edinburgh Grand Opera, Opera Camerata, Morley Opera, Court Opera, West London Opera, and Rhapsody Opera. He appeared regularly in public masterclasses at Glyndebourne under the direction of Jonathan Hinden. David is a director of a number of companies in the pharma and biotechnology sectors and is a member of the Council of the Royal Veterinary College in the University of London.
The Dionysus Ensemble was formed by cellist Léonie Adams in 2003 and specialises in reduced orchestration opera performance and chamber orchestral concerts. It is comprised primarily of students and recent graduates from the Royal College of Music and the Royal Academy of Music and is based in London. Recent productions have included The Magic Flute, Eugene Onegin, The Barber of Seville and Carmen with performances across London including the Purcell Room.
Laura Duncan studied in Oxford and Lancaster and started working as a stage manager after a short career in consultancy. Recent productions include touring The Marriage of Figaro with Mid Wales Opera, Garsington Opera’s 2009 season and Alessandro at the RCM. La Clemenza di Tito is Laura’s second production with HGO (as well as her first official outing as an assistant director), after which she will join Garsington Opera again, this time on Rossini’s Armida.
Zoë Freedman began her musical life playing 'cello, clarinet and piano. She held a music scholarship at school, studied at Junior GSMD and played in the London Schools' Symphony Orchestra. Whilst at the University of Warwick studying English and Theatre, she began singing lessons and sang with Chamber Choir, Consort and Warwick Student Opera, for whom she also produced (Orpheus in the Underworld), directed (The Marriage of Figaro and Trial by Jury) and musically directed. Since graduating with First Class Honours Zoë has sung with Armonico Consort - First Bridesmaid (The Marriage of Figaro), and with Hymnos, including singing with the EU Chamber Orchestra in Istanbul. Oratorio roles include Haydn’s Harmoniemesse with the Spires Philharmonic. Since moving back to London she has joined the London Oriana Choir with whom she performed Messiah in the RFH and undertook solos in the choir’s Christmas concert. She learns with Jane Highfield and hopes to study at music college in the future.
Nigel Gee has sung with the London Jewish Male Choir for six years in England as well as on tours in Belgium and the United States. He joined the Philharmonia Chorus this year and sung on their recording for the BBC series ‘Merlin’. He has sung in the Chorus of the Hampstead Garden Opera since 2006 in productions of La Traviata, Don Giovanni and Eugene Onegin as well as the role of Captain Petrovitch in Onegin. In 2008 he sang in the chorus in ‘Opera London’ production of The Marriage of Figaro and the roles of Servant and Messenger in the Vox Lirica production of La Traviata.
Philip Hayes has been involved in amateur choirs and opera groups since childhood. He last sang with HGO in Idomeneo in 2008 as Arbace/High Priest. With other groups Philip has recently taken the tenor leads in Carmen, Cosi fan tutte, Romeo and Juliet (Gounod), Princess Ida and The Yeomen of the Guard. Philip is currently re-training as a primary teacher.
Jill House combines her passion for singing with a career in phonetics. Having performed the role of Mrs MacLean in the 2009 production of Susannah, she is delighted to be singing with HGO again in Tito. She completed the Birkbeck Opera Diploma in 2008, and has also worked with Floral Opera, and with summer schools in Ardingly and Dublin. Recent roles include Juno (Actéon), Sorceress (Dido and Aeneas), Cornelia (Giulio Cesare), Orfeo (Orfeo), Kostelnicka (Jenufa), Octavian (Rosenkavalier), Abuela (La Vida Breve), Idamante (Idomeneo), Florence (Albert Herring). Her keen interest in contemporary music finds an outlet with New London Chamber Choir, and she sings regularly with Collegium Musicum of London.
Kate Howden originally hails from Sydney, Australia but grew up in Singapore. She is currently in her third year of her undergraduate degree at Trinity College of Music, studying with Ameral Gunson and Alistair Young. Recent performances include Chorus: Le Nozze di Figaro (Vignette Productions) at Wilton's Music Hall and at the annual Musique Cordiale festival in Seillans, France, The Devil: Stephen Oliver's Cinderella (Puzzle Piece Opera) and as a soloist in an improvised opera as part of Trinity Laban's improvisation festival. Before moving to London, Kate regularly worked with Singapore Repertory Theatre as part of their Young Company. She is excited to make her debut with Hampstead Garden Opera.
