Thrilled to be able to announce that 2013 Tait Awardee, Lauren Fagan has been offered a place in the Royal Opera House, Jette Parker Young Artists Programme to begin in September 2014. The news is even sweeter as two other young Australian singers have also been offered a place; Tenor, Sam Sakker and Baritone, Samuel Johnson. Congratulations to you all
I was very privileged to perform at John Amis’s memorial concert on 8th October. A wonderfully colourful and lively event which was a fitting celebration for a colourful and lively man. I met John for the first time very near the end of his life at a concert I gave at the home of Bob and Elisabeth Boas, great supporters of the Tait Trust. I will cherish my memory of chatting to John, hearing him recount stories about Prokofiev, Stravinsky, Ravel and Britten as if he had seen them only the day before. Above all his enthusiasm for music was infectious and inspiring. Thank you Isla for introducing us then, and for letting me be a part of his celebration concert. Performing Grainger’s Handel in the Strand was a fun – and at times nerve-wracking – experience, and it was wonderful to work with the great Steuart Bedford who is known for his close association with Benjamin Britten.
As I look ahead to my performance schedule in 2014, I would particularly like to inform you all about a very special Wigmore Hall recital I will be giving soon on 27th January, kindly supported by the Keyboard Charitable Trust www.keyboardtrust.org. The programme is as follows:
Beethoven Two Rondos, Op. 51 Beethoven Sonata No. 28 in A major, Op. 101 Schumann Etudes symphoniques
It is a very interesting and appealing programme because it takes us on a journey through three great structures of Classical music – the Rondo, the Sonata and the Variation. At the same time it documents the rapid development of the piano, which in the space of a few decades in the early 1800s evolved from a light and graceful domestic instrument into an orchestral powerhouse capable of filling large halls on a symphonic scale.
Another interesting point is that I will be performing a unique version of the Schumann Symphonic Etudes. Many of you will know that the piece is simultaneously a set of variations and a set of etudes. Some will be aware of five variations which Schumann did not publish during his lifetime and were rediscovered and published by Brahms. When incorporating these ‘posthumous’ variations, as I will be on 27th, it is up to the performer to decide where they should be placed. Some play them all together in a group, and others dot them throughout the piece. As far as I know, the order I have chosen is unlike any other. I have various reasons behind the order which I have chosen, the main one being that I want to highlight the extreme characters of Schumann’s writing – the so-called Florestan and Eusebius which we hear so much in Kreisleriana, Carnaval and indeed most of Schumann’s early piano compositions.
Elena Xanthoudakis, Tait Memorial Trust Prize winner at the Performing Australian Music Competition 2008 this year has been busy in New York City covering in Le Comte Ory and Rigoletto for the Metropolitan Opera as well as performing in Concert with the Melbourne Symphony amongst other engagements. This year, she was fortunate to record a solo Orchestral Disc with Maestro Richard Bonynge with the Support of the Borletti-Buitoni Trust and the Tait Memorial Trust. The CD of Bel Canto arias will be released next March 2014 on Signum records. Elena is also looking forward to performing Gilda in Rigoletto for Opera Queensland in the the new year along with recitals at the Melbourne Recital Centre with TrioKROMA.
Last night two Tait awardees; Lauren Fagan, Soprano 2013 and Lauren Zolezzi, Soprano 2012 sang the lead roles in the Guildhall School of Music & Drama double bill at the Silk Street Theatre, The Barbican.
Lauren Fagan appeared first in Debussy’s l’enfant prodigue. Her singing was of the highest standard, ravishing tone and an impeccable technique. Her performance as the despairing Mother was full of pathos…lovely. Lauren displayed a maturity of performance not often seen in student productions. We look forward to hearing her sing again in a TMT concert in 2014. Read more about Lauren here
Lauren Zolezzi stole the show in the second opera performed last night, Donizetti’s, Francesca di Foix. Glittering top notes, easy production and a stage presence that was simply divine. Earlier in the year Lauren sang in the first concert of the Trust series at the Foundling Museum, London and gave this interview
All in all it was a golden night for the Trust. Thrilling for us at the Tait Memorial Trust to see Lauren Fagan and Lauren Zolezzi performing to such a high standard in one of the most prestigious music schools in the world.
We are very grateful for the steadfast and loyal; support we receive from our many donors. Last night was their triumph.
