May 2017 Update
Dearest Blog-Readers!
This newsletter, I have some media to share with you as I am very fortunate to have now received most of the footage of my performances this year. The final footage of 'Mad King Suibhne' is just being finished and will be available very soon. I also have some wonderful reviews which are now up on my website including excellent reviews in Opera Magazine and Opera Now. Make sure to check out the updates to my website and do feel free to get in touch if you would like any more information about upcoming performances.
International Opera Awards
Last Sunday I attended the 2017 International Opera Awards Ceremony as a bursary winner for this year and was part of a surprise chorus at the end of the night singing Mascagni's Easter Hymn with soloist Elin Pritchard. The night was one to remember with the Lifetime Achievement Award going to Renata Scotto and swarms of opera makers and shakers attending. I was particularly delighted to watch fellow 'Guildhall-er' Lauren Fagan sing 'Mimi' and to see one of my favorites Susan Bullock among the crowd. It was also a great opportunity to catch up with some brilliant colleagues, some of whom I have worked with this year and some I hadn't seen in a while.
Mad King Suibhne
In March, Bury Court Opera put on Noah Mosley's new opera Mad King Suibhne (pr. Sweeney) to great acclaim. Following the ancient Irish legend of the King driven mad by bloodshed, I played the role of his wife Queen Eorran and I received the following reviews.
“Isolde Roxby carried her swooping phrases on lush tone”
Opera Magazine
“The aptly named Isolde Roxby, suitably moving”
Opera Now
“The soprano of Isolde Roxby is characterised by beauteous tone”
MusicOHM
“Isolde Roxby was powerful as Suibhne's wife Eorann, clearly relishing the romantic gestures which Noah Mosley had written for her, but it was in the quieter, more concentrated moments when her love for Suibhne was most moving”
Planet Hugill
“Superbly Sung…Moving Performance”
Farnham Herald
Photos: TheOtherRichard
Dido and Belinda
The full cut of 'Dido and Belinda' is now available to watch on YouTube. I have put together a shorter video showing some selected clips from the production which is included below. If you would like to see the whole production (better resolution) including a short documentary about the initial concept and 'making-of', please click on this link.
The Yellow Wallpaper
Formations 2017 saw the birth of three new operas which included Grace-Evangeline Mason's The Yellow Wallpaper based on the short story of the same title. It sees the descent into madness of a young woman who is being subjected to the 'resting cure' in late 19th Century America.
The full video can be found below:
Buxton Opera Festival
My next engagement is with Buxton Opera Festival. Singing Chorus for Verdi's Macbeth (1847 version) and Mozart's Lucio Silla as well as understudying Yvonne Howard for the role of Lady Billows in Albert Herring.
I will be performing Scenes from Albert Herring in the cover show on:
21 July 2017
2.00pm
Information on the main shows as well as numerous other concerts and talks can be found at the following link.
