Vocalists
Below can be found a list of soloists that Craig has recently collaborated and worked with. Further information on each can be found by clicking on links to the artists' own sites, where available.
Further information on various projects involving these artists can also be found in the projects section of this site, while information on instrumental soloists Craig has worked with can be found in the soloists section
Further information on various projects involving these artists can also be found in the projects section of this site, while information on instrumental soloists Craig has worked with can be found in the soloists section
Measha Brueggergosman
Canadian star soprano Measha began singing in the choir of her local Baptist church, and with the director of that choir, studied piano and voice from age seven. She is now one of the finest sopranos in the world. Measha studied at the University of Toronto (1995-9) and in her last year there, she played Madame Lindoine in the university's production of Dialogues des Carmélites, and at a masterclass caught the attention of Edith Wiens, with whom she pursued a masters degree in music at the Robert Schumann Hochschule in Dusseldorf, Germany. At age 20 Measha created a signature lead role in the premiere of the opera Beatrice Chancy by James Rolfe. Produced in Toronto in 1998, and in Nova Scotia in 1999, the opera portrayed the tale of a slave girl in 19th-century rural Nova Scotia who murdered her abusive father and master. The opera and Brueggergosman won praise from critics and audiences, and in 2000 it was filmed for CBC-TV.
Her career rapidly gained momentum, and her charisma, dramatic ability, mature musicianship and powerful voice have placed her in demand both in concert and on the operatic stage. She has appeared throughout Canada, and has performed with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, the Montreal Symphony Orchestra, the National Arts Centre Orchestra, and at Roy Thomson Hall. She has also sung for Queen Elizabeth II (2002), in the US at Carnegie Hall's Weill Recital Hall (2001), and in London at Royal Albert Hall (2003).
Brueggergosman's repertoire also expanded quickly; it includes Beethoven's Symphony No. 9; Britten's War Requiem; Dvorak's Te Deum; Janàček's Glagolitic Mass; Penderecki's Credo; Strauss’s Vier Letzte Lieder; Wagner's Wesendonck Lieder; and Verdi's Requiem, which she has performed in Germany with Helmuth Rilling (2001), in Ottawa (2001), in Toronto (2002-3), and in London (2003-4). In 2002 she was featured in Cincinnati Opera productions of Elektra, Jack Heggie's Dead Man Walking, and Turnadot. In addition, she has continued to develop her concert repertoire, often combining songs by Schumann, Ravel, Duparc, and Gershwin with her own arrangements of black spirituals. In 2003-4 she performed in recitals in Vancouver, Ottawa, Quebec, and Helskini, and made debuts at festivals in Tanglewood with the Boston Symphony Orchestra, and in Germany, Norway, and Edinburgh.
Measha has been the recipient of a number of national and international awards, including prizes at the Wigmore Hall International Song Competition in London (2001); Jeunesses Musicales Montreal Internation Competition (2002); Oslo's Queen Sonja International Music Competition (2003); and the ARD Music Competition (Munich, 2003). In 2002-3 she was awarded the prestigious Canada Council and Chalmers Performing Arts grants. Measha was featured in the CBC-TV documentary Spirit in Her Voice (2003). She sang on the Grammy-winning William Bolcom: Songs of Innocence and of Experience (2004, Naxos), and won a 2008 Juno award for the album Surprise (Deutsche Grammophon, 2007).
Measha has been a featured soloist at the Royal Nova Scotia International Tattoo on a number of occasions, most recently in 2007.
Her career rapidly gained momentum, and her charisma, dramatic ability, mature musicianship and powerful voice have placed her in demand both in concert and on the operatic stage. She has appeared throughout Canada, and has performed with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, the Montreal Symphony Orchestra, the National Arts Centre Orchestra, and at Roy Thomson Hall. She has also sung for Queen Elizabeth II (2002), in the US at Carnegie Hall's Weill Recital Hall (2001), and in London at Royal Albert Hall (2003).
Brueggergosman's repertoire also expanded quickly; it includes Beethoven's Symphony No. 9; Britten's War Requiem; Dvorak's Te Deum; Janàček's Glagolitic Mass; Penderecki's Credo; Strauss’s Vier Letzte Lieder; Wagner's Wesendonck Lieder; and Verdi's Requiem, which she has performed in Germany with Helmuth Rilling (2001), in Ottawa (2001), in Toronto (2002-3), and in London (2003-4). In 2002 she was featured in Cincinnati Opera productions of Elektra, Jack Heggie's Dead Man Walking, and Turnadot. In addition, she has continued to develop her concert repertoire, often combining songs by Schumann, Ravel, Duparc, and Gershwin with her own arrangements of black spirituals. In 2003-4 she performed in recitals in Vancouver, Ottawa, Quebec, and Helskini, and made debuts at festivals in Tanglewood with the Boston Symphony Orchestra, and in Germany, Norway, and Edinburgh.
Measha has been the recipient of a number of national and international awards, including prizes at the Wigmore Hall International Song Competition in London (2001); Jeunesses Musicales Montreal Internation Competition (2002); Oslo's Queen Sonja International Music Competition (2003); and the ARD Music Competition (Munich, 2003). In 2002-3 she was awarded the prestigious Canada Council and Chalmers Performing Arts grants. Measha was featured in the CBC-TV documentary Spirit in Her Voice (2003). She sang on the Grammy-winning William Bolcom: Songs of Innocence and of Experience (2004, Naxos), and won a 2008 Juno award for the album Surprise (Deutsche Grammophon, 2007).
Measha has been a featured soloist at the Royal Nova Scotia International Tattoo on a number of occasions, most recently in 2007.
Brenna Conrad
Brenna Conrad is a Canadian soprano. Hailing from Truro, Nova Scotia, she now resides in Toronto, Ontario.
Brenna has been a featured soloist of the Royal Nova Scotia International Tattoo on a number of occasions, including in 2012 where she sang the role of Christine in a Phantom of the Opera selection with Peter Karrie (pictured left), roles the duo reprised together with Craig in Hamburg, Germany later that year.
Craig also worked with Brenna at the Canadian Beating Retreat, Fortissimo, performing for crowds of tens of thousands on Parliament Hill, Ottawa.
Brenna has been a featured soloist of the Royal Nova Scotia International Tattoo on a number of occasions, including in 2012 where she sang the role of Christine in a Phantom of the Opera selection with Peter Karrie (pictured left), roles the duo reprised together with Craig in Hamburg, Germany later that year.
Craig also worked with Brenna at the Canadian Beating Retreat, Fortissimo, performing for crowds of tens of thousands on Parliament Hill, Ottawa.
Jason Davis
Canadian tenor Jason Davis is rapidly establishing himself as one of Canada’s brightest prospective tenor stars. He has been hailed by critics as “truly a fine tenor“ and “one of the most exciting new voices of his generation” possessing a voice of “tremendous beauty, color and power“. Stephen Pedersen of the Chronicle Herald has said "Jason Davis as Idomeneo sang splendidly with his powerful tenor in tones of grief and despair."
Mr. Davis began his vocal studies training as a lyric baritone earning a Bachelor of Music degree from Dalhousie University and an Artist’s Diploma in Opera Performance from the Hartt School of Music. He was the winner of numerous scholarships and competitions including the Hartt Talent Trust and Berkowitz scholarships as well as the Amici and New Hampshire vocal competitions. Upon completion of his degrees Mr. Davis pursued a transition into tenor repertoire in New York City under the guidance of renowned vocal teachers Marlena Malas, Arthur Levy and Metropolitan Opera Conductor Steven Crawford.