Initially stepping onto the stage as a young ballerina, Australian born soprano Lauren Zolezzi has now moved into the world of opera and is at the outset of an exciting career.
In September 2012, Lauren took up her scholarship on the Opera Course at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London under the tutelage of Susan Waters. Before that,Lauren completed her Master of Arts (Preparatory Opera) with Distinction and scholarship at the Royal Academy of Music, London. Her musical training alongside previous ballet training as well as her study of the Italian language, has led to a well-rounded performer who manages to capture the attention of audiences internationally.
Lauren has been most successful in many singing competitions and scholarships, having won over one hundred awards and scholarships over the years. Recently she won the National Joan Sutherland and Richard Bonynge Scholarship in Australia. Lauren also placed first in Sydney Eisteddfod open age Oratorio and Russian Song sections as well as the Lieder and Oratorio Sections (21-25 yrs). She placed 3rd in both the Female Voices and the Operatic Aria Sections. Other scholarships and prizes include The Sainsbury Award at the Royal Academy of Music and The Marion Macaulay Bequest Scholarship for overseas study from the University of Sydney.
Lauren is an extremely busy performer both in the UK and Australia. Roles include Armida Rinaldo, Drusilla L’Incoronazione di Poppea, Despina Cosi’ fan tutte and Journalist 1 The Last King of Scotland, The Princess L’enfantet les sortilèges, Norina Don Pasquale, Sophie Der Rosenkavalier, Jano Jenufa, Melisande Pelleas et Melisandeand Barbarina The Little Green Swallow (Dove) in Guildhall Opera Scenes. She also performed the role of Barbarina Le Nozze di Figaro (GSMD) in February 2013 and covered the role of Susanna as well as receiving a solo recital of artsong at the Foundling Museum in London.
Before arriving in the UK she sang as soloist for the Australian ‘Opera and Arts Support Group’ soiree in Sydney Australia. During the 2008 World Youth Day celebrations, she sang to great acclaim as the featured soloist at the Evening Vigil liturgy with Pope Benedict XVI, held at Randwick Racecourse, Sydney. She was also featured soprano in a concert of excerpts from The Messiah at St Mary’s Cathedral in December 2008. Lauren was invited by the Honorary John Aquilina to perform at the National European Day ball held at Government House in 2008 to an audience of foreign representatives.
Lauren’s past featured operatic roles have included Naiad Ariadne auf Naxos and Ellen Lakme’ (Academy Opera Scenes). She also played the title role of Carmen in ‘Carmen – The Musical’ at the State Theatre and a member of the chorus for Dead Man Walking – The Opera at the Lyric Theatre in 2007. She partook in all of the Mid-Summer Operas held at the Conservatorium of Music from 2005-2008, in all of which she featured as a soloist performing roles such as Virtu’ L’Incoronazione di Poppea and Papagena Die Zauberflöte.
Lauren’s continued development is generously supported by the Tait Memorial Trust, the Opera and Arts Support Group Australia, The Worshipful Company of Gold and Silver Wyre Drawers, the Worshipful Company of Barbers and the Australian Government through the Australian Council of the Arts, it’s Arts Funding and Advisory Body.
For the past 36 year’s, the aim of this non-profit Australian organisation has been to raise money to help assist our most talented young opera singers fulfil their given potential. With the development of the Foundation in 2010 this has given us greater exposure and opportunities to expand on the activities the Society has presented since its inception in 1978. To date, we have awarded over $300,000 worth of scholarships and study grants and hope to further develop our involvement with these young singers by presenting masterclasses, workshops and a mentoring programme.
From the home page of the JS & RB Foundation website
The Trust looks forward to meeting the 2013 Tait Memorial Trust Prize winner, soprano Marlena Devoe from New Zealand who will be offered a prestigious London concert platform as part of her prize from the Bel Canto Awards . Dame Joan Sutherland was one of our founding patrons and loyal supporters due to her long association with Sir Frank Tait ( Isla Baring’s father) the Tait family and J C Williamson’s. The Sutherland-Williamson tour of Australia in 1965 is legendary and was a fitting epitaph to the life of Sir Frank and the enterprise of the Tait brothers.
We wish the Joan Sutherland & Richard Bonynge Foundation well and salute the work they are doing in supporting emerging operatic talent in Australia.
