About this Event
For the perfromance of operatic arias, we are delighted to present renowned Italian soprano Francesca Matta, English tenor Jack Dolan and mezzo-soprano Annabella Vesela Ellis.
The singers will be ably accompanied on the Bechstein Grand Piano by collaborative pianist Caroline Jaya-Ratnam, who is a regular performer on BBC Proms. In addition we can enjoy some virtuoso classical piano music, performed by Weng Soon Tee, a brilliant Malaysian-born solo concert pianist, and by by multi-award winning NZ-born pianist Siyu Sun! (It is possible that more artistes can join the show - and if so, details will be updated here). It will be our third concert at the charming St James' Church in Islington.
- -------------------------------------------
UPDATES
MON 10th June 2024 Tickets sales launched!
There are 3 ticket types, with pricing depending on seating and wine served (see description of tickets at booking). In summary:
SUPER-PREMIUM £39.75 + Eventbrite Fee - limited availability (around 15 seats), front-row seating, "up close and personal" with performers! Extra-preiumum level wines served during Intermission
PREMIUM £33.00 + Eventbrite Fee - seating at Rows 2 to 3, Extra-preiumum level wines served during Intermission
STANDARD £27.50 + Eventbrite Fee - seating from Row 4 upwards, Premium quality wine served during Intermission
NB. All ticket types include a Welcome glass of Italian bubbly and other extras (to be announced).
_________________________________________
SONG PROGRAMME
Our audience can expect a world-class, top quality extravaganza of music - to include popular operatic arias (solos and duets) from Italian and other operas, classical songs, and some fantastic classical piano playing! Current programme is being planned.
PAST PROGRAMME - Examples of arias for a previous programme included:
- 'Vocalise' by Rachmaninov
- 'S 'ull Aria' (duet - 2 sopranos) from The Marriage of Figaro by Mozart
- "Regnava nel silenzio ... Quando rapito in estasi" from Lucia di Lammermoor by Donizetti
- " Dein ist mein ganzes Herz" from The Land of Smiles by Franz Lehár
- ' O Soave Fanciulla' from La Bohème by Puccini
- 'Tornami a vagheggiar' from Alcina by Handel
- ----------------------------------------
"Summer of Love in Islington" - EVENT TIMETABLE (Approximate times after 5:15 PM Start)
17:15 Doors open for Welcome glass of sparkling wine (or soft drink)
18:25 Introduction
18:30 Concert Begins (approx. time) - first half of operatic arias
19:15 Intermission for refreshments, including glass of quality Italian wine (or fruit juice)
19:45 Second half of concert of operatic arias
20:30 (approx. time) End of concert
20:45 Close
NB Times are approximate, and we aim to finish by 20:50
From 20:30 - Optional Dinner at local restaurant - to be arranged. Details later
- ----------------------------------------
Our ITALIAN Wines at the concert :
As an example, pending creation of our wine list, wines served during the Intermission for "Summer of Love 2021" is listed below:
PREMIUM Ticketholders
Collefrisio 'Semis' Bianco Terre di Chieti 2016 IGT 14% White, Abruzzo Rich, opulent oak-aged wine, tasting of ripe stone fruits, honey, vanilla and hints of tropical fruits
Fontana Reale "Morgia Noce" Aglianico Riserva 2011 DOC 15% Red, Campania Smooth, powerful, elegant complex, full bodied, organic wine with vanilla, herb, tobacco, caramel & red berry flavours
Standard Ticketholders
La Neula Vermentino di Gallura 'Neulas 2019' DOCG 13.5% White, Sardinia Medium bodied, fresh wine with good acidity and some honey, pear and melon flavours.
Maggi Francesco 'Abbondanza' Buttafuoco 2018 DOC 13.5% Red Buttafuocco ('spitfire') is made from Croatina, Barbera and Uva Rara grapes, with red and black berry flavours.
------------------------------------------
ARTISTES' BIOS
Italian soprano Francesca Matta graduated in opera singing at the Conservatorio di Musica G.P.L. da Palestrina and continued her vocal studies with renowned international artists such as Giusy Devinu and Bernadette Manca di Nissa. Over the years she performed, both in Italy and UK, roles such as Tosca; Cio Cio San, Madama Butterfly; Gilda, Rigoletto; Mimí, La Bohème; Elisabetta, Maria Stuarda; Contessa, Le Nozze di Figaro; Donna Elvira, Don Giovanni; Fiordiligi, Così fan Tutte. Recently (in Summer 2021), Francesca made her debut as Violetta in La Traviata with Regents Opera. She sang in Regents Opera's production of Carmen last Summer. Last Summer, she performed the role of Despina in .
Manchester-born Jack Dolan is a graduate of the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire and the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, having studied with Maureen Brathwaite, Sarah Pring and Adrian Thompson. At Guildhall, Jack was a John S Cohen Foundation Scholar and a Baroness de Turkenheim Scholar, supported by the Drapers' Company. Jack has performed many tenor operatic roles with several opera companies in the UK, and has an impressive repertoire of tenor arias, classical songs and songs from musicals.
Annabella-Vesela Ellis is a British-born mezzo-soprano of Bulgarian and Turkish descent, with a repertoire spanning operatic roles, concert performances, and international competitions. Her distinctive voice has resonated in prestigious venues worldwide, including Glyndebourne Festival Opera and Wigmore Hall. Her accolades include winning Second Prize in the Ljuba Welitsch Vocal International Competition. As an alumna of esteemed institutions such as the Royal Academy of Music and the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, Ellis's journey is defined by a relentless pursuit of musical excellence and artistic expression.
Following her Masters degree in Music (Cambridge University), accomplished concert pianist, accompanist, violinist and singer Caroline Jaya-Ratnam was appointed Junior Fellow at the Royal College of Music. She has appeared on TV accompanying world renowned opera singers including tenor, Rolando Villazon, baritone Bryn Terfel and soprano Danielle de Niese. She has appeared at the Royal Albert Hall in numerous Proms as part of the London Symphony Orchestra and the BBC Concert Orchestra.
Weng Soon Tee is a Malaysian-born pianist, who studied at the Guildhall School of Music under the tutelage of Carole Presland. Weng is a versatile pianist - regularly performing as a chamber musician, orchestral pianist, song accompanist as well as a solo concert pianist. His has performed Debussy songs in the Barbican Hall, chamber music recitals at the Torroella Fringe Festival and at the Esplanade in Singapore, attending the prestigious IMS Prussia Cove course working with Thomas Adès and Gidon Kremer, and performing as a soloist with the Southern Sinfonia under the baton of Simon Chalk. As winner of the Watford International Piano Competition and the Else Cross Contemporary Prize, Weng was praised by the judges for 'representing the music in such a sincere and understated way' and for being 'a pianist of exceptional imagination'.
Kiwi pianist, , holds a Masters from the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, having studied with Professors Ronan O'Hora and Carole Presland. In 2022, Siyu was awarded a special commendation in the Tunbridge Wells International Music Competition, and second prize in the Bromsgrove International Music Competition. She has performed in venues throughout New Zealand, Australia, and the UK, recently the Royal Albert Hall, St. James Church Piccadilly, Milton Court Concert Hall, Royal Birmingham Conservatory Hall, Princess Alexandra Hall, Spanish Embassy, Auckland Town Hall, and Queensland Conservatorium Hall.
------------------------------------------
[More artistes' details to follow]
Event Venue & Nearby Stays
St James', Prebend Street, London, United Kingdom
GBP 27.50 to GBP 39.75