Mr. Davis made his operatic debut as a tenor with the Opera Theater of Connecticut in a 2005 production of Verdi’s Rigoletto to rave reviews and has continued to perform throughout Canada and the United States in various opera and concert repertoire. Recent performances for Mr. Davis have included performing as tenor soloist in Beethoven’s Missa Solemnis with the Dalhousie Orchestra. He performed the role of Idomeneo in Mozart’s Idomeneo for Opera Nova Scotia and also performed as a vocal soloist for the 2008 Royal Nova Scotia International Tattoo. During the 2009 season Mr. Davis performed the role of Tamino in Die Zauberflöte for Opera New Brunswick and sang as the tenor soloist in Bach’s Christmas Oratorio with Coro Collegium.
Craig has worked with Jason on a number of occasions in his capacity as a featured soloist of the Royal Nova Scotia International Tattoo.
Mr. Davis began his vocal studies training as a lyric baritone earning a Bachelor of Music degree from Dalhousie University and an Artist’s Diploma in Opera Performance from the Hartt School of Music. He was the winner of numerous scholarships and competitions including the Hartt Talent Trust and Berkowitz scholarships as well as the Amici and New Hampshire vocal competitions. Upon completion of his degrees Mr. Davis pursued a transition into tenor repertoire in New York City under the guidance of renowned vocal teachers Marlena Malas, Arthur Levy and Metropolitan Opera Conductor Steven Crawford.
Mr. Davis made his operatic debut as a tenor with the Opera Theater of Connecticut in a 2005 production of Verdi’s Rigoletto to rave reviews and has continued to perform throughout Canada and the United States in various opera and concert repertoire. Recent performances for Mr. Davis have included performing as tenor soloist in Beethoven’s Missa Solemnis with the Dalhousie Orchestra. He performed the role of Idomeneo in Mozart’s Idomeneo for Opera Nova Scotia and also performed as a vocal soloist for the 2008 Royal Nova Scotia International Tattoo. During the 2009 season Mr. Davis performed the role of Tamino in Die Zauberflöte for Opera New Brunswick and sang as the tenor soloist in Bach’s Christmas Oratorio with Coro Collegium.
Craig has worked with Jason on a number of occasions in his capacity as a featured soloist of the Royal Nova Scotia International Tattoo.
Rebecca Evans
Internationally renowned and grammy award winning soprano Rebecca was the featured soloist of the 2008 & 2010 Rhondda Fach Gala Concerts, at which Craig was the presenter / host. An internationally renowned Welsh soprano, originally hails from the village of Pontrhydyfen near Neath, South Wales.
She studied at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, and has performed regularly at the Welsh National Opera; the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden and Bayerische Staatsoper, Munich. She has established a major operatic career in America where she has sung Susanna (Le Nozze di Figaro) for the Santa Fe Opera; Adele (Die Fledermaus) for the Chicago Lyric Opera; Zerlina (Don Giovanni), Ann Trulove (The Rake’s Progress) and Adina (L'elisir d'amore) for San Francisco Opera; and both Susanna and Zerlina for the Metropolitan Opera, New York.
As a concert singer, she has appeared at the BBC Proms and the Edinburgh Festival; at a Gala Concert to celebrate the opening of the Welsh Assembly in the presence of the Queen and the Prince of Wales; and in Bremen with Andrea Bocelli and the London Philharmonic Orchestra.
Her recordings include Ilia (Idomeneo), Pamina (Die Zauberflöte) and Susanna (Marriage of Figaro) for Chandos, Nanetta (Falstaff) for Decca, and a solo recording of Italian songs for EMI. She has also recorded three principal soprano parts in Sir Charles Mackerras's Telarc series of Gilbert & Sullivan operettas: the Plaintiff in Trial by Jury, Mabel in The Pirates of Penzance and Josephine in H.M.S. Pinafore. She has also sung Belinda in the BBC film of Dido and Aeneas and hosted the BBC television series A Touch of Classics with the BBC National Orchestra of Wales. She was also a guest artist on the 2008 BBC2 series Maestro presented by Clive Anderson.
She is an Honorary Fellow of the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama and was awarded an Honorary Degree, Doctor of Music, from the University of Glamorgan in 1997. She is also Vice-president of the Welsh homelessness charity Shelter Cymru. In May 2009 Rebecca was awarded an honorary degree Doctor of Music from the University of Wales.
Further information on Rebecca can be found at www.askonasholt.co.uk
She studied at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, and has performed regularly at the Welsh National Opera; the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden and Bayerische Staatsoper, Munich. She has established a major operatic career in America where she has sung Susanna (Le Nozze di Figaro) for the Santa Fe Opera; Adele (Die Fledermaus) for the Chicago Lyric Opera; Zerlina (Don Giovanni), Ann Trulove (The Rake’s Progress) and Adina (L'elisir d'amore) for San Francisco Opera; and both Susanna and Zerlina for the Metropolitan Opera, New York.
As a concert singer, she has appeared at the BBC Proms and the Edinburgh Festival; at a Gala Concert to celebrate the opening of the Welsh Assembly in the presence of the Queen and the Prince of Wales; and in Bremen with Andrea Bocelli and the London Philharmonic Orchestra.
Her recordings include Ilia (Idomeneo), Pamina (Die Zauberflöte) and Susanna (Marriage of Figaro) for Chandos, Nanetta (Falstaff) for Decca, and a solo recording of Italian songs for EMI. She has also recorded three principal soprano parts in Sir Charles Mackerras's Telarc series of Gilbert & Sullivan operettas: the Plaintiff in Trial by Jury, Mabel in The Pirates of Penzance and Josephine in H.M.S. Pinafore. She has also sung Belinda in the BBC film of Dido and Aeneas and hosted the BBC television series A Touch of Classics with the BBC National Orchestra of Wales. She was also a guest artist on the 2008 BBC2 series Maestro presented by Clive Anderson.
She is an Honorary Fellow of the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama and was awarded an Honorary Degree, Doctor of Music, from the University of Glamorgan in 1997. She is also Vice-president of the Welsh homelessness charity Shelter Cymru. In May 2009 Rebecca was awarded an honorary degree Doctor of Music from the University of Wales.
Further information on Rebecca can be found at www.askonasholt.co.uk
Lesley Garrett
Lesley Garrett, CBE, is Britain’s most popular soprano, regularly appearing in both opera and in concert, on television and CD; she has won both critical acclaim and the affection of many fans and music lovers. As a recording artist, she has fourteen solo CDs to her credit; Soprano in Red received the Gramophone Award for 'Best-selling Classical Artist of the Year', Diva! A Soprano At The Movies, Prima Donna, Simple Gifts, Soprano in Red, Soprano in Hollywood, and I Will Wait for You all received silver discs and A Soprano Inspired and Lesley Garrett both achieved gold discs. She was also a featured artist on the platinum selling Perfect Day single released by the BBC in aid of Children in Need.
Lesley's major television appearances include Lesley Garrett…Tonight, The Lesley Garrett Show, The Singer, Sacred Songs and Lesley Garrett – Desert Dreams for the BBC. Other BBC television appearances have included the documentary Jobs for the Girls with Linda Robson and Pauline Quirke, Viva la Diva and The Lily Savage Show. Lesley was also the subject of a South Bank Show on LWT.
Lesley’s operatic career included early engagements at the Wexford Festival, Buxton Festival Welsh National Opera, Opera North, and Glyndebourne Festival Opera before joining English National Opera in 1984. During her time with ENO, Lesley starred in many productions and won critical acclaim for her portrayals of both comic and serious roles working with Sir Jonathan Miller, Nicholas Hytner, Richard Jones, Sir Charles Mackerras, David Alden, David Poutney, Sir Mark Elder and Graham Vick amongst others. Lesley made her Royal Opera debut in their production of The Merry Widow in 1997. She returned to the Coliseum in the spring of 2001 for a revival of her acclaimed Rosina in Rossini’s Barber of Seville, having first performed the role there in 1998.