Australia Quartet celebrates Halloween with Schoenberg’s Verklärte Nacht (‘Transfigured Night’), Schumann’s beloved Piano Quartet and Australian composer, Elena Kats-Chernin’s irresistible work, ‘Scherzino’. Tait Awardee, Thomas Rann was recently in London….wonderful artist
Description
Australia Quartet celebrates Halloween 2013 with a one-night-only concert on Thursday 31 October at Sydney Opera House. Transfigured Night, Schoenberg’s gothic masterpiece anchors a remarkable program which includes a world premiere and performance by internationally renowned Australian composer, Elena Kats-Cherni
Tamara-Anna Cislowska, piano
Veronique Serret, violin
James Wannan, viola
Thomas Rann, cello
Thomas Rann – Tait Awardee 2003
“an extraordinary talent with wonderful musical temperament and control of the instrument.”
“In Martinu’s Variations on a theme of Rossini, this finely gifted young cellist’s qualities came to the fore – he demonstrated such superb musicianship throughout the programme that one eagerly looks foward to hearing Thomas Rann many times in the future.”
Thomas Rann is increasingly recognised as the most exciting young cellist to have emerged from Australia in recent years.
In 2008, Thomas Rann gives his Wigmore Hall recital debut with pianist Wu Qian, made his debut with the Queensland Orchestra under Vladimir Verbitsky (Tchaikovsky Pezzo Capriccioso and Andante Cantabile) and will give a recital for the inaugural Adelaide International Cello Festival. He will also make his Cadogan Hall debut performing Strauss Don Quixote with the London Phoenix Orchestra and his US recital debut in New York City.
Born in Adelaide, Thomas Rann commenced his cello studies at the age of nine under the tuition of Ruth Saffir and Niall Brown (University of Adelaide). In 2000, Thomas Rann entered the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, London, as the only pupil of distinguished English cellist Raphael Wallfisch. He is now based in London.
Throughout his studies in the United Kingdom, Thomas Rann has performed at venues including Wigmore Hall, St Martin-in-the-Fields, St James’ Piccadilly, Australia House, St James’ Palace and Westminster Abbey. He has appeared at the Festivals of Courchevel, Schleswig-Holstein, Radolfzell, Brighton (UK), London Festival of Jewish Culture, and Verbier (Switzerland). Thomas Rann’s concerto appearances include performances with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, Adelaide Symphony Orchestra, Preston Symphony Orchestra, Australian National Academy of Music Orchestra, London Phoenix Orchestra and the Melbourne Sinfonia.
Winner of the prestigious Muriel Taylor Scholarship for Cellists (London, 2004) – previous laureates include Steven Isserlis, Raphael Wallfisch and Alexander Baillie – Thomas Rann undertook a two-year mentorship in Sydney in 2004 with Professor Uzi Wiesel. Highlights of the 2004/2005 season included recitals at the French and Finnish Embassies in Canberra and a performance at the Institut Franco-Japonais in Tokyo, Japan, for television broadcast in Japan, the USA and Russia. He also peformed at the Kronberg International Cello Festival in Frankfurt, Germany, won the Australian National Academy of Music’s Concerto Competition and was featured as a “rising star” soloist with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra for ABC Classic FM’s Young Australia program.
In 2006, Thomas Rann made his widely acclaimed debut with the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra as soloist in the ‘Symphony Under the Stars’ outdoor concert before an audience of 30,000. During the same year, Thomas Rann was awarded the E.V. Llewellyn Memorial Scholarship for String Players and a Senior Award following the Hattori Foundation Final in London. He was also selected as a finalist for the 2006 Music Council of Australia Freedman Fellowship. Other highlights of 2006 included a recital with Sydney International Piano Competition prize-winner Evgeny Ukhanov for ABC Classic FM’s “Rising Stars” programme, broadcast throughout Australia; his Musica Viva debut at a special function held in Sydney ; and a performance at the International Cello Seminar in Israel.
Thomas Rann has appeared as soloist with the Camden Chamber Orchestra and City of London Chamber Orchestra and has continued his regular recital partnerships with pianists Wu Qian and Leslie Howard. Other highlights included appearances for the Tait Memorial Trust at the Royal Overseas League, chamber music and solo performances at the Verbier Festival (Switzerland) and at the London School of Economics Shaw Library Series.
