News

Music for Good Friday: Bach Mass in B Minor – Cancelled

According to The Ulster Orchestra’s website “[d]ue to the ongoing public health situation, Waterfront Hall and Ulster Hall are now closed until 17 April at least and therefore there will sadly be no Ulster Orchestra concerts for this period. Like you, we were looking forward to this great concert. However, we unfortunately won’t be in a position to reschedule and therefore it is with regret that this performance is cancelled.” More information can be found here: https://www.ulsterorchestra.org.uk/whats-on/bach-mass-in-b-minor/

Monteverdi ‘Maria Vespers’ Performances in New York Cancelled

I am saddened to report that all performances of Pygmalion’s Maria Vespers (Monteverdi) which were due to take place this month have been cancelled due to the COVID-19 global pandemic. I travelled to Paris on Tuesday last week to begin rehearsing the piece, which we were set to perform in a staged production in Park Avenue Amory in New York at the end of March. The first day of rehearsals went well, but on the morning of the second day’s rehearsals we received the news that Donald Trump had banned all flights from Europe to the USA for the next...

Carnegie Hall Debut

Following the release of the 2020-21 season from Carnegie Hall and Orchestra of Saint Lukes I am very pleased to confirm the date of my Carnegie Hall debut in March 2021 (cue the joke about getting there…but do bear in mind this is a question I am very likely to have to ask since I am blessed with a terrible sense of direction!). On 18th March 2021 Bernard Labadie conducts the Orchestra of St. Luke’s with Amanda Forsythe, Matthew Brook, myself and La Chapelle de Québec. The performance includes Handel’s Zadok the Priest, Music for the Royal Fireworks, The King Shall Rejoice and My...

L’Orfeo – Monteverdi – Nederlandse Reisopera

“The story of Orpheus in the underworld is about us all. We all have something of Orpheus in us. Who would not want to turn back the clock every now and then and stick to the happiness of the past? That is why the Orpheus story has always inspired artists of all times. For this staging, director Monique Wagemakers, choreographer Nanine Linning, designer Lonneke Gordijn from Studio Drift and fashion designer Marlou Breuls created L’ORFEO for the Nederlandse Reisopera. Their vision is that of a Gesamtkunstwerk; stage direction, choreography, sculpture, costume and music are completely merged together. Nanine Linning and...

Monteverdi: L’Orfeo – Nederlandse Reisopera

“Tenor Boden vigorously expresses his human recklessness.” Theaterkrant, 26th January 2020 “Tenor Samuel Boden is an intimate, convincing Orfeo…★★★★” NRC.nl, 26th January 2020 “The demanding title role was excellently played by tenor Samuel Boden. Assisted by Ego, he managed to put his changing moods in the spotlight. Beautifully sung, well acted.” Place de l’Opera, 27th January 2020 “The tenor Samuel Boden has a well-kept dictation and effortlessly sings the sometimes difficult twists that Monteverdi puts into his mouth. – Even when the choir lifts [him] up and carries [him] across the stage.” Cultureelpers Bureau, 27th January 2020 “Samuel Boden (Orfeo) makes a big...