MID WALES OPERA Nicholas Cleobury's first tour as Artistic Director of Mid Wales Opera with Verdi's Falstaff was named in the Daily Telegraph as one of the "Top 10 Opera Events of 2010": “for a modestly scaled but crisply executed and entertaining production of Falstaff, a work that even the most celebrated opera houses can’t pull off.” "All praise to Mid Wales Opera, whose touring version is an absolute delight. …with Nicholas Cleobury conducting a sprightly account of the sublimely mercurial score, this is altogether a treat." The 2011 tour of Puccini's Madam Butterfly also garnered great critical acclaim: "It is thanks to Artistic Director and conductor Nicholas Cleobury driving the score forward with a real feel for its detail that Puccini's characterisations begin to shine through." "MWO's Musical Director, Nicholas Cleobury, led a tight beautifully paced account of the pared-down score." He also conducted Mid Wales Opera's tour of Britten's Noye's Fludde in Wales, continuing into 2012 - a major project reaching thousands of children, and part of the development of the company under his Directorship. JOHN ARMITAGE MEMORIAL TIME OUT voted JAM's March 2010 concert (with Tarik O'Regan Premiere) one of the "Best Five Concerts in London in 2010"!! "… this sublime music…" ***** THE HERALD "… an enlightening concert…" **** THE SCOTSMAN... THE TIMES – **** EVENING STANDARD – **** Nicholas Cleobury continued his work as Principal Conductor of JAM with premières of Philip Cashian and Paul Mealor in March and in March 2012 will conduct a new work by Julian Philips. OXFORD BACH CHOIR James Macmillan was guest at the Oxford Bach Choir's performance of his 7 Last Words in March. 2011. "...a powerful, technically accomplished performance of James MacMillan's cantata. MacMillan himself clearly was, as could be seen when he popped forward, much to the surprise of many present, during the lengthy ovation at the close of this moving, multi-faceted work." Their December Concert (Bach Advent Music) again elicited high praise: "Conductor Nicholas Cleobury coaxed some sensational sounds from the choir, who delivered the choral numbers with vocal purity, expressive phrasing and technical precision. " Having completed a series of Messiah performances in Aalborg in late 2010 he was in Denmark again for concerts with Michaela Petri and the Sonderborg Orchestra in January 2011. He will conduct Bach St. John Passion performances there in March 2012. In 2011 he made his Hong Kong debut with the Hong Kong Chamber Orchestra and Die Konzertisten, with the Asian première of Bob Chilcott's Requiem in March and will visit again this year. He was in South Africa again in July and August with concerts in Port Elizabeth and with the Cape Philharmonic (one with award winning Pretty Yende). He also gave concerts with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and the South Bank Sinfonia (featuring Colin Matthews) and continued his work in contemporary opera at the National Opera Studio, conducting scenes, directed by Jo Davis, from Ades' Tempest, Henze's Elegy for Young Lovers, Tippett's The Knot Garden and Turnage's Anna Nicole. 2012 will also see National tour of Don Giovanni with Mid Wales Opera and more performances of Noye's Fludde, further concerts with the RPO, JAM (2 with the Orchestra of the age of Enlightenment) and the Oxford Bach Choir, including a World Premiere of 2 Psalms written by Britten when he was 19. He will also lead a major new composition course in Scotland in July (North Highlands Connection) and is currently planning a major project in 2013 - Britten in Oxford. |