Thomas Rann has been the recipient of generous support from the Ian Potter Cultural Trust, E.V. Llewellyn Memorial Scholarship, the Australia Council for the Arts, the Hattori Foundation for exceptionally talented soloists (London), PPCA Foundation and the Tait Memorial Trust. He has also benefited greatly from the guidance of artists such as Gavriel Lipkind, Karine Georgian, Bernard Greenhouse, Frans Helmerson, Heinrich Schiff, Ralph Kirshbaum, Gary Hoffman, Steven Isserlis and Ivry Gitlis. He is grateful for the use of a fine 18th Century Italian cello owned by the late R.A.G. Holmes AM.
The biography belowis courtesy of Robert Gilder & Co.
Cello
Thomas Rann
“an extraordinary talent with wonderful musical temperament and control of the instrument.”
“In Martinu’s Variations on a theme of Rossini, this finely gifted young cellist’s qualities came to the fore – he demonstrated such superb musicianship throughout the programme that one eagerly looks foward to hearing Thomas Rann many times in the future.”
Thomas Rann is increasingly recognised as the most exciting young cellist to have emerged from Australia in recent years.
In 2008, Thomas Rann gives his Wigmore Hall recital debut with pianist Wu Qian, made his debut with the Queensland Orchestra under Vladimir Verbitsky (Tchaikovsky Pezzo Capriccioso and Andante Cantabile) and will give a recital for the inaugural Adelaide International Cello Festival. He will also make his Cadogan Hall debut performing Strauss Don Quixote with the London Phoenix Orchestra and his US recital debut in New York City.
Born in Adelaide, Thomas Rann commenced his cello studies at the age of nine under the tuition of Ruth Saffir and Niall Brown (University of Adelaide). In 2000, Thomas Rann entered the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, London, as the only pupil of distinguished English cellist Raphael Wallfisch. He is now based in London.
Throughout his studies in the United Kingdom, Thomas Rann has performed at venues including Wigmore Hall, St Martin-in-the-Fields, St James’ Piccadilly, Australia House, St James’ Palace and Westminster Abbey. He has appeared at the Festivals of Courchevel, Schleswig-Holstein, Radolfzell, Brighton (UK), London Festival of Jewish Culture, and Verbier (Switzerland). Thomas Rann’s concerto appearances include performances with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, Adelaide Symphony Orchestra, Preston Symphony Orchestra, Australian National Academy of Music Orchestra, London Phoenix Orchestra and the Melbourne Sinfonia.
Winner of the prestigious Muriel Taylor Scholarship for Cellists (London, 2004) – previous laureates include Steven Isserlis, Raphael Wallfisch and Alexander Baillie – Thomas Rann undertook a two-year mentorship in Sydney in 2004 with Professor Uzi Wiesel. Highlights of the 2004/2005 season included recitals at the French and Finnish Embassies in Canberra and a performance at the Institut Franco-Japonais in Tokyo, Japan, for television broadcast in Japan, the USA and Russia. He also peformed at the Kronberg International Cello Festival in Frankfurt, Germany, won the Australian National Academy of Music’s Concerto Competition and was featured as a “rising star” soloist with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra for ABC Classic FM’s Young Australia program.
In 2006, Thomas Rann made his widely acclaimed debut with the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra as soloist in the ‘Symphony Under the Stars’ outdoor concert before an audience of 30,000. During the same year, Thomas Rann was awarded the E.V. Llewellyn Memorial Scholarship for String Players and a Senior Award following the Hattori Foundation Final in London. He was also selected as a finalist for the 2006 Music Council of Australia Freedman Fellowship. Other highlights of 2006 included a recital with Sydney International Piano Competition prize-winner Evgeny Ukhanov for ABC Classic FM’s “Rising Stars” programme, broadcast throughout Australia; his Musica Viva debut at a special function held in Sydney ; and a performance at the International Cello Seminar in Israel.
Thomas Rann has appeared as soloist with the Camden Chamber Orchestra and City of London Chamber Orchestra and has continued his regular recital partnerships with pianists Wu Qian and Leslie Howard. Other highlights included appearances for the Tait Memorial Trust at the Royal Overseas League, chamber music and solo performances at the Verbier Festival (Switzerland) and at the London School of Economics Shaw Library Series.
