Golden Anniversary Opera Gala With Orchestra Sat 23 & Sun 24 (Mat) November |
“Outstanding performances from all the singers ... Some clever staging and the introductory explanations were amusing and useful.”
“A delight. Passionately committed young singers, and witty, intelligent direction.”
“We have had many great nights at Clonter and this was up there with the best of them – 5 great performers and brilliantly chosen repertoire.”
“We were very impressed with the quality of the performers.”
Previous Audience Feedback |
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There is only one month to go until our 50th anniversary celebrations culminate in not just one but two Opera Galas – an evening performance on Saturday 23rd, attended by Clonter's new Patron, Sir Mark Elder CH, CBE, and a matinee on Sunday 24th November, and to make it extra special, it will be with orchestra, with a programme which will include the overture and champagne chorus from Johann Strauss II’s best loved opera, Die Fledermaus, as well as arias and ensembles from other well-known composers from the world of opera and operetta.
Arguably the most popular event in Clonter’s annual operatic calendar consists of a variety of well-loved opera arias, duets and ensembles, in a well-established operatic prelude to Christmas, and is ideal for anyone who has not been to an opera before, but would like to dip their toe in the water, before committing to a full-blown one. Each item is set into context, so no prior knowledge is necessary. |
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 | | Erin Rossington – Soprano
Soprano Erin Rossington is Associate Artist for 2024/25 at the Welsh National Opera where she is currently Cercatrice in Suor Angelica. In the spring, she will sing the role of Contessa in Le Nozze di Figaro for WNO. This summer she sang the role of Micaëla in La Tragedié de Carmen for Buxton International Festival. A regular on the competition platform, she won International Voice of the Future at Llangollen International Eisteddfod and the prestigious Elizabeth Harwood Memorial Prize at the RNCM in 2019. Erin was also selected as a finalist for the Vincerò competiton in Verona in 2023. Her roles include; Maguelonne Viardot’s Cendrillon, Miss Fortune Miss Fortune, Mimí La Bohemé and Fiordiligi Così fan Tutte. Erin made her Snape Maltings debut as Ina in TIDE in 2022, a new commission for Aldeburgh Festival and performed Lady Billows in Albert Herring for Clonter Opera. |
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 | | Bethan Terry – Soprano
Bethan Terry is a lyric-coloratura soprano based in London, with Yorkshire roots. Bethan’s professional engagements range from full-scale operas to intimate recitals. In July, she made her debut in the role of Belinda in Somerset Opera’s innovative production of Purcell’s Dido and Aeneas. Other highlights from the past year include Haydn’s Nelson Mass and Bach’s Magnificat in the iconic Ely Cathedral. Bethan’s recent appearances also include: Fiordiligi in Mozart’s Così fan tutte (North Wales Opera Studio); Young Artist at Leeds Lieder Festival 2023; Clonter Opera’s Spring Opera Showcase in 2023; a series of recitals in Italy, with pianist Francesca Lauri; a tour of Merry Opera’s staged Messiah; and a special BBC Immersion concert of George Walker’s art songs, led by Alison Buchanan and broadcast on Radio 3. Among her upcoming performances, Bethan will debut the role of Rosalinde in Merry Opera’s 2025 tour of Die Fledermaus. |
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 | | Camilla Seale – Mezzo Soprano
Praised for her ‘unaffected simplicity’ (Classical Source) and ‘velvety mezzo’ timbres (The Telegraph), Camilla made her operatic debut at Buxton International Festival as Prince Charming in Viardot’s Cendrillon before joining the Glyndebourne Festival Chorus the following season. During 2023-24 she was a Young Artist on the National Opera Studio’s Global Talent Programme, as well as a Britten-Pears Artist, and a member of Felicity Lott’s Wigmore French Song Exchange. With NOS, she has performed at WNO, Opera North, Scottish Opera, Glyndebourne, and with ENO’s orchestra. Previous Clonter performances include the Autumn gala and the Betty Bannerman prize winner’s recital for French Song at Clonterbrook Music Room. Camilla came to music at an early age, signing with the cross-over group, Angelis, under Sony BMG. Before training at RNCM, she read English at Girton College, Cambridge and then Social Inequality at LSE. She looks forward to touring Die Fledermaus in early 2025 as Orlofsky with the Merry Opera Company. |
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 | | Michael Gibson – Tenor
Scottish tenor Michael Gibson was a member of the Jette Parker Artists Programme at the Royal Ballet and Opera, Covent Garden, between 2022 and 2024. During his time in London, his roles included Borsa Rigoletto, Young Servant Elektra, Normanno Lucia di Lammermoor, Heinrich Tannhäuser, Pong Turandot, Gastone La Traviata and Ruiz Il Trovatore and in the Linbury Theatre, Charles Byrne Giant, Male Chorus The Rape of Lucretia and Varo Arminio. In the 2024/25 season, he will return to Covent Garden as Jaquino Fidelio and Pong Turandot, and Erster Jude Salome in Teatro Massimo Palermo. Michael is a graduate of the Royal College of Music’s International Opera Studio, where he held the Aldama scholarship. Prior to this he graduated from the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, completing a Bachelor of Education in Music, and the Royal Northern College of Music, where he studied for his Master of Music with Peter Alexander Wilson. |
