Consort Opera
If you would like to hear audio files from our recent performances and for all other queries regarding Consort Opera please contact me. For a typical programme click here.
Comments on Consort Opera
'What a treat! It was lovely to hear such a group of talented young and all my most favourite pieces. I could not bear it all coming to an end!''It was the dreariest of days but we all left the Groves Hall feeling uplifted and elated by their enthusiastic and skilled recital. It really was a memorable occasion and they ALL performed immaculately: a generous and well thought out programme, Consort Opera really gave us a splendid recital'
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'Thank you all so much for a really wonderful recital yesterday afternoon: you brought sunshine to a miserable day and cheered us all hugely. Your programme was generous and well thought out and your singing simply outstanding. Thank you too for responding to the enthusiastic applause and giving us an encore: really we loved you!'
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'Consort Opera chased away the winter blues with their youthful and exuberant recital: a well-chosen and varied programme of operatic arias and songs delighted our audience'
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'The tender piano accompaniment complemented the superb singing and we long to hear them all again!'
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'Why would anyone want to go to London when you can hear such excellent singing here?'
Who are Consort Opera?
Lawrence Olsworth-Peters - tenor
British tenor Lawrence Olsworth-Peter is currently studying singing at the Royal Academy of Music under the tutelage of Philip Doghan and Iain Ledingham. As a light-lyric tenor his voice is particularly suited to baroque repertoire, as well as operatic leggiero roles. Since graduating in theology from Bristol University, Lawrence has been in demand on the concert stage performing a wide range of repertoire. Oratorio includes Mendelssohn Elijah, Monteverdi Vespers and Bach St. Matthew Passion. Opera includes Remendado in Carmen(Southwick Opera) and the title in role in Gounod's Faust (RAM opera scenes). In 2009 he attended the RAM Bel Canto Summer School in Liguria, Italy and has been instructed in masterclasses by internationally acclaimed singers such as Philip Langridge, Gerald Finley and Colin Lee. In September 2009 Lawrence took the lead haute-contre role in Orpheus Britannicus for Mercurius Company at the Cadogan Hall, extracts of which were performed live on BBC 3's In Tune programme. Lawrence is a Concordia Foundation Young artist in 2010. Forthcoming engagements include Carmen at london’s 02 arena and Pesaro Rossini Opera Festival.
Martha Jones - Mezzo Soprano
Martha is currently studying with Janis Kelly in her first year at the Royal College of Music International Opera School. Prior to beginning her studies at the RCM, she gained a music degree at Durham University. At Durham, she was a soloist with the Consort of Voices and was very active in student theatre. Roles include Hansl (Humperdinck: ‘Hansl und Gretl’), Rosina (Rossini: ‘Il Barbiere di Siviglia’), Florence Pike (Britten: Albert Herring), and Dorabella (Mozart: Cosi fan Tutte) for RCM Opera Scenes, Dog (cover)/Hen/Voice of the Forest in Janacek’s ‘The Cunning Little Vixen’ (RCMIOS), Hansel (Humperdinck: ‘Hansel and Gretel) for Woodhouse Opera and Teodata (cover) for Handel’s ‘Flavio’ with English Touring Opera. Chorus roles include Stravinsky’s ‘The Rake’s Progress’ (RCMIOS), Donizetti ‘L’Elisir d’Amor’ (British Youth Opera) and Offenbach ‘Orpheus in the Underworld’ (Opera Holland Park). Martha will play the role of Zweite Dame in the RCMIOS Autumn production of Mozart’s ‘Die Zauberflöte’. Martha has participated in Masterclasses with Sarah Walker C.B.E., Sir Thomas Allen and Michael Chance at the RCM and with Malcolm Martineau as a Britten-Pears Young Artist. Recent oratorio work includes Mendelssohn’s ‘Elijah’ with the Waverly Singers, and Haydn ‘Nelson Mass’, Purcell ‘Oh sing unto the Lord’ and Handel ‘Four Coronation Anthems’ with the New London Chorus. She has sung in various recitals for the RCM including Ligeti’s “Sippal, Dobbal, Nadihegeduvel’ with the RCM Percussion Ensemble and a lunchtime recital of songs setting poetry by Tennysson. Martha is gratefully supported in her studies by Sophie’s Silver Lining Fund, the Josephine Baker Trust, an MBF Education Award, a Clayton Award and the Susan Chilcott Scholarship.
Tristan Stocks - Baritone
Tristan Stocks initially trained as a violinist before developing his ability as a singer. Having studied at Trinity College of Music and The Guildhall School of Music under the tutelage of Robert Dean, he has recently been accepted into Dennis O’Neill’s prestigious opera studio: ‘Cardiff International Academy of Voice’. In 2009 Tristan took part in the Glyndebourne Festival chorus and Glyndebourne on Tour Chorus. Returning to the same company this year, he will be performing the role of Gunners’ Mate in Billy Budd, and singing in the chorus for Don Giovanni, Cosi fan Tutte, and Macbeth. Tristan will be understudying the role of ‘Dandini’ in La Cenerentola in this year’s Glyndebourne Tour. Tristan frequently appears in recitals across London and the UK, and has worked with a number of ensembles performing nationally and internationally. Tours have taken him to France, Holland, Spain, Italy, Slovenia, the Canary Islands and Zimbabwe, where he sang in a charity concert in aid of children with cancer. He has sung on both English and European televised broadcasts.Tristan was a prize winner at The John Lill Awards 2007 and 2008. Recent solo engagements include: Mendelssohn’s Elijah; Mozart’s Requiem; Brahms’ Ein deutsches Requiem; and J. S. Bach’s St John Passion. Recent Operatic performances include: ‘Schaunard’ in La Bohème for Suffolk Opera; Argenio in Handel’s Imeneo at St John’s Smith Square, London, and at the Llantilio Crossenny Festival, Wales, for Baroque Encounter; and the roles of ‘Zaretsky’ and ‘Captain’ in Eugene Onegin for the French company Opéra de Baugé.
Joseph Ramadan – piano
Jo began his music studies as a chorister at Chapel Royal St James Palace. After graduating from Durham University, Jo studied as a postgraduate pianist at the RCM studying with John Blakely and Roger Vignoles. He received awards from both the MBF and the Neuby Trust. He has accompanied for many masterclasses including those of Sarah Walker, Amanda Roocroft, Brindley Sherrat, James Bowman, Stephen Varcoe, David Daniels, as well as a Liszt masterclass with Leslie Howard and a recent study of Mahler songs with Petra Lang. Jo was recently assistant conductor for The British Youth opera tour to Anghiari with Southbank Sinfonia for performances of L’Elisir d’Amore. He has also been repetiteur for Classical Opera company and English Touring Opera. Jo has also attended the Oxenfoord International summer school, receiving coaching from Malcolm Martineau . He has recently been the accompanist for a masterclass with Sir Thomas Allen and evening gala recital at Woodhouse. Last summer, Jo was a Britten-Pears Young Artist, studying Schumann with Malcolm Martineau and Susan Youens. Future plans include a performance of Wolf’s Italienisches Liederbuch, and conducting a double bill comprising The Bear by Walton and L’ocassione fa il ladro by Rossini in April at The Rosemary Branch. In September, Jo will conduct Cosi Fan Tutte for Woodhouse opera.