Thomas Rann has been the recipient of generous support from the Ian Potter Cultural Trust, E.V. Llewellyn Memorial Scholarship, the Australia Council for the Arts, the Hattori Foundation for exceptionally talented soloists (London), PPCA Foundation and the Tait Memorial Trust. He has also benefited greatly from the guidance of artists such as Gavriel Lipkind, Karine Georgian, Bernard Greenhouse, Frans Helmerson, Heinrich Schiff, Ralph Kirshbaum, Gary Hoffman, Steven Isserlis and Ivry Gitlis. He is grateful for the use of a fine 18th Century Italian cello owned by the late R.A.G. Holmes AM.
Robert Gilder & Co.
91 Great Russell Street
London WC1B 3PS
United Kingdom
Robert Gilder
Managing Director
e: rgilder@robert-gilder.com
p: +44 (0)20 7580 7758
f: +44 (0)20 7580 7739
Robert Gilder & Co.
91 Great Russell Street
London WC1B 3PS
United Kingdom
Robert Gilder
Managing Director
e: rgilder@robert-gilder.com
p: +44 (0)20 7580 7758
f: +44 (0)20 7580 7739
The Young Performer of the Year for 2013 is Melbourne pianist Hoang Pham. The Tait Memorial Trust are delighted that Tait Awardees, Hoang and Stefan did so well in this prestigious competition. Congratulations to you both.
Stefan Cassomenos, Andrew Kawai and Hoang Pham all performed concertos in tonight’s grand final from the Melbourne Town Hall, accompanied by the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra.
For the concerto round Hoang performed Tchaikovsky’s Piano Concerto No 1.
“I love Tchaikovsky and throughout competition I chose music I love,” he said shortly after performing.
“It’s always a thrill to play in with a symphony orchestra, especially in your home town.”
Hoang says he suffers from “extreme nerves” before performing but he accepts that it’s part of the job.
“It’s gotten easier over the years but not that much easier,” he laughs.
In his acceptance speech Hoang recounted first entering YPA in 2004 and not making the first round. His teacher told him that “time tells the truth about each musician,” and so he persisted.
He also thanked his girlfriend, former YPA winner and member of the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, Ji Won Kim.
Pianist Stefan Cassomenos performed Prokofiev’s Piano Concerto No 3.
“I feel very much at home playing concertos with orchestras,” he said after his performance.
“It’s really great music, the way it’s written for orchestra and piano,” says Stefan. “Not all concertos are like that,” he laughs, continuing to explain. “Some are written for piano as the central feature with the orchestra in the background.”
Savage Club, 12 Bank Place, Melbourne $55 per person including drinks & canapés
Bookings: http:// www.trybooking.com/DIDG
The Tait Performing Arts Association would like to thank the Savage Club and Jayson Gillham for their support for this evening’s fund raising concert.
Tait Performing Arts Association Inc. http://www.tait.org.au
Chairman Isla Baring OAM Founding Patrons Dame Joan Sutherland AC OM DBE,JohnMcCallumGoogie Withers AO CBE, AO CBE, Viola, Lady Tait AM Patrons Dr. John Amis, Richard Bonynge AO CBE, Barry Humphries AO CBE, Piers Lane, Roger Woodward AC CBE
Terrific news to hear that former Tait Trust & YCAT Trust Awardee, HelenSherman has reached the finals of the Wigmore Hall International Song Competition which will be held on Tuesday 3 September at 6pm
Australian mezzo-soprano Helen Sherman studied at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music where she completed a Bachelor of Music and Post Graduate Diploma in opera. Following her success in the 2007 Australian Singing Competition she was awarded a scholarship to take up studies at the Royal Northern College of Music where she was the first student to receive the International Artists Diploma in opera. In 2011 she represented Australia at the BBC Cardiff Singer of the World competition and in 2012 /13, Helen was awarded Australian Music Association prizes at the Royal Overseas League Music competition in London.
Of her recent performance as Aurelio for English Touring Opera’s L’Assedio di Calais, Richard Morrison of The Times wrote, ‘Donizetti’s fierce vocal demands are met fearlessly and thrillingly by the young Australian mezzo Helen Sherman, playing the volatile hero Aurelio. Her stridently masculine body language and formidable vocal power seem to epitomize the bloody-minded resistance of the besieged citizens.’ Recent engagements have included Dorabella (Cosi fan Tutte) for English Touring Opera at Fulham Palace, Donna Elvira (Don Giovanni) for Mid Wales Opera, Suzuki (Madama Butterfly) and Governess (The Queen of Spades) for Grange Park Opera. Operatic roles while at the RNCM included Hélène (Offenbach’s La Belle Hélène), Sesto (La Clemenza di Tito), Cyrus (Belshazzar), the latter in a co-production with Manchester Camerata, Varvava (Katya Kabanova), The Old Lady (Candide) and Prince Orlofsky (Die Fledermaus).
