Photo credit: Eric Caravaca, taken on the island of Milos, Greece during filming of ‘Tu honoreras ta mere’

Photo credit: Mady Lykeridou

Chuk Iwuji is celebrated for his interpretations of Shakespeare, not least at the RSC, where he played the title role of Henry VI in the Olivier-award-winning histories series. He has been directed by Sir Peter Hall and Sir Richard Eyre at the Royal National Theatre. Most recently he has been on a world tour of Richard III with Kevin Spacey, directed by Sam Mendes.

Iain Farrington’s compositions and arrangements have been performed all over the world, and most recently in the UK for Aurora Orchestra and Britten Sinfonia and at the BBC Proms. As musical director for the Shakespeare programme, Iain will arrange and play on the piano much-loved and lesser-known orchestral works and film scores.

Alongside extracts from Shakespeare’s plays and poetry, there will be music by Schubert, Richard Strauss, Korngold, Walton and others.

Chuk, Iain and Sarah’s first peformance together will take place at Caterham School in Surrey on Sunday 16th September 2012, with further plans for festivals and private events. Booking details to follow soon.

Composer: Michael Daugherty
Choreographer: Marguerite Donlon
Conductor: Paul Hoskins 
 

(Photo credit: Hugo Glendinning) Rambert's 'Seven for a Secret, never to be told', 2011

The programme included arias from Alcina, Rodelinda and Amadigi and Handel’s rarely-heard oratorio, Alexander Balus.

Here’s a rehearsal photo of Nathaniel Mander, who is more often to be found at the harpsichord.

Their first programme, Un Projet d’Amour, first performed at Handel House in London, includes rarely-heard gems by French composers Rameau, Mondonville, Duphly and Foucquet, some neglected English airs and a few of Handel’s most romantic arias from Rodelinda, Orlando and Alcina. They are currently preparing their second programme, Folie à deux.

Other projects in 2012 include a soprano and fortepiano recital of songs by Mozart and Haydn, an orchestral programme to include Mozart’s glorious concert aria for soprano, piano and orchestra, ‘Ch’io mi scordi di te’, and appearances at the London Handel Festival and House of Lords.

Here are a few blurry photos of the Dog in various states of development…

Songs and song cycles composed by Joe and premiered by Sarah include Notes on a City, Notes on Love, It was only the angels who sang, Cry Apples and Sonnet 113.

Joseph studied at New College, Oxford and the Royal Academy of Music. He composed the scores for Mud Sweat and Tractors: the Story of Agriculture (BBC2, nominated for a Grierson National Documentary Award) and Shooting the War (BBC4).

Concert works include Notes on Love (premiered at St John’s, Smith Square), It was only the Angels who Sang (St Martin-in-the-Fields), Sonnet 113 (St George’s Bristol), Mirroring the Voice (International Voice Association’s Annual Conference 2005 and the Clore Ballroom, Royal Festival Hall) and Cry Apples (Shakespeare Institute, Stratford-upon-Avon), pieces for the Spitalfields Festival, COMA London and the New Cambridge Singers plus orchestrations for the opening of the refurbished Colston Hall in Bristol conducted by Charles Hazelwood. He is currently composing a new piece for the BBC Elstree Concert Band’s 25th Anniversary Concert.

Joseph’s credits as Musical Director and accompanist include the European premiere of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Me and Juliet (Finborough Theatre) and workshop productions of A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Twelfth Night at Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre plus cabaret appearances at The Pheasantry, Chelsea and Pizza on the Park.

Photo of Joe Atkins: Sarah Gabriel

Sarah Gabriel and pianist and presenter Dominic Harlan give concerts together in which they introduce songs and opera from across the world to audiences of all ages.

Dominic’s extensive experience includes projects for English National Opera, Wigmore Hall, English Touring Opera, Opera North, Garsington, Streetwise Opera and Glyndebourne.

Sarah and Dominic’s performances together include a sell-out concert for Leeds Lieder Festival as part of the International Concert Series and a performance of Dominic’s show, ‘When yesterday we met’ at the groundbreaking Tête à Tête opera festival at the Riverside Studios in London.

They have also worked with Glyndebourne to present their Operaland project for people who are discovering opera. Their online introduction to Puccini’s La Boheme was released in the summer of 2011.