Internationally Lesley has performed throughout Europe, the USA, Australia, Russia, Brazil, Japan, Malaysia, Taiwan and South Korea.
For Millennium Eve, Lesley sang opera and pop classics with Bryan Ferry, The Eurythmics and Mick Hucknall in the grounds of the Royal Observatory and National Maritime Museum in Greenwich to celebrate the arrival of the new century.
In 2000 her autobiography Notes from a Small Soprano was published by Hodder and Stoughton and during that year she appeared at the first-ever Classical Brit Awards, a gala fundraising concert and musical celebration for Dame Elizabeth Taylor and performed the very last Abide With Me at the 2000 FA Cup Final (prior to the closure of Wembley Stadium) in aid of the NSPCC. In 2003, Lesley joined the radio station, Classic FM as a weekly presenter.
In January 2004, Lesley took part in the inauguration ceremony for Cunard’s Queen Mary 2 before travelling to Australia for concerts at the renowned Leeuwin Winery with the West Australian Symphony Orchestra and guest artist, Anthony Warlow. She returned to Australia in 2005 for a concert tour with Anthony. Also in 2004 Lesley was invited to be one of the celebrity dancers on the first series of the BBC1 hit show Strictly Come Dancing, together with her professional dance partner, Anton Du Beke, she reached the semi-finals of the competition. In the autumn she sang the role of The Fox in Rachel Portman’s new opera, The Little Prince, which was filmed for BBC2 at the Royal Opera House, and took part in BBC1’s series Who Do You Think You Are? In February 2005 Lesley was invited to be one of the judges of the BBC’s Comic Relief Does Fame Academy and in May she both sang at and hosted the 2005 Classical Brit Awards, filmed at the Royal Albert Hall. In the autumn Lesley took the title role in Welsh National Opera’s new production of The Merry Widow which toured the UK. In spring 2006 Lesley joined ITV’s hit show Loose Women as a regular weekly guest and in the autumn she performed the role of the Mother Abbess in a new production at the London Palladium of The Sound of Music.
In autumn 2007 Lesley presented a new series for BBC1 Christmas Voices which returned to the BBC in autumn 2008 when she performed the role of Nettie in a new production of Carousel in the West End. In 2011, she returned to The Sound of Music for the final two weeks of the production. Earlier in the year, she co-presented a four part series for BBC1 celebrating the Royal Wedding called When Royals Wed with Larry Lamb and performed once again at the BBC Last Night of the Proms in Belfast. Lesley continues to perform regularly in concert with all the major UK orchestras including the Hallè Orchestra with Sir Mark Elder, the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and she has recently formed a new musical partnership with clarinettist Emma Johnson and pianist Andrew West.
Lesley was awarded a CBE in the 2002 New Year's Honours List for Services to Music and is a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Music and an RAM Governor.
Craig worked with Lesley in May 2013 where she was featured soloist of the annual Rhondda Fach Gala Concert. Further information on Lesley can be found at her official website www.lesleygarrett.co.uk
Lesley's major television appearances include Lesley Garrett…Tonight, The Lesley Garrett Show, The Singer, Sacred Songs and Lesley Garrett – Desert Dreams for the BBC. Other BBC television appearances have included the documentary Jobs for the Girls with Linda Robson and Pauline Quirke, Viva la Diva and The Lily Savage Show. Lesley was also the subject of a South Bank Show on LWT.
Lesley’s operatic career included early engagements at the Wexford Festival, Buxton Festival Welsh National Opera, Opera North, and Glyndebourne Festival Opera before joining English National Opera in 1984. During her time with ENO, Lesley starred in many productions and won critical acclaim for her portrayals of both comic and serious roles working with Sir Jonathan Miller, Nicholas Hytner, Richard Jones, Sir Charles Mackerras, David Alden, David Poutney, Sir Mark Elder and Graham Vick amongst others. Lesley made her Royal Opera debut in their production of The Merry Widow in 1997. She returned to the Coliseum in the spring of 2001 for a revival of her acclaimed Rosina in Rossini’s Barber of Seville, having first performed the role there in 1998.
Internationally Lesley has performed throughout Europe, the USA, Australia, Russia, Brazil, Japan, Malaysia, Taiwan and South Korea.
For Millennium Eve, Lesley sang opera and pop classics with Bryan Ferry, The Eurythmics and Mick Hucknall in the grounds of the Royal Observatory and National Maritime Museum in Greenwich to celebrate the arrival of the new century.
In 2000 her autobiography Notes from a Small Soprano was published by Hodder and Stoughton and during that year she appeared at the first-ever Classical Brit Awards, a gala fundraising concert and musical celebration for Dame Elizabeth Taylor and performed the very last Abide With Me at the 2000 FA Cup Final (prior to the closure of Wembley Stadium) in aid of the NSPCC. In 2003, Lesley joined the radio station, Classic FM as a weekly presenter.
In January 2004, Lesley took part in the inauguration ceremony for Cunard’s Queen Mary 2 before travelling to Australia for concerts at the renowned Leeuwin Winery with the West Australian Symphony Orchestra and guest artist, Anthony Warlow. She returned to Australia in 2005 for a concert tour with Anthony. Also in 2004 Lesley was invited to be one of the celebrity dancers on the first series of the BBC1 hit show Strictly Come Dancing, together with her professional dance partner, Anton Du Beke, she reached the semi-finals of the competition. In the autumn she sang the role of The Fox in Rachel Portman’s new opera, The Little Prince, which was filmed for BBC2 at the Royal Opera House, and took part in BBC1’s series Who Do You Think You Are? In February 2005 Lesley was invited to be one of the judges of the BBC’s Comic Relief Does Fame Academy and in May she both sang at and hosted the 2005 Classical Brit Awards, filmed at the Royal Albert Hall. In the autumn Lesley took the title role in Welsh National Opera’s new production of The Merry Widow which toured the UK. In spring 2006 Lesley joined ITV’s hit show Loose Women as a regular weekly guest and in the autumn she performed the role of the Mother Abbess in a new production at the London Palladium of The Sound of Music.
In autumn 2007 Lesley presented a new series for BBC1 Christmas Voices which returned to the BBC in autumn 2008 when she performed the role of Nettie in a new production of Carousel in the West End. In 2011, she returned to The Sound of Music for the final two weeks of the production. Earlier in the year, she co-presented a four part series for BBC1 celebrating the Royal Wedding called When Royals Wed with Larry Lamb and performed once again at the BBC Last Night of the Proms in Belfast. Lesley continues to perform regularly in concert with all the major UK orchestras including the Hallè Orchestra with Sir Mark Elder, the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and she has recently formed a new musical partnership with clarinettist Emma Johnson and pianist Andrew West.
Lesley was awarded a CBE in the 2002 New Year's Honours List for Services to Music and is a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Music and an RAM Governor.
Craig worked with Lesley in May 2013 where she was featured soloist of the annual Rhondda Fach Gala Concert. Further information on Lesley can be found at her official website www.lesleygarrett.co.uk
Lesley Garrett
Lesley Garrett, CBE, is Britain’s most popular soprano, regularly appearing in both opera and in concert, on television and CD; she has won both critical acclaim and the affection of many fans and music lovers. As a recording artist, she has fourteen solo CDs to her credit; Soprano in Red received the Gramophone Award for 'Best-selling Classical Artist of the Year', Diva! A Soprano At The Movies, Prima Donna, Simple Gifts, Soprano in Red, Soprano in Hollywood, and I Will Wait for You all received silver discs and A Soprano Inspired and Lesley Garrett both achieved gold discs. She was also a featured artist on the platinum selling Perfect Day single released by the BBC in aid of Children in Need.