Over the last two years Helen’s concert appearances have included recitals at Wigmore Hall, Bridgewater Hall and City of London Festival, Performances at Cheltenham Festival including Janacek’s Diary of one who disappeared with Toby Spence and Britten’s Cabaret Songs with James Baillieu broadcast live on BBC Radio3, Handel’s Messiah at the Royal Albert Hall with Sir David Willcocks, a recital with Roger Vignoles for Cambridge Summer Festival, Wagner’s Wesendonck Lieder with the Liverpool Mozart Orchestra and Peter Maxwell Davies’s Five Acts of Harry Patch with London Mozart Players at St John’s Smith Square. Helen has featured on the Australian Broadcasting Corporation’s ABC Classic FM and on British Broadcasting Corporation’s BBC Radio3, and recorded with the Prague Radio Symphony Orchestra. Helen is a Samling Scholar.
Furture engagements include Nicklausse (The Tales of Hoffmann), Nero (The Coronation of Poppea) and a recital with Malcolm Martineau and Sir Thomas Allen at Wigmore Hall for the Samling Foundation.
Helen is very grateful for the dedicated support of The Young Classical Artists Trust, The Royal Overseas League, The Wingate Trust, The Tait Memorial Trust, Independent Opera, The Australian Music Foundation, The Elizabeth Harwood Memorial Trust, The Dame Joan Sutherland Society, Ars Musica Australis, The Opera and Arts Support Group Sydney, The Ian Potter Cultural Trust and the Simon Fletcher Charitable Trust.
Reviews.. ‘The impetuous Aurelio is a trouser role sung by a mezzo-soprano; the similitude affected by Helen Sherman to a reckless young man was striking enough that on first glance one was unsure in the dimness of the stage whether it actually was a man stalking the English camp. What most impressed about her performance was not success in making the illusion of gender almost work, however, but the brilliant coloratura singing she brought to the role. Flitting easily over the spectrum of lower register to higher with never a pause, she brought the coruscating vocal fireworks which are so typically Donizetti and so superbly realised in L’assedio to the fore. When she returns safely to her family, her opening aria ‘Al mio core oggetti amati’ underscored a radiant tone directed smoothly and with precision, culminating in impressively sustained, floating high notes.’ Opera Britannia / English Touring Opera / L’Assedio di Calais / Hackney Empire / March 2013
There is one genuine revelation in this production. The good looking youth caught stealing bread from the enemy camp during the overture turned out, to my surprise, to be the mezzo Helen Sherman playing Aurelio. I’ve never seen a more convincing boy. And she can sing too. Her voice is warm, flexible and attractively rounded, and she sang assertively and evenly from top to bottom. I can easily imagine her in the sort of parts Joyce DiDonato specialises in – bel canto, Handel, Mozart – anything that needs stupendous technical command and real character.’ Intermezzo / English Touring Opera / L’Assedio di Calais / Hackney Empire / March 2013
‘Donizetti’s fierce vocal demands are met fearlessly and thrillingly by the young Australian mezzo Helen Sherman, playing the volatile hero Aurelio. Her stridently masculine body language and formidable vocal power seem to epitomise the bloody-minded resistance of the besieged citizens.’ Richard Morrison / The Times / English Touring Opera / L’Assedio di Calais / March 2013
‘Helen Sherman, who represented Australia at the BBC Cardiff Singer of the World Competition in 2011, was superb as Aurelio. Dressed in baggy clothes, she looked physically every inch a young man and her demeanour was at all times highly convincing even when being rather physical (such as climbing over the drain). But she also brought to the role a fine, rich mezzo-soprano voice which was nicely even across the (considerable) range and wonderfully flexible when it came to the fioritura. She sang the role with intelligence and bravura, using the fioritura musically and dramatically. I certainly hope that we shall hear more of her in this repertoire.’ Robert Hugill / A World of Classical Music / English Touring Opera / L’Assedio di Calais / Hackney Empire / March 2013