Liz Hunt sang in the chorus for Verdi’s Macbeth, La Traviata, Rossini’s Compte Ory, and Offenbach’s Tales of Hoffmann with Floral Opera. She has sung in the chorus for HGO’s productions: La Traviata, Eugene Onegin, Idomeneo, Elisir d'amore, Susannah, Venus and Adonis and Dido and Aeneas. Liz also regularly sings with the Medici Choir under the direction of John Baird. Their next performance will be on June 25th at St Margaret’s Westminster when the programme will include Gluck’s Orpheus and Eurydice. She is looking forward to being a member of the chorus for HGO’s forthcoming production of The Clemency of Tito in April 2010.
Paul Ives studies with Ryland Davies. With vocal ensembles Musicale and Originale he performed excerpts from more than 70 operas. Stage roles included Antonio (The Marriage of Figaro) with Opera Concerts and Count Cigarillos (La Périchole) and Maestro Spinelloccio (Gianni Schicchi) with Opera Favorita. He sang with HGO in Mary Stuart; Madam Butterfly (The Official Registrar and Uncle Yakuside); The Marriage of Figaro, La Traviata (Commissionario and Domestico), Yevgeny Onegin (Captain Petrovich) and The Elixir of Love. With Opera South he has sung in Faust; The Merry Wives of Windsor; The Elixir of Love; The Bohemian Girl; Martha and La Périchole (Second Notary).
Eunjung Lee has appeared in music festivals such as Centro Studi Lirica (Italy), Mozarteum Sommer Akademie (Austria), and Aspen Music Festival (US), where she had the privilege of working with singers from all around the world. Last year she participated in BYO (Rake’s Progress) and joined Chelsea Opera Group as a Repetiteur. This summer she will be working on Fidelio at Opera Holland Park. Born in Seoul, Korea, Eunjung received her BM from Ewha Womans University, and then MM in Piano Accompanying at Manhattan School of Music (MSM). She then completed a ‘Specialist in Collaborative Pianist’ program with Martin Katz at University of Michigan. Eunjung returned to NY and participated in recital series by Marilyn Horne Foundation while working at MSM. Currently she is Guildhall Artist Repetiteur Fellow.
Madeleine Millar is becoming something of a fixture in HGO productions. This will be her fourth opera in succession, following her inventive set and designs for L’Elisir
d’Amore, her Tennessee costumes for Susannah and her wedding outfits for Venus & Adonis and Dido & Aeneas. Madeleine has been working as a set and costume designer for over 25 years, and since 2001, has also been designing for TV and
film (e.g. four series of The Last of the Summer Wine). Two of the fifteen or so
Short Films for which she was Costume Designer - Goodbye Mr. Snuggles and
Private Life - are winning awards all over the world. She is also currently
designing The Bartered Bride for Surrey Opera . Madeleine has also exhibited sculpture
at galleries such as the Christchurch Mansion and Wolsey Art Gallery, Ipswich and the Piece Hall,
Halifax. For more information please visit www.mmillar.freeuk.com.
Iain Milne was born in Inverurie in Scotland and from a very young age showed promise as a singer winning many awards as a boy soprano in the Aberdeen music festival. Iain then joined the St. Andrews Cathedral Choir, Aberdeen as a chorister, becoming a Tenor Choral Scholar at only 14. In 2002 he moved to Norwich to study at the University of East Anglia and to take up the post of Tenor Choral Scholar at Norwich Cathedral. Iain has since obtained a BA degree in Music and was awarded the Britten - Pears, Imogen Holst and Roy Walden Scholarships for outstanding performance. He also studied at UEA with Baritone Geoff Davidson and performed solo lunchtime recitals at the Assembly House in Norwich. Iain currently trains with Nicholas Powell and sang as a Vicar Choral in Wells Cathedral taking part in recordings, broadcasts and tours overseas with a solo appearance on their most recent Hyperion recording of music by Kenneth Leighton. He has recently moved to Oxford and now sings with the choir of Christ Church Cathedral.
