On the road

The rather manic period of Summer opera festivals is nearly over. As I write, I am in the middle of performances of Bizet's The Fair Maid of Perth at the Buxton Festival. Also, I am honoured to be part of the closing concert at the Cheltenham Festival this summer (Berlioz's Requiem),and that leaves me a few weeks for me to have a holiday before Peter Grimes rehearsals begin!

Being on the road becomes part of a singer's life, whether you like it or not. This is often made easier and less tedious if the journeys are shared. I have been very fortunate indeed over the last month or so to have been working closely with conductor Martin André, and sharing these journeys with him has made the travelling aspect of the work a joy rather than a challenge. Martin is no stranger to Opera North audiences, and our last collaboration together in Leeds was as part of the 8 Little Greats season (Francesca da Rimini). This was, as we all know, a wonderful innovatory period for Opera North, rather envied by the other main opera companies in this country. It was especially poignant for me to work with Martin at this time, as it was as Musical Director of English Touring Opera some eleven years earlier that he had given me my first professional job---a season in the chorus followed by singing Nemorino in Elisir d'amore. I hadn't seen him since.

Buxton is the culmination of fruitful year of music making for us. Bach's Christmas Oratorio in Norway, Massenet's Thais for Grange park Opera, as well as an Opera Gala with the Manchester Camerata in Sheffield. Obviously in such a busy period as the last few months, professional discipline is a prerequisite, and your social life goes out of the window.However, I must admit that the Derbyshire hospitality following the Opening night at Buxton was much appreciated, and the healing properties of the local water are keener felt having been distilled!

Maria Callas said that there was no such thing as coincidence, it happened so often we must see it merely life unfolding in front of us. In this case the unfolding has been fortuitous for me. Annette Saunders, the rehearsal pianist on Grimes, has been repetiteur at Buxton, and the glorious Yvonne Howard, also in the Bizet, is singing Auntie in the Britten at Leeds this autumn. We are all looking forward to it so much. Oh yes, and Martin André is also with Opera North this coming season conducting Rigoletto!!!

Next week I have two days of intense music calls with Jim Holmes, Opera North's Head of Music, in Leeds. The heat is being turned up on the Grimes preparation!

Being in Buxton brings back so many memories for me. It was as a student at the Royal Northern College of Music that I spent three summers in the early nineties singing in the chorus at the Festival here. This was really the beginning for me, and to come back to the roots of my career before embarking on the biggest challenge of my career is totally invigorating.Coincidence, or life unfolding? Who knows-------

Jeff