Category Archives: NEWS

Final Preparations for Reisopera’s new production of L’Orfeo

Well it’s been a very demanding and emotional six weeks here in Enschede for the Reisopera’s new production of L’Orfeo – putting all the various elements together for this quite audacious version of Monteverdi’s wonderful opera.  Tonight is the dress rehearsal and we open the tour on Saturday, in the Wilmink Theatre.  This show is a real labour of love and a totally collaborative project, incorporating contemporary movement (from both singers and dancers alike), an excellent vocal and dance cast, clear vision from Monique Wakemakers and choreographic wizardry from the force of nature that is Nanine Linning.  To top it all, a groundbreaking moving art installation above the stage courtesy of Studio Drift, which aims to mirror the emotion of the human soul.  There are photos and a mini-doc (below), there have been tears and there will doubtless be relief to get this beast of a show on the road!  Huge congrats to all involved, especially my esteemed stage colleagues.  It has been immense and we haven’t even started the run yet!  The show will apparently be properly be videoed for a closed channel, so watch this space for more information about that…

Samuel Boden as Orfeo: Reisopera, January 2020. Photo by Marco Borggreve
Samuel Boden as Orfeo: Reisopera, January 2020. Photo by Marco Borggreve
Samuel Boden as Orfeo: Reisopera, January 2020. Photo by Marco Borggreve
Samuel Boden as Orfeo: Reisopera, January 2020. Photo by Marco Borggreve
L’Orfeo: Reisopera, January 2020. Photo by Marco Borggreve
L’Orfeo: Reisopera, January 2020. Photo by Marco Borggreve
L’Orfeo: Reisopera, January 2020. Photo by Marco Borggreve
L’Orfeo: Reisopera, January 2020. Photo by Marco Borggreve
L’Orfeo: Reisopera, January 2020. Photo by Marco Borggreve

“Lessons in Love and Violence” nominated for an Olivier Award

George Benjamin’s Lessons in Love and Violence has been nominated for an Olivier Award in the category Best New Opera Production.

This darkly dramatic new opera was a major event in contemporary music – the latest collaboration between composer George Benjamin and playwright Martin Crimp. Conducted by Benjamin, the world premiere of Lessons in Love and Violence took place at the Royal Opera House in May 2018 and starred an internationally renowned cast including baritone Stéphane Degout as King Edward II, soprano Barbara Hannigan as Queen Isabel, baritone Gyula Orendt as Gaveston, tenor Peter Hoare as Mortimer and Samuel Boden as Boy / Young King.

London Performances – Tickets on Sale

Following a busy year of touring I am looking forward to working on a few projects in London:

Early Opera Company | Wigmore Hall | 8th December 2017

  • A festive concert featuring three of Charpentier’s most popular works.
  • Tickets on sale via the Wigmore Hall website.

Arcangelo | Wigmore Hall | 31st December 2017

  • Marking the countdown to the New Year with celebratory odes for St Cecilia’s Day – Henry Purcell’s Welcome to all the Pleasures of 1683 and John Blow’s Begin the Song of 1684 – and two rousing Gloria settings.
  • Tickets on sale via the Wigmore Hall website.

The Royal Opera | Roundhouse | January 2018

  • The Royal Opera returns to the Roundhouse with Monteverdi’s great late work The Return of Ulysses, in a new production directed by John Fulljames starring Christine Rice and Roderick Williams, sung in English.
  • The first performance is on Wednesday 10th January 2018 and tickets are now on sale and available via the ROH website.

Tickets have not yet gone on sale for Lessons in Love and Violence (ROH), general booking for which opens on 31st January 2018.

John Blow – An Ode on the Death of Mr Henry Purcell & other works

I am pleased to share the release date of a new Arcangelo CD recording to which I contributed: John Blow (1649-1708) – An Ode on the Death of Mr Henry Purcell & other works.  It is one of the few occasions when the Ode has been recorded with two high tenors, as Purcell had originally intended, rather than with countertenors, as is more common today.  We performed this wonderful and unique piece as part of the Les Arts Florissants’ “Dans Les Jardins de William Christie” festival in Thiré, France in 2014.

Directed by Jonathan Cohen, with Thomas Walker and myself as the tenor soloists, it is “an album of music for the connoisseur – of extraordinary singing as much as of the English Baroque repertoire.  This wonderful recital ranges widely across Blow’s vocal and instrumental music, Arcangelo again demonstrating their versatility in repertoire which will be a real discovery for many.”

The CD will be released by Hyperion Records on 29 September and is available now for pre-order on iTunes.

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