Gregory Monk read Music at the University of Birmingham, graduating in 2009. He began singing aged 11. Treble roles included: children’s chorus (,Tosca, RAH, Carmen and Der Rosenkavalier, ENO) soloist (Young Paris King Priam and First Spirit The Magic Flute both for ENO), Miles The Turn of the Screw (WNO, Opera East Productions, Porto and Aix-en-Provence Festivals and at the Hermitage Theatre, St. Petersburg), Harry Albert Herring (Opera East Productions and the City of London Sinfonia under Richard Hickox). He took part in the National Holocaust Memorial Day inaugural commemoration in 2001. A keen clarinettist, he played in the University Chamber and Symphony Orchestras and sang with the City of Birmingham Symphony Chorus in Brahms Ein deutsches requiem and Beethoven Symphony No. 9 ‘Choral’ among others. He also sang chorus for university productions of Orpheus in the Underworld, Don Giovanni and Die Fledermaus. This is Gregory’s first appearance with HGO.
Martin Musgrave started singing with the New Zealand National Youth Choir at age 16 in 1988, and then went on to study singing at Victoria University of Wellington with Emily Mair. Whilst at Victoria he understudied Leporello (Don Giovanni). He then joined Wellington City Opera, in 1993, performing Un Ballo in Maschera, Peter Grimes, and Bitter Calm. He joined Hampstead Garden Opera in 2006, where he has sung The Marriage of Figaro (Chorus), La Traviata (Baron Douphol), Don Giovanni (Chorus), Eugene Onegin (Captain Petrovich), Idomeneo (Chorus and 1st Trojan), L’Elisir d’Amore (Chorus) and Susannah (Elder MacLean). In 2008 he also sang in Opera London's début production of The Marriage of Figaro, and Rebecca Dale’s production of Street Scene (City Marshall Henry).
Jill Noakes sang in choruses, and took small parts in ensembles, with Floral Opera, for many years. She studies singing with Carlos Aransay. With Hampstead Garden Opera she has been in the chorus of Carmen, Magic Flute, Marriage of Figaro, La Traviata, Evgeny Onegin, Idomeneo and Elisir d'amore. Jill was in the chorus of Vox Lirika’s La Traviata in June 2008.
Jill studied piano in Venice, Italy with Gino Gorini and then, at the Guildhall School of Music with Robert Collet, Mary Peppin and in London with Richard Shaw. She has the ATCL in instrumental teaching. She teaches piano, and has performed as an accompanist as well as a soloist.
Jon Openshaw studies singing privately with Professor Susan McCulloch. He completed ENO’s operatic training course ‘The Knack’ in 2006. On stage, Jon has performed the roles of Dulcamara in L’Elisir d’Amore and Prince Gremin in Eugene Onegin (both with Suffolk Opera). Jon also performed with Hampstead Garden Opera in Carlisle Floyd’s Susannah and in a specially commissioned opera composed by David Knotts, Mr Purcell – his ground, which was performed in the Clore Studio of the Royal Opera House. Jon’s professional concert engagements have so far included CPE Bach’s Magnificat, Faure’s Requiem, Handel’s Messiah, Haydn's Nelson Mass and Harmoniemesse, Maunder’s Olivet to Calvary, Mozart's Requiem and Solemn Vespers, Stainer’s Crucifixion and Vaughan Williams' Five Mystical Songs and Fantasia on Christmas Carols. Jon has also performed a number of song recitals to raise money for various charities.
