As the year draws to a close we're already thinking ahead to summer for Longborough Festival Opera 2017. As casting for the Festival continues, we’d like to share our latest exciting news for Thomas Guthrie and Ruth Paton’s The Magic Flute conducted by Anthony Negus.
Lead roles announced for The Magic Flute
Beate Mordal - Pamina
HER ACTING IS VARIED AND NUANCED; SHE WAS BREATHTAKING THROUGHOUT THE EVENING...SIMPLY STUNNING
Plays to See (Le nozze di Figaro, Longborough 2016)
Following her Longborough debut in 2016's Le nozze di Figaro, Beate makes a welcome return for The Magic Flute as Pamina. The Norwegian soprano trained at the Trondheim conservatory and the Royal Danish Opera Academy, and for 2017 is one of ten finalists in the Paris Opera Competition.
On Sunday 16 July the role of Pamina will be performed by soprano Samantha Clarke.
Julian Hubbard - Tamino
...TENOR JULIAN HUBBARD, WHOSE FAST VIBRATO SUITS THE RESTLESS, FEBRILE IMPULSES DRIVING THE CHARACTER FORWARD
Bachtrack (Olympia Theatre, Dublin 2014)
Julian Hubbard appeared at our 2016 Festival in Tannhäuser as 'a fine, lyrical Walther' (Classical Source). We welcome him back for 2017 in the role of Tamino in Mozart's The Magic Flute.
A graduate of the Royal College of Music and the National Opera Studio in London, Julian has made appearances for English National Opera, Théâtre Royal de La Monnaie in Brussels, Scottish Opera and Opera Holland Park.
Grant Doyle - Papageno
THE SINGING WAS UNIFORMLY EXCELLENT, WITH THE VOCAL HIGHLIGHTS COMING FROM GRANT DOYLE’S FIGARO
The Independent (Le nozze di Figaro, Longborough 2016)
Grant Doyle saw critical acclaim for his appearance in Le nozze di Figaro at Longborough in 2016. He returns in 2017 for the role of Papageno in Mozart's The Magic Flute.
Born in Adelaide, Grant has seen recent success with English Touring Opera; with other operatic appearances including the Royal Opera, Teatro Real Madrid, Komische Oper Berlin, Opera North, and Scottish Opera.
James Henshaw to conduct The Magic Flute on Sunday 16 July
James Henshaw is an up-and-coming young conductor, and the current chorus master at English National Opera. He has worked with the BBC National Orchestra of Wales and English Touring Opera, and is the Music Director of Ashtead Choral Society. He founded and runs his own orchestra in Notting Hill called The Outcry Ensemble, devoted to giving a world premiere at every concert.
James is our assistant conductor to Anthony Negus for The Magic Flute, and on Sunday 16 July he will take up the baton himself - don't miss the chance to see this future star conductor.