Lesley's major television appearances include Lesley Garrett…Tonight, The Lesley Garrett Show, The Singer, Sacred Songs and Lesley Garrett – Desert Dreams for the BBC. Other BBC television appearances have included the documentary Jobs for the Girls with Linda Robson and Pauline Quirke, Viva la Diva and The Lily Savage Show. Lesley was also the subject of a South Bank Show on LWT.
Lesley’s operatic career included early engagements at the Wexford Festival, Buxton Festival Welsh National Opera, Opera North, and Glyndebourne Festival Opera before joining English National Opera in 1984. During her time with ENO, Lesley starred in many productions and won critical acclaim for her portrayals of both comic and serious roles working with Sir Jonathan Miller, Nicholas Hytner, Richard Jones, Sir Charles Mackerras, David Alden, David Poutney, Sir Mark Elder and Graham Vick amongst others. Lesley made her Royal Opera debut in their production of The Merry Widow in 1997. She returned to the Coliseum in the spring of 2001 for a revival of her acclaimed Rosina in Rossini’s Barber of Seville, having first performed the role there in 1998.
Internationally Lesley has performed throughout Europe, the USA, Australia, Russia, Brazil, Japan, Malaysia, Taiwan and South Korea.
For Millennium Eve, Lesley sang opera and pop classics with Bryan Ferry, The Eurythmics and Mick Hucknall in the grounds of the Royal Observatory and National Maritime Museum in Greenwich to celebrate the arrival of the new century.
In 2000 her autobiography Notes from a Small Soprano was published by Hodder and Stoughton and during that year she appeared at the first-ever Classical Brit Awards, a gala fundraising concert and musical celebration for Dame Elizabeth Taylor and performed the very last Abide With Me at the 2000 FA Cup Final (prior to the closure of Wembley Stadium) in aid of the NSPCC. In 2003, Lesley joined the radio station, Classic FM as a weekly presenter.
In January 2004, Lesley took part in the inauguration ceremony for Cunard’s Queen Mary 2 before travelling to Australia for concerts at the renowned Leeuwin Winery with the West Australian Symphony Orchestra and guest artist, Anthony Warlow. She returned to Australia in 2005 for a concert tour with Anthony. Also in 2004 Lesley was invited to be one of the celebrity dancers on the first series of the BBC1 hit show Strictly Come Dancing, together with her professional dance partner, Anton Du Beke, she reached the semi-finals of the competition. In the autumn she sang the role of The Fox in Rachel Portman’s new opera, The Little Prince, which was filmed for BBC2 at the Royal Opera House, and took part in BBC1’s series Who Do You Think You Are? In February 2005 Lesley was invited to be one of the judges of the BBC’s Comic Relief Does Fame Academy and in May she both sang at and hosted the 2005 Classical Brit Awards, filmed at the Royal Albert Hall. In the autumn Lesley took the title role in Welsh National Opera’s new production of The Merry Widow which toured the UK. In spring 2006 Lesley joined ITV’s hit show Loose Women as a regular weekly guest and in the autumn she performed the role of the Mother Abbess in a new production at the London Palladium of The Sound of Music.
In autumn 2007 Lesley presented a new series for BBC1 Christmas Voices which returned to the BBC in autumn 2008 when she performed the role of Nettie in a new production of Carousel in the West End. In 2011, she returned to The Sound of Music for the final two weeks of the production. Earlier in the year, she co-presented a four part series for BBC1 celebrating the Royal Wedding called When Royals Wed with Larry Lamb and performed once again at the BBC Last Night of the Proms in Belfast. Lesley continues to perform regularly in concert with all the major UK orchestras including the Hallè Orchestra with Sir Mark Elder, the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and she has recently formed a new musical partnership with clarinettist Emma Johnson and pianist Andrew West.
Lesley was awarded a CBE in the 2002 New Year's Honours List for Services to Music and is a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Music and an RAM Governor.
Craig worked with Lesley in May 2013 where she was featured soloist of the annual Rhondda Fach Gala Concert. Further information on Lesley can be found at her official website www.lesleygarrett.co.uk
Lesley's major television appearances include Lesley Garrett…Tonight, The Lesley Garrett Show, The Singer, Sacred Songs and Lesley Garrett – Desert Dreams for the BBC. Other BBC television appearances have included the documentary Jobs for the Girls with Linda Robson and Pauline Quirke, Viva la Diva and The Lily Savage Show. Lesley was also the subject of a South Bank Show on LWT.
Lesley’s operatic career included early engagements at the Wexford Festival, Buxton Festival Welsh National Opera, Opera North, and Glyndebourne Festival Opera before joining English National Opera in 1984. During her time with ENO, Lesley starred in many productions and won critical acclaim for her portrayals of both comic and serious roles working with Sir Jonathan Miller, Nicholas Hytner, Richard Jones, Sir Charles Mackerras, David Alden, David Poutney, Sir Mark Elder and Graham Vick amongst others. Lesley made her Royal Opera debut in their production of The Merry Widow in 1997. She returned to the Coliseum in the spring of 2001 for a revival of her acclaimed Rosina in Rossini’s Barber of Seville, having first performed the role there in 1998.
Internationally Lesley has performed throughout Europe, the USA, Australia, Russia, Brazil, Japan, Malaysia, Taiwan and South Korea.
For Millennium Eve, Lesley sang opera and pop classics with Bryan Ferry, The Eurythmics and Mick Hucknall in the grounds of the Royal Observatory and National Maritime Museum in Greenwich to celebrate the arrival of the new century.
In 2000 her autobiography Notes from a Small Soprano was published by Hodder and Stoughton and during that year she appeared at the first-ever Classical Brit Awards, a gala fundraising concert and musical celebration for Dame Elizabeth Taylor and performed the very last Abide With Me at the 2000 FA Cup Final (prior to the closure of Wembley Stadium) in aid of the NSPCC. In 2003, Lesley joined the radio station, Classic FM as a weekly presenter.
In January 2004, Lesley took part in the inauguration ceremony for Cunard’s Queen Mary 2 before travelling to Australia for concerts at the renowned Leeuwin Winery with the West Australian Symphony Orchestra and guest artist, Anthony Warlow. She returned to Australia in 2005 for a concert tour with Anthony. Also in 2004 Lesley was invited to be one of the celebrity dancers on the first series of the BBC1 hit show Strictly Come Dancing, together with her professional dance partner, Anton Du Beke, she reached the semi-finals of the competition. In the autumn she sang the role of The Fox in Rachel Portman’s new opera, The Little Prince, which was filmed for BBC2 at the Royal Opera House, and took part in BBC1’s series Who Do You Think You Are? In February 2005 Lesley was invited to be one of the judges of the BBC’s Comic Relief Does Fame Academy and in May she both sang at and hosted the 2005 Classical Brit Awards, filmed at the Royal Albert Hall. In the autumn Lesley took the title role in Welsh National Opera’s new production of The Merry Widow which toured the UK. In spring 2006 Lesley joined ITV’s hit show Loose Women as a regular weekly guest and in the autumn she performed the role of the Mother Abbess in a new production at the London Palladium of The Sound of Music.
In autumn 2007 Lesley presented a new series for BBC1 Christmas Voices which returned to the BBC in autumn 2008 when she performed the role of Nettie in a new production of Carousel in the West End. In 2011, she returned to The Sound of Music for the final two weeks of the production. Earlier in the year, she co-presented a four part series for BBC1 celebrating the Royal Wedding called When Royals Wed with Larry Lamb and performed once again at the BBC Last Night of the Proms in Belfast. Lesley continues to perform regularly in concert with all the major UK orchestras including the Hallè Orchestra with Sir Mark Elder, the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and she has recently formed a new musical partnership with clarinettist Emma Johnson and pianist Andrew West.