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 | | Adam Jarman – Baritone
Originally from Kent, Adam Jarman is a baritone and graduate of the Royal Northern College of Music and Royal Holloway, University of London. Whilst at the RNCM Adam appeared as Blansac La Scala di Seta, Dr. Falke Die Fledermaus, Bartolo Le Nozze di Figaro, Der Lakai Ariadne auf Naxos and Father Frost The Snow Maiden. Other roles include The Speaker of the Temple The Magic Flute (Clonter Opera) and cover Host Of The Garter Inn Sir John in Love (British Youth Opera). He has performed in the chorus for Opera Holland Park, Buxton International Festival, British Youth Opera and most recently The Grange Festival where he also covered the role of Angelotti in Tosca. On the concert platform, Adam has sung the roles of Pilate in Bach’s St John Passion, Judas in Elgar’s The Apostles, and Sargeant Bunn in Joanna Marsh’s Pearl of Freedom in a recording for Signum Classics. |
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 | | Steve Elias – Director
His recent directing credits include the European premiere of Mo Willams award winning musical Elephant and Piggie – We Are In A Play. Choreographic/Movement Director credits include; Our Dancing Town (BBC2 / Twenty Twenty – RTS Winner of Best Observational Documentary), Save the Cinema (Sky Cinema), Grandpa In My Pocket (BBC1 / Aadstra), Marcaroni and Dwylor Enfys (S4C / Ceidiog TV), Patience, The Yeoman of the Guard (BBC Proms-ENO), The Silly Kings (The National Theatre of Wales), Swansong (National Theatre Studios), La Maupin (The Lion and Unicorn – Offies, Winner of Best New Musical), Un Ballo in Maschera, La Traviata, La Rondine, Gioelli Della Madonna (Opera Holland Park), The Pirates of Penzance, The Mikado (Scottish Opera), Ariadne auf Naxos (Garsington Opera, Den Norske Opera), Mirandolina (Garsington Opera), The Original Chinese Conjuror (Almeida Opera), Dr Faustus (Chichester Festival Theatre), Orphee Aux Enfers (Royal Academy Opera), The Beggers Opera (Linbury Theatre – ROH), The Pirates of Penzance, Iolanthe (Gielgud Theatre), The Merry Widow (Carl Rosa Opera). Directing credits include Caitlin (UK Tour), Alice in Wonderland (Birmingham Old Rep), Cuckoo’s Nest (Stockwell Playhouse – Winner of Best New Musical), The Addams Family, Little Women, Urine Town, Drowsy Chaperone, 25th Annual Putnam Spelling Bee (BOA), God of Carnage (Manchester - Immersive Theatre Festival), The Famous Farter (Millennium Centre, Cardiff), Peter Pan, Oliver, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (Chichester Festival Theatre). |
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 | | Clive Timms – Music Director
Clive Timms studied at Birmingham University and the London Opera Centre. He joined the music staff of ENO after a season with WNO and was subsequently appointed Assistant Music Director of Opera North on the company’s inception in 1978. For these companies he conducted a large number of performances of a varied operatic repertoire. He retired from the Guidhall School of Music & Drama in 2012 after 22 years as Head of Opera Studies, where in 2007 he was awarded a Queen’s Anniversary Prize for his work in the Opera Department. He was responsible for many notable productions, often of unusual and stimulating repertoire, the majority of which he conducted, latterly Nicolai’s Die lustigen Weiber von Windsor and the European première of Ned Rorem’s Our Town – and he continues to coach aspiring singers at the Guildhall School. His association with Clonter dates back to 1989 but more recently he has conducted the productions of La cenerentola, Lucia di Lammermoor, Hansel and Gretel, Die Fledermaus, Faust, Così fan tutte, La traviata, Le nozze di Figaro, La bohème and Don Giovanni. |
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Clonter Sinfonia
Violin 1 – Liz Rossi Violin 2 – Joy Becker Viola – Josephine Wells Cello – Amy Jolly Bass – Aaron Berrera-Reyes Flute – Jennifer George Oboe – Bethan Roberts Clarinet – Sarah Masters Bassoon – Rosie Burton Horn – Matthew Crossley Percussion/Timpani – Andrea Vogler Harp – Rhian Hanson |
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Ticket Pricing & Booking Information
Sat 23 November Tickets £55, £65, £70, £75, FREE for 26-year-olds and under (ID may be required) Group Discount (10% Discount) 10+ U3A Discount (10% Discount) Doors Open 6pm Performance Starts 7pm Interval 70 minute supper interval; pre-order supper, or bring your own picnic Click here to view the Event Menu
Sun 24 November (Matinee) Tickets £48, £58, £63, £68, FREE for 26-year-olds and under (ID may be required) Group Discount (10% Discount) 10+ U3A Discount (10% Discount) Doors Open 2pm Performance Starts 3pm Interval 30 minutes; pre & post-performance tea available, or bring your own picnic Click here to view the Event Menu
Drink Arrangements - Please note that any drink consumed inside the premises must be purchased from the bar. Please click here to view our Wine & Bar List. For Friends and Patrons of Clonter who wish to bring their own drink, a corkage fee of £4 per person will apply (payable in advance on 01260 224514).
N.B. Table booking facilities close a week before the performance date. Pre-order drinks facilities close at 4pm on the Wednesday before the performance.
Click here for More Info & Book Now |
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 | | Clonter is 50 this year! Whilst we have a full programme lined up this year, there is the ongoing need for funding generally to continue to provide a nurturing and supportive place for emerging talent to flourish and entertain our audiences for generations to come. |
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