Emily Phillips studied Music at Sussex University and completed her Post Graduate Diploma in Voice at the Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama. Emily is currently studying with Patricia Rozario. Recent operatic roles include chorus, L’Elisir d’amore (British Youth Opera), Spirit & cover Belinda, Dido & Aeneas (HGO), chorus, Floyd’s Susannah (HGO), 2nd Spirit Cendrillon (RWCMD), Flora, Turn of the Screw (RWCMD). On the concert platform, Emily has performed at the Brighton Early Music and Ribchester festivals and recently performed as soprano soloist in Bach’s Christmas Oratorio. She will perform as soprano soloist in Haydn’s Nelson Mass alongside UCS Centenary Choir.
Elisabeth Poirel was born in Paris and came to London to study at the Guildhall School, where she took her MMus degree and completed the Opera Course. Operatic roles include ANINA La Traviata (Diva Opera) ZWEITE DAME Die Zäuberflöte (Akouna), MICAELA Carmen (Opera Brava), ROSINE Un mari à la porte (Festival de Pourrières), FEMALE CHORUS Rape of Lucretia (GMSD), CONTESSA Le Nozze di Figaro (GSMD), POPELKA Comedy on the Bridge (GMSD). On the concert platform, Elisabeth’s repertoire includes Handel’s Messiah, Mozart’s Coronation Mass and Requiem, Bach’s Saint Matthew Passion, Monteverdi’s Vespers in St John Smith’s Square, Berlioz’ L’Enfance du Christ and Vivaldi’s Gloria and Berlioz’ Requiem with Colin Davies (chorus).
She has recorded two CDs for children in French.
Bruno Ravella studied marketing in France before moving to London in 1991 where he produced over 40 television commercials, 2 of which award winners at the Cannes International Advertising Festival. He has since worked with opera directors such as John Cox, Robert Carsen, David McVicar, Annabel Arden, Nicholas Hytner, Silviu Purcarete, Mario Martone and Francisco Negrin. He has revived, been associate director or assisted on productions at Glyndebourne, the Royal Opera House, Garsington, the Barbican and the Royal Albert Hall in the UK, as well as Los Angeles Opera, Lyric Opera of Chicago, Houston Grand Opera, Valencia Palau de les Arts, Opera de Monte Carlo, Teatro Regio Parma and Oper Leipzig. For Hampstead Garden Opera, he has directed The Elixir of Love.
Ksynia Reynolds studied with Elizabeth Ritchie at the Royal Academy of Music, recently graduating with a distinction for her MA. To date she has sung roles including Mercedes (Carmen), Cherubino (Figaro), Hansel (Hansel and Gretel) and Anna (Tobias and the Angel) in addition to several chorus roles in productions ranging from Handel to G & S and everything in between! She has worked with companies such as Raymond Gubbay, Buxton Festival, The Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, British Youth Opera, Carl Rosa, Pimlico Opera and the Northern Chamber Orchestra. Life after Tito includes a production of Carmen in the O2 and covering the role of Laura in Luisa Miller for the Buxton Festival.
Lucy Roberts graduated from Cambridge University in 2008 with a BA in Music, and was a member of the 2008/2009 Monteverdi Choir Apprenticeship Scheme. Her operatic performances include Venus (Venus and Adonis) for Hampstead Garden Opera; Dorabella (Così fan tutte) for Shadwell Opera; Zerlina (Don Giovanni), Hansel (Hansel and Gretel) and Courtesan (Three Portraits of Nero) for Cambridge University Opera Society. Recent solo engagements include Iphis in Jephtha for Haslingfield Choir, Allegri’s Miserere Meo in Hampstead Parish Church, Martin’s Le Vin Herbé in St George’s, Bloomsbury and Haydn’s Little Organ Mass in Canterbury Cathedral. Lucy is in demand as a choral and consort singer, and has worked throughout the UK and Europe with the Monteverdi Choir, Tenebrae, English Voices, The Choir of London, The Blenheim Singers, Dmitri Ensemble and The Solomon Choir. Lucy currently learns with Elizabeth Richie, and is looking forward to continuing her studies at post-graduate level at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in September. She is delighted to be returning to HGO to perform the role of Servilia in The Clemency of Titus.