Lesley was awarded a CBE in the 2002 New Year's Honours List for Services to Music and is a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Music and an RAM Governor.
Craig worked with Lesley in May 2013 where she was featured soloist of the annual Rhondda Fach Gala Concert. Further information on Lesley can be found at her official website www.lesleygarrett.co.uk
Beverley Humphreys
Songstress and Presenter Beverley has been a firm favourite with audiences and listeners across Wales for a generation. Craig has had the pleasure of working with Beverley on many occasions, perhaps most notably on the performances they presented to commemorate the 60th anniversary of D-Day and VE Day in 2004/05, in which Beverley was also a featured soloist
Beverley can be heard regularly on BBC Radio Wales, previously on her 'Showtime' musical theatre programme, and now on her wide ranging Sunday evening show "Beverley's World of Music".
Further information on Beverley and her extraordinary career can be found at her own website www.beverleyhumphreys.com
Beverley can be heard regularly on BBC Radio Wales, previously on her 'Showtime' musical theatre programme, and now on her wide ranging Sunday evening show "Beverley's World of Music".
Further information on Beverley and her extraordinary career can be found at her own website www.beverleyhumphreys.com
John Owen Jones
John Owen Jones is a Welsh musical theatre actor and one of the UK's finest leading men. He is best known for his portrayals of Jean Valjean in Les Miserables and the Phantom in Andrew Lloyd Webber's Phantom of the Opera.
He recently appeared as Valjean on the 25th Anniversary Tour of Les Misérables and followed that by reprising his role as The Phantom in London.
Craig had the pleasure of working with John at the 2009 Rhondda Fach Gala Concert, where John was the featured soloist alongside now fellow phantom performer Katy Treharne.
Further information on John can be found at his official site www.johnowenjones.com
He recently appeared as Valjean on the 25th Anniversary Tour of Les Misérables and followed that by reprising his role as The Phantom in London.
Craig had the pleasure of working with John at the 2009 Rhondda Fach Gala Concert, where John was the featured soloist alongside now fellow phantom performer Katy Treharne.
Further information on John can be found at his official site www.johnowenjones.com
Peter Karrie
Peter Karrie has played the role of the Phantom of the Opera on more occasions than any other actor, some 2700 occasions in total in London, Toronto, Hong Kong, Singapore and Vancouver. He also played Judas in Jesus Christ Superstar, Jean Valjean (for three and a half years) in Les Miserables, and originated the role of Che in Evita.
Craig worked with Peter on numerous occasions, including three Welsh Brass Arts Festival events, plus two gala concerts for Bobath Cymru at St David's Hall, Cardiff in 2008 & 2013.
In 2011, performing with Craig, Peter was a featured soloist of the Mediterranean International Festival of Arts in Crete, Greece. In 2012 he then performed to 20 000 people in Matala, Crete; 60 000 people at Canada's Royal Nova Scotia International Tattoo; and 16 000 people in Hamburg, Germany. The duo then lead 180 000 audience and performers for the nationwide "Bandstand Marathon", the closing event of the London 2012 Olympic Park. In 2013, Craig also worked with Peter on the first stage of his musical "Rasputin, Ripples to Revolution".
Further information on Peter Karrie can be found his own website www.peterkarrie.com
Craig worked with Peter on numerous occasions, including three Welsh Brass Arts Festival events, plus two gala concerts for Bobath Cymru at St David's Hall, Cardiff in 2008 & 2013.
In 2011, performing with Craig, Peter was a featured soloist of the Mediterranean International Festival of Arts in Crete, Greece. In 2012 he then performed to 20 000 people in Matala, Crete; 60 000 people at Canada's Royal Nova Scotia International Tattoo; and 16 000 people in Hamburg, Germany. The duo then lead 180 000 audience and performers for the nationwide "Bandstand Marathon", the closing event of the London 2012 Olympic Park. In 2013, Craig also worked with Peter on the first stage of his musical "Rasputin, Ripples to Revolution".
Further information on Peter Karrie can be found his own website www.peterkarrie.com
Denise Leigh
Denise was a featured soloist of the inaugural Welsh Brass Arts Festival in 2001. Recommended to Craig by their mutual tutor Clare Hogan-Taylor, blind soprano Denise enjoyed enormous success at the first of the festival events.
One year later Denise went on to win Channel 4 television's Operatunity and has enjoyed huge success ever since. Denise also returned to perform again with Craig at the 2004 Welsh Brass Arts Festival. In August 2012 she was the featured soloist of the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Paralympic Games.
Further information on Denise can be found at her own website www.deniseleigh.com
One year later Denise went on to win Channel 4 television's Operatunity and has enjoyed huge success ever since. Denise also returned to perform again with Craig at the 2004 Welsh Brass Arts Festival. In August 2012 she was the featured soloist of the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Paralympic Games.
Further information on Denise can be found at her own website www.deniseleigh.com
Robyn Lyn
Robyn Lyn Evans was born in Ceredigion, Mid Wales and is a graduate of Trinity College Carmarthen where he was awarded the Stuart Burrows bursary and a postgraduate of the Royal College of Music, London.
Robyn’s career started at a young age in the Eisteddfod competitions of Wales. Through the years, competition highlights have been the National Eisteddfod of Wales scholarship 1998; International Young Singer of the Year Llangollen International Eisteddfod 1999; National Eisteddfod of Wales Osborne Roberts Memorial Prize 2000 and Lampeter Eisteddfod Blue Riband; ‘best tenor’ prize National Mozart Competition 2000 & 2001; runner-up in the W Towyn Roberts Memorial Scholarship 2001 National Eisteddfod of Wales; finalist of London Welsh Society Singer of the Year 2005 and winner of the David Ellis Memorial Prize 2007 (Blue Riband) at the Flint National Eisteddfod of Wales 2007.
Since graduating from the RCM, he has been successfully following and fulfilling a full-time singing career.
Operatic rôles to date include Il Duca, Rigoletto and Dr Blind, Die Fledermaus (Pavilion Opera); Tebaldo cover, I Capuleti e I Montecchi (Opera North), Gérald, Lakmé and Prince, Rusalka (Opera School Wales); Ferrando, Cosí fan tutte (Hand Made Opera); Alfredo, Die Fledermaus (Bristol Opera); Abdullah, Nabucco (Burry Port Opera) and 1st Soldier, L’incoronazzione di Poppea (Benjamin Britten International Opera School).
Concert performances include Don José, Carmen, Tony, West Side Story, Marco, The Gondoliers and numerous performances from the oratorio repertoire of Bach, Gounod, Handel, Haydn, Jenkins, Maunder, Mendelssohn, Mozart, Puccini, Rossini, Saint-Saëns, Schumann, Stainer, Verdi, Vivaldi and Weber.
He is a regular on the concert platform with performances taking him to the Royal Philharmonic Hall Liverpool, Usher Hall Edinburgh, St David’s Hall Cardiff, the Cathedrals of Gloucester, Worcester, Llandaff and St Davids and as guest soloist with choirs touring Europe. In addition, he can frequently be heard on radio and television as a performer as well as a vocal commentator for BBC Cymru Television and BBC Radio Cymru (Wales).
Craig first worked with Robyn in December 2009, and again in 2010 when Robyn was the lead artist in the multidimensional arts project The Red Lady of Paviland, further information on which can be found in the projects section of this site. Robyn was also a featured soloist of the 2016 Welsh Proms Cymru performance of the Verdi Requiem
Robyn’s career started at a young age in the Eisteddfod competitions of Wales. Through the years, competition highlights have been the National Eisteddfod of Wales scholarship 1998; International Young Singer of the Year Llangollen International Eisteddfod 1999; National Eisteddfod of Wales Osborne Roberts Memorial Prize 2000 and Lampeter Eisteddfod Blue Riband; ‘best tenor’ prize National Mozart Competition 2000 & 2001; runner-up in the W Towyn Roberts Memorial Scholarship 2001 National Eisteddfod of Wales; finalist of London Welsh Society Singer of the Year 2005 and winner of the David Ellis Memorial Prize 2007 (Blue Riband) at the Flint National Eisteddfod of Wales 2007.
