Thursday 12th August & Friday 13th August, 2010 19.00
Genesis
The Warehouse Ensemble is a vibrant group of young players dedicated to exploring the furthest reaches of C20th and contemporary music. They have performed Boulez’s sur Incises and Le Marteau sans Maitre, conducted by Edwin Roxburgh in the presence of the composer, run an annual composers’ competition, and recently began exploring modern music theatre in works by Kagel and Richard Ayres
Synopsis
Apparently, Ernest Hemingway was bet $10 that he couldn’t write a story using only six words, resulting in the heartbreaking “For Sale: baby shoes, never worn“. Inspired by this, we thought “if a story, then why not an opera?” – resulting in a smörgåsbord of sparkling operatic bijoux surveying the future of British music, covering sex, death, malt loaf and zombies…
Programme:
Philip O’Meara: Animal Domino, Egyptian Fixer, Vicious Efficiency.
Richard Nye: Maybe I’m You, I’m not myself.
Piers Tattersal: Please, this is everything I swear.
Tim Watts: Love letter from Leo – You hurt me, it was wonderful.
Phillip Cooke: Progeny – I’m your future, child. Don’t cry.
Owen Bourne: Six Word Aria – White woman dreams with numberless hands.
Jordan Hunt: Breakfast – Watching Columbo, malt loaf and tears.
Matthew Lee Knowles:
[somanydaysyoupassedmeby[seethetearsstandin’inmyeyes[youdidn’tstoptomakemefeelbetter[byleavin’meacardoraletter[
Johnny Herbert: 2 close for comfort, sohl confinement
Matthew West: First date, Train Late, didn’t wait.
Patrick Brennan: Six Word Opera – Inebriation, flirtation, erection, secretion, procreation, abortion.
Max Charles Davies: A Bit of a Nightmare Scenario -Split condom, oblivious, happy fathers’ day.
Benjamin Ellin: Momentary distraction, scream outside, door ajar.
Mark Horton: Five Zombies, four bullets, two zombies.
Paul Whitmarsh: In my end is my beginning
Nicholas Bootiman: I smell new scents on you
Warehouse Ensemble
Producer and Musical Director: James Young
Featuring:
Baritone John Savournin
Soprano: Natalie Raybould
Piano: James Young, David Eaton
Clarinet: Peter Cigleris
Percussion: Timothy Henty
Warehouse Ensemble
Producer and Musical Director: James Young
Featuring:
Baritone John Savournin
Soprano: Natalie Raybould
Piano: James Young, David Eaton
Clarinet: Peter Cigleris
Percussion: Timothy Henty
Biographies
John Savournin studied singing at Trinity College of Music where he was awarded the Founder’s Prize and the Paul Simm Opera Prize. He has sung and covered principal roles for BYO; Mid Wales Opera; Minotaur Music Theatre, Raymond Gubbay; Charles Court Opera, Opera UK; Carl Rosa Opera. He is also founder-director of touring company Charles Court Opera. Oratorio and concert work includes Maxwell Davies’ Eight Songs for a Mad King with CCO, Kagel’s ...den 24.XII.1931 with The Warehouse Ensemble under Edwin Roxburgh; and solo performances at Queen Elizabeth Hall; National Concert Hall, Dublin, Bridgewater Hall, Liverpool Philharmonic Hall and Glasgow Royal Concert Hall. John is currently appearing as Schaunard in La Boheme at Soho Theatre, and future plans include a Purcell Room recital as part of the Park Lane Group New Year Series 2011.
Natalie Raybould read music at St. Edmund Hall, Oxford, and graduated with first class honours. She then attended the Royal Academy of Music to study with Joy Mammen and Clara Taylor, supported by Countess of Munster Trust and alumni funding, and graduated from Royal Academy Opera in 2002 with a Dip.RAM. Since then, she has worked with Almeida Opera, The National Theatre Studio, The Young Vic, Aldeburgh Productions, Tête à Tête, ROH2 and The Opera Group in developing new operas, music theatre, and world première performances. Natalie is thrilled to have performed in The Opera Festival every year since its inception. www.natalieraybould.co.uk
James Young studied piano and composition at the Royal College of Music. He has worked as MD for Charles Court Opera, Minotaur Music Theatre, and at the Grimeborne and Tête à Tête festivals. His piano duo, the Eaton-Young duo, has performed at Wigmore Hall, Purcell Room, St. Martin-in-the-fields, NCH Dublin and live on BBCR3, and his music has been performed by the Galliard Ensemble, the Warehouse Ensemble and at all the London Conservatoires. He runs the annual Rosemary Branch Festival, and is a member of Piano Circus and the Contemporary Consort. Present commissions include a piece for the Phoenix piano trio for 2011.