PRESS RELEASE 26 January 2009 "Concert Opera in London has a new champion" - Neil Fisher, The Times London Lyric Opera is proud to present a concert performance of Beethoven's opera, Fidelio. Madeleine Lovell will conduct the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, the Philharmonia Chorus, Queens’ College Chapel Choir and a stunning cast of international soloists including; Elizabeth Connell as Leonore; Jeffrey Lloyd-Roberts as Florestan; superb young soprano, Rachel Nicholls, as Marzelline; Richard Wiegold as Rocco; Andrew Staples as Jaquino; James Hancock as Don Pizarro; Paul Goodwin-Groen as Don Fernando; Nicky Spence as First Prisoner; Aaron McAuley as Second Prisoner. Conducted by Madeleine Lovell, who at 30, is already carving out a major career in the UK, is celebrating her third concert engagement with the London Lyric Opera. Recently appointed Director of Music at Queen’s College Cambridge, a role specially created for her and was recently involved in BBC2’s Maestro programme. “ …the conducting of Madeleine Lovell was consistently sensitive and well judged” - Yehuda Shapiro in Opera Now Jan/Feb, Cycles, Cadogan Hall, September 2008 for LLO Starring the world-renowned dramatic soprano, Elizabeth Connell, in one of her signature roles, this performance provides an exciting opportunity to hear Ludwig van Beethoven's only opera, accompanied by a world-class orchestra in the beautiful surroundings of the Cadogan Hall, Chelsea. Tuesday 17 February 2009 at 7.30pm, Cadogan Hall www.cadoganhall.com Fidelio Opera in Two Acts Music by Ludwig van Beethoven Text in German by Joseph von Sonnleithner Madeleine Lovell Conductor Edward Caswell Chorus Master Royal Philharmonic Orchestra Philharmonia Chorus and Queens’ College Chapel Choir Sung in German with English surtitles Featuring a pre-concert talk by prize winning author and critic, David Cairns at 6.30pm A unique performance: • Played by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra of 44 players, one of the UK’s most prestigious orchestras • World famous Philharmonia Chorus joined by Queens College Chapel Choir will make a choir of 100 voices led by Philharmonia Chorus’ new Music Director, Edward Caswell • Semi Staged with Dramatic realisation by Director, Jane McCulloch An exceptional cast: We are thrilled to announce the casting of the internationally famous soprano, Elizabeth Connell, who will be singing one of her signature roles, Leonore. Her recent engagements include Brunnhilde, the Kostelnicka, Ortrud and Ariadne in Australia; Lohengrin, Fidelio and Isolde in Berlin; Senta in Hamburg and Berlin and Elektra in Berlin, Madrid, Bordeaux and Montreal and the Färberin in a new production of Die Frau ohne Schatten in Frankfurt. She recently jumped in to sing Turandot at ROH Covent Garden with great success. “Elizabeth Connell brings such a thrilling blend of power and refined grace to this role that it’s hard to imagine a finer performance; her voice soars, yet everywhere caresses the music.” - Sydney Sun Herald, Opera Australia, Ariadne auf Naxos 2004 For further information contact: James Hancock, Founder, London Lyric Opera T. 079 2126 6467 E. james@londonlyricopera.com Violetta Tosic, Company Manager, London Lyric Opera T. 077 9236 0028 E. violetta@londonlyricopera.com
www.londonlyricopera.com
Proudly sponsored by Wardour www.wardour.co.uk
Press Release | 26 January 2009 | continued…
She will be joined by exciting young tenor, Jeffrey Lloyd-Roberts, singing the pivotal role of the unjustly imprisoned, Florestan. Jeffrey recently sang the title role in Peter Grimes for Opera North garnering this review: "Jeffrey Lloyd-Roberts' Grimes is one of the finest of recent years - a man with the imagination of a poet in the body of a brutal, unthinking giant" - Tim Ashley, The Guardian. Peter Grimes, Jan 2008 British bass, Richard Wiegold, sings the role of the gaoler Rocco. This will be his debut in this important role: “And in a casting coup reminiscent of Russian dolls, bass Richard Wiegold's King Arkel is the most expansive overall, and yet his physical portrayal of dotage is shakily spot on” - National Post, Canada. Arkel – Canadian Opera Company 2008 Baritone, James Hancock, will sing Don Pizarro and received the following review for his performance at LLO’s Cycles: “James Hancock was the musical highlight of the evening …a distinguished performer” Denby Richards, Musical Opinion, 2008 Andrew Staples recently sang Jaquino at the Royal Opera House and received the following review for his Tamino at Holland Park: “There was a radiant Tamino from Andrew Staples, who seems a transformed presence on stage. You could hear the “Callow effect” in the punchy way that he and others delivered dialogue” - Richard Morrison, The Times, June 2008 We are delighted to have engaged critically acclaimed young British soprano, Rachel Nicholls, singing Marzelline: “...a wonderful, dreamy voice, whose haunting sound resonates in the memory.” - Echo: Ariadne auf Naxos, Royal Opera, Opernwelt 2005 American bass, Paul Goodwin-Groen, will be singing Don Fernando: "Paul Goodwin-Groen... a promising dramatic bass" - Anne Midgette, New York Times, Der Freischutz, Caspar 2007 Other exciting talent also involved in the concert is young English tenor, Nicky Spence, who will be singing the 1st Prisoner and devilishly witty comedian and author, Mark Steel, will pen an article for the programme. An engaged partner: Wardour “Creativity and a passion for perfection is at the heart of what we do,” says Martin MacConnol, CEO of Wardour, “so we welcomed the opportunity to support a company whose drive for excellence in their artistic field matches ours. We are both constantly striving to improve communication with our audiences – the LLO with words and music, Wardour with words and design – so the work we do with the LLO complements our own perfectly.” “Another feature which deserves the highest commendation is the printing of the flyers, posters etc, which are very pleasing and imaginative, by the Wardour company, as good as anything seen in London for years…” - John Amis, Musical Opinion, Jan/Feb 2009, The flying Dutchman, Barbican, November 2008 About the London Lyric Opera: LLO is a young company with ambitions to fill a niche in the UK opera scene by producing high quality concerts with the best available singers and musicians. Founder, James Hancock, and Principal Conductor, Lionel Friend, are deeply committed to producing operatic concert performances with the forces required by the score. Presently our focus is the German and English romantic repertory. Our partnerships with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and the Philharmonia Chorus enable LLO to aim for the highest standards. Our aim is to strive for an exciting and challenging concert experience that the London audiences will enjoy. For further information contact: James Hancock, Founder, London Lyric Opera T. 079 2126 6467 E. james@londonlyricopera.com Violetta Tosic, Company Manager, London Lyric Opera T. 077 9236 0028 E. violetta@londonlyricopera.com
www.londonlyricopera.com
Proudly sponsored by Wardour www.wardour.co.uk