Since graduating from the RCM, he has been successfully following and fulfilling a full-time singing career.
Operatic rôles to date include Il Duca, Rigoletto and Dr Blind, Die Fledermaus (Pavilion Opera); Tebaldo cover, I Capuleti e I Montecchi (Opera North), Gérald, Lakmé and Prince, Rusalka (Opera School Wales); Ferrando, Cosí fan tutte (Hand Made Opera); Alfredo, Die Fledermaus (Bristol Opera); Abdullah, Nabucco (Burry Port Opera) and 1st Soldier, L’incoronazzione di Poppea (Benjamin Britten International Opera School).
Concert performances include Don José, Carmen, Tony, West Side Story, Marco, The Gondoliers and numerous performances from the oratorio repertoire of Bach, Gounod, Handel, Haydn, Jenkins, Maunder, Mendelssohn, Mozart, Puccini, Rossini, Saint-Saëns, Schumann, Stainer, Verdi, Vivaldi and Weber.
He is a regular on the concert platform with performances taking him to the Royal Philharmonic Hall Liverpool, Usher Hall Edinburgh, St David’s Hall Cardiff, the Cathedrals of Gloucester, Worcester, Llandaff and St Davids and as guest soloist with choirs touring Europe. In addition, he can frequently be heard on radio and television as a performer as well as a vocal commentator for BBC Cymru Television and BBC Radio Cymru (Wales).
Craig first worked with Robyn in December 2009, and again in 2010 when Robyn was the lead artist in the multidimensional arts project The Red Lady of Paviland, further information on which can be found in the projects section of this site. Robyn was also a featured soloist of the 2016 Welsh Proms Cymru performance of the Verdi Requiem
Gareth Rhys-Davies
Gareth Rhys-Davies studied at the Welsh College of Music and Drama, the Welsh National Opera Training Scheme and the Royal College of Music. With Welsh National Opera, he performed in excess of fifty roles including Guglielmo [Così fan tutte], Marchese [La Traviata], Marullo [Rigoletto], Benoit [La Boheme], Dancaire [Carmen], Morales [Carmen], Counsel [Trial by Jury], Sir Richard [The Yeomen of The Guard] which he also recorded with Sir Charles Mackerras, Fléville [Andrea Chenier], Mandarin [Turandot], Yamadori [Madama Butterfly], Wagner [Faust], Angelotti [Tosca], Antonio [Le Nozze di Figaro], Zaretsky [Eugene Onegin], Shchelkalov [Boris Godunov], Schaunard [La Boheme], which was televised on S4C, and Paolo [Simon Boccanegra].
His engagements with Scottish Opera include Yamadori [Madama Butterfly], Ford [Falstaff], Geronimo [Secret Marriage]. For English National Opera, he has performed the roles of Escamillo [Carmen] and Sharpless [Madam Butterfly] and, in the current season, has performed the role of Germont [La Traviata] with Scottish Opera.
Throughout his career, Gareth has been involved in vocal tuition, with a special interest in bel canto technique and nurturing young voices. He is a vocal tutor at both the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama and Cardiff University.
Craig worked with Gareth on the 2006 Electric Brass project, where Gareth was the central soloist in the premiere performance of Andrew Powell's Tair Cerdd Sanctaidd. The performance also featured harpist Catrin Finch, Only Men Aloud and the Parc & Dare Band and was conducted by Craig
His engagements with Scottish Opera include Yamadori [Madama Butterfly], Ford [Falstaff], Geronimo [Secret Marriage]. For English National Opera, he has performed the roles of Escamillo [Carmen] and Sharpless [Madam Butterfly] and, in the current season, has performed the role of Germont [La Traviata] with Scottish Opera.
Throughout his career, Gareth has been involved in vocal tuition, with a special interest in bel canto technique and nurturing young voices. He is a vocal tutor at both the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama and Cardiff University.
Craig worked with Gareth on the 2006 Electric Brass project, where Gareth was the central soloist in the premiere performance of Andrew Powell's Tair Cerdd Sanctaidd. The performance also featured harpist Catrin Finch, Only Men Aloud and the Parc & Dare Band and was conducted by Craig
Natalya Romaniw
Award-winning Welsh soprano Natalya Romaniw was born in Swansea and owes her surname to her Ukrainian grandfather, who settled in Wales during the Second World War.
Natalya studied at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama where she was awarded the prestigious Gold Medal in her final year.
In 2012 Natalya was the first ever recipient of both the Loveday Song Prize and first prize at the prestigious Kathleen Ferrier Awards, also that year Natalya won second prize at the Eleanor McCollum Competition in the USA. Subsequent awards include the Clonter Opera Prize, London Welsh Singer and the Welsh Singers competitions. In 2009 Natalya represented Wales in the BBC Cardiff Singer of the World competition, where she was a Song Prize finalist. Last season Natalya was nominated for the Times Breakthrough category at the South Bank Sky Arts Awards.
Natalya graduated from the Houston Grand Opera Studio in 2014, where her roles included Mimi La Bohème, Ines Il Trovatore, Rosalinde Die Fledermaus, Micaela Carmen and Krystina The Passenger, with performances at the Lincoln Center in New York. She received unanimous critical acclaim for her outstanding portrayal of Tatyana in Tchaikovsky’s Eugene Onegin for Garsington Opera which was closely followed by her debut as Lisa Queen of Spades in a return to Opera Holland Park. Last season Natalya made her company debut in the title role of Jenufa for Grange Park Opera, for the inaugural season of their new Theatre in the Woods at West Horsley Place. She also stepped in to sing Cio cio San in a performance of Madama Butterfly, her debut in the role and her company debut for Welsh National Opera. Further appearances include Governess The Turn of the Screw for Glyndebourne on Tour, Maliella I Gioielli della Madonna and Fiora in Montemezzi’s L’amore dei tre re for Opera Holland Park, Woglinde in a concert performance of excerpts from Das Rheingold with the London Philharmonic Orchestra at the Royal Festival Hall, and a return to Houston Grand Opera as Ortlinde in Die Walküre. Natalya made her European debut as Suzel in L’amico Fritz for Den Jyske Opera, and an impressive company debut with Scottish Opera as the Foreign Princess Rusalka.
In concert, recent engagements include a return to Scottish Opera as Suzel L’amico Fritz as part of their ‘Sunday Series’; BeethovenSymphony No. 9 with the Hallé and Sir Mark Elder, an operatic movie gala – also with the Hallé under Stephen Bell; Glagolitic Mass at the Three Choirs Festival; a performance with the Royal Northern Sinfonia for the Sage Gateshead Summer Prom; a series of Viennese Gala concerts with the Royal Scottish National Orchestra, and opera gala performances for the Hallé and CBSO Orchestras.
In 2017-18 season, Natalya will sing Tatyana Eugene Onegin in her house debut with Welsh National Opera, and in a new production for Scottish Opera. Concert appearances incude Mahler Symphony No. 2 with the Hallé Orchestra, and return to the Sage Gateshead for Beethoven Symphony No. 9 and will join the CBSO for a gala concert.