’The singer that made this a knock-out was Australian mezzo Helen Sherman as Aurelio. Before she started singing, her convincing mannerisms and body language made me think she was a man, and she gave a stunning portrayal of the role. The defiant aria in Act I, and in Act II the duet with his wife, the rejection of the enemy, and the farewell aria to his baby were riveting. Helen Sherman’s mezzo voice is world class, and a glance at her website shows she is singing a huge range of different roles — I look forward to hearing her again.’ Mark Ronan / Theatre Reviews / English Touring Opera/ L’Assedio di Calais / Hackney Empire / March 2013
‘There is only one man in Elvira’s life – Giovanni himself – and Helen Sherman tears herself apart as she depicts the conflicting emotions – rage, frustration, loyalty, devotion, vengefulness – which reach boiling point in this most complex of Mozartian characters.’ Seen and heard international / Mid Wales Opera / Don Giovanni / October 2012
‘The women shine brightest: Helen Sherman’s Elvira …stylishly sung.’ The Guardian / Rian Evans / Mid Wales Opera / Don Giovanni / September 2012
“My eyes lit up when I saw that Australian Helen Sherman had chosen to open with a song by Henri Duparc – Au pays où se fait la guerre .. It was impossible not to be caught up in the pathos and sadness of the situation which Helen Sherman communicated so sensitively. She then descended from her tower (figuratively) to Britten’s Cabaret Songs, his settings of words by Auden.. These are witty songs, not easy by any means, and Helen Sherman delivered them with a twinkle in her eye. She was well supported by accompanist James Baillieu who also had a twinkle in his fingers.” Seen and heard international / Cheltenham Festival / Philip Langridge Mentoring Scheme/ July 2012
“Finally, a Handel aria sung as it should be, with clean but not over-articulated coloratura, excellent phrasing, plenty of expression, and the ornamentation placed at the service of the music, rather than just used as a tool to show off a voice…Sherman picked up the gauntlet and flung it right down again for the remaining competitors with this exuberant and triumphant interpretation.” An Unamplified Voice / Cardiff Singer of the World / June 2011
“My favourite female performer of the evening, was the Australian mezzo Helen Sherman. To start with, she is so elegant.. She walked firmly onto the stage, stood there in perfect control of her expressions and gestures, and delivered three difficult pieces with no obvious sense of strain. An audience can feel safe in her hands.” Intermezzo / Cardiff Singer of the World / June 2011
“Fresh from Cardiff Singer Of The World Helen Sherman seduced the boy and the audience with her bewitching rich mezzo-soprano.” This is Gloucestershire / Cheltenham Festival / Diary of one who disappeared / July 2011
“Helen Sherman was utterly convincing in the part of the gypsy with her creamy mezzo-soprano voice and beguiling presence. The wistful song which followed, God all-powerful, God eternal.. was enough to melt any man’s heart.” Seen and heard international / Cheltenham Festival / Diary of one who disappeared / July 2011
“The college is fortunate to have two star mezzos for the trouser-roles of Sesto and Annio. The Australian Helen Sherman, fresh from her storming victory the previous week in the Elizabeth Harwood Memorial Prize, was a convincing Sesto, looking masculine and singing Parto, parto with lustrous tone…In their great scene together, Sesto and Tito raised the emotional temperature by several degrees.” Opera Magazine/ RNCM Opera / La Clemenza di Tito / April 2010
“Two performances were outstanding vocally and dramatically: the Australian Helen Sherman’s Helene could have come straight out of a Coward comedy and was sung with clear and flexible tone.” Opera Magazine / RNCM Opera / La Belle Hélène / February 2010
“As the vain, scheming, eponymous heroine, Helen Sherman was magnificent. Her confidence, acting ability, timing and a stupendous voice, made her the ideal lead in the production and should set up her for many major roles as her career develops.” Musical Opinion / RNCM Opera / La Belle Hélène / January 2010
“I would like to point to Helen Sherman’s performance in the title role as one of poise, sophistication, subtlety and splendour, in both the singing and the comedy.” Metro / RNCM Opera / La Belle Hélène December 2009
The funeral is over and he is laid to rest in Aldeburgh, not far from Benjamin Britten, Peter Pears and Imogen Holst. The last few days have been a wonderful celebration of the life of John Amis, due to the love and support of his many friends the services were very special and … unforgettable.