Daniel Roddick was born in Cardiff and studied Engineering, Economics & Management at Oxford University. Daniel then worked in management consultancy and finance, becoming a Charted Financial Analyst charterholder. In 2009 he completed his studies at Trinity College of Music under the tutelage of Alison Wells where he held the K Creed Scholarship and where he was awarded a distinction grade. Daniel now studies with Glenville Hargreaves at the Royal Academy of Music. Daniel recently sang the title role in Rossini’s Signor Bruschino for British Youth Opera. Other operatic roles include Falke Fledermaus, Escamillo Carmen, Figaro and Count Almaviva Marriage of Figaro, Amanzio Giustino, Papageno Magic Flute, Nick Shadow The Rake’s Progress, Smirnov The Bear and Allazim Zaide.
Suzy Ruffles began studying the piano at the age of 4. She undertook a postgraduate diploma in piano accompaniment at Trinity College of Music (TCM), studying under Eugene Asti and Christine Croshaw, completing the course in July 2007. She now has a busy schedule accompanying many different and varied performers including working as staff accompanist at TCM, AIMS and Greenwich University Choir.
She has worked as repetiteur for Minotaur Music Theatre's Barber of Seville and Cosi Fan Tutte (Stuart Barker), Trinity College's Dialogues des Carmelites and The Rake's Progress (Gregory Rose), numerous productions for HGO dating from Eugene Onegin onwards and Vignette Productions' Le Nozze Di Figaro (Graham Ross & Andy Staples). Suzy hopes to continue working with HGO for a long time to come and wishes them every future success. For more information please visit www.suzyruffles.co.uk.
Oliver-John Ruthven is Music Director of Hampstead Garden Opera Company (L’Elisir d’Amore November 2008, Susannah April/May 2009) and Founder Director of the Oriana Ensemble. He was cover conductor to the Royal Ballet for their 2008 production of The Dream, and was Acting Director of the Hallé Youth Choir from October 2007 to April 2008. He also works extensively in Music Theatre and is busy as a freelance singer. He is looking forward to conducting HGO’s forthcoming productions of Venus & Adonis/Dido & Aeneas (November 2009) and La Clemenza di Tito (April/May 2010).
Anne Marie Sheridan was born in Ireland and studied at the Conservatory of Music, Dublin, under the tutelage of Mary Brennan, where she graduated with a Bachelor of Music Performance with first class honours, and received the Paul McNamara gold medal for excellence in performance. For the Conservatory she sang First Lady (The Magic Flute) and Violetta (La Traviata). Other opera work includes First Mother in Jake Heggie’s Dead Man Walking and the Handmaiden in Puccini’s Turandot (Opera Ireland).
Gemma Swinard studied music at Florida State University earning a Bachelor of Arts in Music with a certificate in performance. She subsequently spent two years in France studying at the Strasbourg Conservatoire and learning French before returning to the UK . Gemma has performed as part of the chorus in university and professional productions of Falstaff, Cosi fan Tutte, Alceste and Don Giovanni. Gemma also performs regularly with the Blackheath Conservatoire at which she continues her vocal studies and with the Parliament Choir. She currently works full time as a Project Manager in the city and pursues singing for the fun of it! This is Gemma’s first production with the Hampstead Garden Opera.
Curzon Tussaud has sung chorus in: Porgy and Bess (Rattle), La Vida Breve , L'enfant et les Sortileges (Nagano & Previn), Oberon, The Rake's Progress, Peter Grimes, Troilus and Cressida (Hickox), Aida Act II (Elder); under Sir Colin Davis Samson et Dalilah, Carmen, Otello, Les Troyens, Peter Grimes, Falstaff, Benvenuto Cellini and Fidelio (the last five LSO Live recordings) Elektra (Gergiev): KSO Violanta, ETO/Young Vic's Tobias and the Angel, Opera London The Marriage of Figaro, Vox Lirika La Traviata, London Lyric Opera Der fliegende Holländer, and with HGO, Alcina, Evgeni Onegin, Susannah and Venus & Adonis and Dido & Aeneas. Films include The Death of Klinghoffer (Adams), Copying Beethoven, The Magic Flute (Branagh) and The Oxford Murders.
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