Natalya was the featured soloist of the series of Brass Tracks movie music performances undertaken by Craig in partnership with composer / orchestrator Leigh Phillips and silent movie expert / composer Paul Shallcross in 2005. Natalya was featured in a number of works specially arranged for her by Leigh, which included David Arnold's Surrender (the unused theme from the hit Bond movie Tomorrow Never Dies), Gollum's Song (from Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers), James Horner's stunning theme from A Beautiful Mind, and May It Be (from Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring). Further information on the Brass Tracks project can be found here Further information on Natalya can be found at www.natalyaannaromaniw.com
Natalya studied at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama where she was awarded the prestigious Gold Medal in her final year.
In 2012 Natalya was the first ever recipient of both the Loveday Song Prize and first prize at the prestigious Kathleen Ferrier Awards, also that year Natalya won second prize at the Eleanor McCollum Competition in the USA. Subsequent awards include the Clonter Opera Prize, London Welsh Singer and the Welsh Singers competitions. In 2009 Natalya represented Wales in the BBC Cardiff Singer of the World competition, where she was a Song Prize finalist. Last season Natalya was nominated for the Times Breakthrough category at the South Bank Sky Arts Awards.
Natalya graduated from the Houston Grand Opera Studio in 2014, where her roles included Mimi La Bohème, Ines Il Trovatore, Rosalinde Die Fledermaus, Micaela Carmen and Krystina The Passenger, with performances at the Lincoln Center in New York. She received unanimous critical acclaim for her outstanding portrayal of Tatyana in Tchaikovsky’s Eugene Onegin for Garsington Opera which was closely followed by her debut as Lisa Queen of Spades in a return to Opera Holland Park. Last season Natalya made her company debut in the title role of Jenufa for Grange Park Opera, for the inaugural season of their new Theatre in the Woods at West Horsley Place. She also stepped in to sing Cio cio San in a performance of Madama Butterfly, her debut in the role and her company debut for Welsh National Opera. Further appearances include Governess The Turn of the Screw for Glyndebourne on Tour, Maliella I Gioielli della Madonna and Fiora in Montemezzi’s L’amore dei tre re for Opera Holland Park, Woglinde in a concert performance of excerpts from Das Rheingold with the London Philharmonic Orchestra at the Royal Festival Hall, and a return to Houston Grand Opera as Ortlinde in Die Walküre. Natalya made her European debut as Suzel in L’amico Fritz for Den Jyske Opera, and an impressive company debut with Scottish Opera as the Foreign Princess Rusalka.
In concert, recent engagements include a return to Scottish Opera as Suzel L’amico Fritz as part of their ‘Sunday Series’; BeethovenSymphony No. 9 with the Hallé and Sir Mark Elder, an operatic movie gala – also with the Hallé under Stephen Bell; Glagolitic Mass at the Three Choirs Festival; a performance with the Royal Northern Sinfonia for the Sage Gateshead Summer Prom; a series of Viennese Gala concerts with the Royal Scottish National Orchestra, and opera gala performances for the Hallé and CBSO Orchestras.
In 2017-18 season, Natalya will sing Tatyana Eugene Onegin in her house debut with Welsh National Opera, and in a new production for Scottish Opera. Concert appearances incude Mahler Symphony No. 2 with the Hallé Orchestra, and return to the Sage Gateshead for Beethoven Symphony No. 9 and will join the CBSO for a gala concert.
Natalya was the featured soloist of the series of Brass Tracks movie music performances undertaken by Craig in partnership with composer / orchestrator Leigh Phillips and silent movie expert / composer Paul Shallcross in 2005. Natalya was featured in a number of works specially arranged for her by Leigh, which included David Arnold's Surrender (the unused theme from the hit Bond movie Tomorrow Never Dies), Gollum's Song (from Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers), James Horner's stunning theme from A Beautiful Mind, and May It Be (from Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring). Further information on the Brass Tracks project can be found here Further information on Natalya can be found at www.natalyaannaromaniw.com
Sir Bryn Terfel
Welsh bass-baritone Sir Bryn Terfel has established an extraordinary career, performing regularly on the prestigious concert stages and opera houses of the World, including the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden; the Metropolitan Opera, New York; Opéra National de Paris; Teatro Alla Scala and Zürich Opera. Roles for which he is most noted include Falstaff,Dulcamara, Wotan and Holländer. Recent additions to his repertoire include Reb Tevye, Boris Godunov and Sweeney Todd.
After winning the Song Prize at the 1989 BBC Cardiff Singer of the World, Sir Bryn made his professional operatic début in 1990 as Guglielmo in Così fan tutte with Welsh National Opera. He made his international operatic début in 1991 as Speaker in Die Zauberflöte at the Théâtre de la Monnaie, Brussels and made his American début in the same year as Figaro with Santa Fe Opera. Other roles performed during his career include Méphistophélès in Faust; both the Title Role and Leporello in Don Giovanni; Jochanaan in Salome; Scarpia in Tosca; the Title Role in Gianni Schicchi; Nick Shadow in The Rake’s Progress; Wolfram in Tannhäuser;Balstrode in Peter Grimes; Four Villains in Les contes d’Hoffmann and Hans Sachs in Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg.
Sir Bryn marked his 50th birthday and twenty five years in the profession with a special one-off Gala Concert at the Royal Albert Hall, presented by Hollywood star Michael Sheen. The celebrations continued at Cardiff’s Wales Millennium Centre, where he sang Scarpia in a special concert performance of Tosca with the Welsh National Opera. Recent performances include Scarpia in Paris and Berlin, Hans Sachs in Kasper Holten’s new production of Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg for the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden and Dulcamara in Elisir D’amore for Vienna State Opera.
In the 2017/18 season, he will perform Falstaff in Paris; Scarpia in Tosca at the Metropolitan Opera House, New York and Holländer in Der fliegende Holländer with Zurich Opera.
Operatic highlights include his début in the role of Hans Sachs in the critically acclaimed production of Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg for Welsh National Opera; Wotan in The Ring Cycle at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden and the Metropolitan Opera, New York; his début in the role of Reb Tevye in Fiddler on the Roof for Grange Park Opera and his début in the role of Boris Godunov for the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden; the Title Role in Sweeney Todd for English National Opera and hosting a four day festival, Brynfest, at the Southbank Centre, London as part of the Southbank Centre’s Festival of the World.
An acclaimed recitalist, he is equally renowned for his versatility as a concert performer with highlights ranging from the opening ceremony of the Wales Millennium Centre, BBC Last Night of the Proms, and the Royal Variety Show to a Gala Concert with Andrea Bocelli in Central Park, New York. He made his début in concert at the Abu Dhabi Festival and the Royal Opera House, Muscat in 2013 and in 2014 performed a semi-staged performance of Sweeney Todd at the Lincoln Center, New York and at the Llangollen International Musical Festival. He has given recitals all around the world and for nine years hosted his own festival in Faenol, North Wales.
Sir Bryn is a Grammy, Classical Brit and Gramophone Award winner with a discography encompassing operas of Mozart, Wagner and Strauss, and more than fifteen solo discs including Lieder, American musical theatre, Welsh songs and sacred repertory. Bryn was made a Commander of the British Empire (CBE) for his services to Opera in 2003, was awarded the Queen’s Medal for Music in 2006 and received a knighthood for his service to music in 2017. He was the last recipient of the Shakespeare Prize by the Alfred Toepfer Foundation and in 2015; he was given The Freedom of the City of London.
Craig worked with Sir Bryn in a recording for television of a special setting by the Welsh composer Arwel Hughes of the traditional Welsh hymn Cwm Rhondda. The arrangement was transcribed especially for the occasion by Christopher Painter, with a special "Amen" ending written by the composer's son, the renowned Welsh conductor Owain Arwel Hughes CBE. The resultant film will feature in the final episode of Sir Bryn's new television series "Taith Bryn Terfel - Gwlad Y Gan" which will be broadcast nationwide on or around Christmas Day 2017.
