Nicholas Cleobury is now in post as the new Artistic Director of Mid Wales Opera. He is busy preparing for his first tour, extensively across Wales and England this autumn with Verdi’s Falstaff, Directed by Martin Lloyd-Evans He is also working on major plans for the development of the company. He continues his commitment to new music with the recent World Première of Sir John Tavener’s violin solo version of Song for Athene, with Ruth Palmer and the Academy of St. Martin’s in the Field. He is also working on projects with the Southbank Sinfonia and the Birmingham Conservatoire featuring many works by Jonathan Harvey in his 70th birthday year and with the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama featuring major works by Peter Maxwell Davies and James Macmillan. In February and March he conducted the Contemporary Opera Scenes project at the National Opera Studio, London with Ades Powder Her Face, James Macmillan, Ines de Castro, Maxwell Davies The Lighthouse and Andre Previn A Streetcar Named Desire. In March he gave the World Premiere of Bob Chilcott’s Requiem with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and the Oxford Bach Choir in the Sheldonian Theatre, Oxford, repeated in the Cadogan Hall, London. In March he also continued his work with the John Armitage Memorial, with concerts in London and Hythe with the BBC Singers and Onyx Brass, including world premières by Tarik O’Regan, Hannah Kendall and Richard Peat. “...under Nicholas Cleobury's immaculate direction, gave an eloquent and compelling account of Chilcott's vision.” Recent concerts include Mendelssohn’s Elijah with the RPO and OBC, his debut with the Macedonian PO, Handel’s’ Alceste at the Banqueting House, London for the English Bach Festival, concerts with the Johannesburg Philharmonic and the Messiah in Cape Town. “Nicholas Cleobury's energetic and meticulous direction was, as always, a joy to watch.” |