Thank you so much to you all for the touching messages of love and support. John was a remarkable man, an irreplaceable man who I will never forget. I was blessed to have eight happy years with him. Over the coming months the Trust will celebrate his life with the John Amis – A Concert in Celebration and the Tait Winter Prom on November 26th and a new award, the John Amis Award., more below.
The funeral for John was held at St Sepulchre-without-Newgate in London on Tuesday 20th August led by John’s old friend, The Reverend John Wates. A witty eulogy from John’s long time friend, and former BBC colleague, Humphrey Burton and memories from another dear friend, Michael Rose were a welcome respite from the grief most of us have been experiencing these past few weeks.
Joanna McCallum; daughter of founding Tait Trust Patrons, Googie Withers and John McCallum, and now a member of the TMT committee, read:
Reading – Ecclesiastes 3: 1-8
Joanna McCallum
To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven:
A time to be born, and a time to die;
A time to plant, and a time to pluck what is planted;
A time to kill, and a time to heal;
A time to break down, and a time to build up;
A time to weep, and a time to laugh;
A time to mourn, and a time to dance;
A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones;
A time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;
A time to gain, and a time to lose;
A time to keep, and a time to throw away;
A time to tear, and a time to sew;
A time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
A time to love, and a time to hate;
A time of war, and a time of peace.
Dame Felicity Lott sang a song which was very dear to John, ‘Beim Schlafengehen‘, one of Strauss’ four last songs, accompanied beautifully by Graham Johnson. This was a particularly poignant moment as Dame Felicity visited John near to his death and sang some songs quietly into his ear. Her singing of the Strauss was an unforgettable moment in the service. If John was writing this I am sure he would find a way to better express the joy that she shared with the congregation and most especially to John’s partner, Isla Baring.
A lovely recording of John singing, Bilbo’s Song by Donald Swann, was played with his dear friend, Donald Swann singing in harmony and accompanying and a hauntingly beautiful 1927 recording of, The Power of Love by Percy Grainger with the pure tones of Anita Atwater, soprano and Percy Grainger accompanying on the harmonium and Ralph Leopold piano.
The service ended with Steal Away, the famous Negro spiritual arranged by Michael Tippett from ‘A Child Of Our Time’ sung beautifully by, The Choir of St Sepulchre-without-Newgate led by Andrew Earis, Director of Music .
On Wednesday at St Peter and St Paul Church, Aldeburgh a short service was held with a reflection on John’s life by conductor, Steuart Bedford and Humphrey Burton again provided the Eulogy before the committal. This service was marked by the recordings of John whistling and being back in his spiritual home the service had an added colour.
To read the order of service of John’s funeral please download it here
John Amis Memorial Concert, October 8th 2013, St Paul’s Knightsbridge
We all hope you can come to the Memorial Concert on 8th October at St Paul’s Knightsbridge. The concert is being developed with the assistance of Michael Rose and will be a fitting celebration of his life and work. Please watch this space. Artists and the concert repertoire is being confirmed and the theme will most definitely be as broad as the tastes for which John Amis was justly famous. Flanders and Swann to Mahler, Percy Grainger, Wagner and of course Britten and Tippett….plus?
John Amis Award
As we look back at John Amis’ funeral on Tuesday 20th August the idea of a legacy, a tangible way to remember John, has been at the forefront of our thoughts. He was a man of rare talent, and was an inspiration to so many and his life deserves to be fully celebrated.
For the last six years of his life John was a Patron and an active supporter of the Tait Memorial Trust, arranging many successful and popular events and working tirelessly to further the Trust’s work. In recognition of his substantial contribution, Isla Baring OAM, Chairman of the Trust, wishes to create an Award in his honour to be called the John Amis Award.
We have created a JustGiving page in the name of John Amis which is attached to the main TMT JustGiving page. Any money donated via John’s page will go directly to fund this new award. We are delighted to report that the fund has got off to a good start with the generous donations made at John’s funeral and at his committal in Aldeburgh.
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Please donate to this award using the button below.
Save the Date – Tait Winter Prom 2013
We look forward to hearing Dame Gillian Weir, Primavera Shima, Travis Baker and the lovely Valda Wilson again at the 2013 Winter Prom at Holy Trinity, Sloane Square, Chelsea 26 November 2013.
This concert was completely arranged by John Amis. The notes, the artists and the concept was all John’s work. It will be dedicated to his memory.
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