Further information on Sir Bryn and his charitable foundation supporting young artists can be found at brynterfelfoundation.org
After winning the Song Prize at the 1989 BBC Cardiff Singer of the World, Sir Bryn made his professional operatic début in 1990 as Guglielmo in Così fan tutte with Welsh National Opera. He made his international operatic début in 1991 as Speaker in Die Zauberflöte at the Théâtre de la Monnaie, Brussels and made his American début in the same year as Figaro with Santa Fe Opera. Other roles performed during his career include Méphistophélès in Faust; both the Title Role and Leporello in Don Giovanni; Jochanaan in Salome; Scarpia in Tosca; the Title Role in Gianni Schicchi; Nick Shadow in The Rake’s Progress; Wolfram in Tannhäuser;Balstrode in Peter Grimes; Four Villains in Les contes d’Hoffmann and Hans Sachs in Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg.
Sir Bryn marked his 50th birthday and twenty five years in the profession with a special one-off Gala Concert at the Royal Albert Hall, presented by Hollywood star Michael Sheen. The celebrations continued at Cardiff’s Wales Millennium Centre, where he sang Scarpia in a special concert performance of Tosca with the Welsh National Opera. Recent performances include Scarpia in Paris and Berlin, Hans Sachs in Kasper Holten’s new production of Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg for the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden and Dulcamara in Elisir D’amore for Vienna State Opera.
In the 2017/18 season, he will perform Falstaff in Paris; Scarpia in Tosca at the Metropolitan Opera House, New York and Holländer in Der fliegende Holländer with Zurich Opera.
Operatic highlights include his début in the role of Hans Sachs in the critically acclaimed production of Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg for Welsh National Opera; Wotan in The Ring Cycle at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden and the Metropolitan Opera, New York; his début in the role of Reb Tevye in Fiddler on the Roof for Grange Park Opera and his début in the role of Boris Godunov for the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden; the Title Role in Sweeney Todd for English National Opera and hosting a four day festival, Brynfest, at the Southbank Centre, London as part of the Southbank Centre’s Festival of the World.
An acclaimed recitalist, he is equally renowned for his versatility as a concert performer with highlights ranging from the opening ceremony of the Wales Millennium Centre, BBC Last Night of the Proms, and the Royal Variety Show to a Gala Concert with Andrea Bocelli in Central Park, New York. He made his début in concert at the Abu Dhabi Festival and the Royal Opera House, Muscat in 2013 and in 2014 performed a semi-staged performance of Sweeney Todd at the Lincoln Center, New York and at the Llangollen International Musical Festival. He has given recitals all around the world and for nine years hosted his own festival in Faenol, North Wales.
Sir Bryn is a Grammy, Classical Brit and Gramophone Award winner with a discography encompassing operas of Mozart, Wagner and Strauss, and more than fifteen solo discs including Lieder, American musical theatre, Welsh songs and sacred repertory. Bryn was made a Commander of the British Empire (CBE) for his services to Opera in 2003, was awarded the Queen’s Medal for Music in 2006 and received a knighthood for his service to music in 2017. He was the last recipient of the Shakespeare Prize by the Alfred Toepfer Foundation and in 2015; he was given The Freedom of the City of London.
Craig worked with Sir Bryn in a recording for television of a special setting by the Welsh composer Arwel Hughes of the traditional Welsh hymn Cwm Rhondda. The arrangement was transcribed especially for the occasion by Christopher Painter, with a special "Amen" ending written by the composer's son, the renowned Welsh conductor Owain Arwel Hughes CBE. The resultant film will feature in the final episode of Sir Bryn's new television series "Taith Bryn Terfel - Gwlad Y Gan" which will be broadcast nationwide on or around Christmas Day 2017.
Further information on Sir Bryn and his charitable foundation supporting young artists can be found at brynterfelfoundation.org
Katy Treharne
Classical and Musical Theatre Soprano Katy studied at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, Cardiff. A member of Serendipity Choir and a scholarship member of the National Chorus of Wales, Katy hit the headlines in February 2009 when she stepped in, at incredibly short notice, to replace Connie Fisher at the BBC National Orchestra of Wales' 'Songs From the Shows' concert in St David's Hall, performing with the national orchestra, under David Charles Abell, and BBC Last Choir Standing sensation 'Only Men Aloud!'
Following the tremendous success of her performance, Katy was then engaged, in May of that year, to appear alongside leading West End star John Owen Jones, following in the footsteps of Katherine Jenkins, Rebecca Evans and Shan Cothi, as a main artist of the annual Rhondda Fach Gala Concert.
Katy played ‘Lily’ in the professional première of Ivor Novello’s "Valley of Song". She has also played 'Mary, Mother of Jesus' in the première of the musical Love Beyond and was 'Christine' in The Phantom of the Opera at Her Majesty's Theatre, London. Katy recently played 'Nina' in the UK première of Dear World (Charing Cross Theatre) directed by Dame Gillian Lynne.
Katy toured Sweden and Norway with Peter Jöback on his I Love Musicals tour and features on his new album, recently released by Sony. She can also be heard on Only Men Aloud’s album In Festive Mood and the charity album Love on 42nd Street alongside Lea Salonga, Samantha Barks, Ramin Karimloo, Sierra Boggess and other West End and Broadway stars.
Katy has an extensive concert career singing with many great artists including, Peter Karrie, John Owen-Jones, Earl Carpenter, Peter Jöback, the Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, BBC National Orchestra of Wales and many more.
Katy founded the group West End has Faith, a group of like-minded Christian performers raising money for charity and raising awareness of the Christian faith, and is a Patron of Parabola Theatre Company.
Think of Me, released on the Dischromedia label is Katy’s début solo album, and is available from here and on iTunes
Craig worked with Katy at the 2009 Rhondda Fach Gala Concert, at the Hospice of the Valleys 21st anniversary concert in 2012 and Bobath 21 gala concert at St David's Hall in March 2013. Katy also featured in the 2013 musical theatre project Rasputin: Ripples to Revolution, further information on which can be found here Further information on Katy can be found at www.katytreharne.com
Following the tremendous success of her performance, Katy was then engaged, in May of that year, to appear alongside leading West End star John Owen Jones, following in the footsteps of Katherine Jenkins, Rebecca Evans and Shan Cothi, as a main artist of the annual Rhondda Fach Gala Concert.
Katy played ‘Lily’ in the professional première of Ivor Novello’s "Valley of Song". She has also played 'Mary, Mother of Jesus' in the première of the musical Love Beyond and was 'Christine' in The Phantom of the Opera at Her Majesty's Theatre, London. Katy recently played 'Nina' in the UK première of Dear World (Charing Cross Theatre) directed by Dame Gillian Lynne.
Katy toured Sweden and Norway with Peter Jöback on his I Love Musicals tour and features on his new album, recently released by Sony. She can also be heard on Only Men Aloud’s album In Festive Mood and the charity album Love on 42nd Street alongside Lea Salonga, Samantha Barks, Ramin Karimloo, Sierra Boggess and other West End and Broadway stars.
Katy has an extensive concert career singing with many great artists including, Peter Karrie, John Owen-Jones, Earl Carpenter, Peter Jöback, the Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, BBC National Orchestra of Wales and many more.
Katy founded the group West End has Faith, a group of like-minded Christian performers raising money for charity and raising awareness of the Christian faith, and is a Patron of Parabola Theatre Company.
Think of Me, released on the Dischromedia label is Katy’s début solo album, and is available from here and on iTunes
Craig worked with Katy at the 2009 Rhondda Fach Gala Concert, at the Hospice of the Valleys 21st anniversary concert in 2012 and Bobath 21 gala concert at St David's Hall in March 2013. Katy also featured in the 2013 musical theatre project Rasputin: Ripples to Revolution, further information on which can be found here Further information on Katy can be found at www.katytreharne.com