The Interrogation of Adam Pollo
Music - Arthur Keegan-Bole
Text - Elisse Power (based on J.M.G. Le Clézio's novel Le Procès-Verbal )
Director - Heather Day
Designer - Louie Lister
Musical Director - Joshua Bishop
Adam Pollo - John Upperton
Cello - Steffan Rees
Clarinet (Bb) - Tara Martin
Percussion - Jonathan Godsall
Première performance run 11th & 12th August 2012
Biographies
John Upperton - Tenor:
Dramatic tenor John Upperton was born in Co. Durham and studied Music at the University of Liverpool as a first study pianist. He then completed a postgraduate singing course at the Royal College of Music in London where he was awarded both the French and the Italian prizes. He currently studies with David Pollard. Having already made his concert debut in 2005 at the Royal Opera House as Dom Antonio in Donizetti's Dom Sébastien (conducted by Sir Mark Elder and recorded by Opera Rara), at the beginning of the 2009/2010 season, John made his stage debut as Gherardo (Gianni Schicchi) under the baton of Antonio Pappano. Recent performances include the role of Tristan alongside Elaine McKrill as Isolde in the Act II duet from Tristan and Isolde with the Boston Youth Symphony Orchestra conducted by Federico Cortese. Other triumphs include the title roles of Idomeneo, Don Carlo and Max (Der Freischütz) with Midsummer Opera and, the title roles of Tannhäuser, Peter Grimes and Aschenbach. Projects for 2012 and 2013 include Pinkerton, Calaf, Florestan, Werther,Roberto Devereux, Siegmund and a recital tour in and around London of Poulenc Song Cycles with David Roblou.
Jonathan Godsall - Percussion:
Jonathan is currently a musicology research student at the University of Bristol, writing a thesis on the use of pre-existing music in film. Alongside this, he works as a freelance drummer and percussionist in the South West and beyond, having been recognised as a performer during his undergraduate study at Bristol with both the Music Department's Sir Thomas Beecham Scholarship and University Centenary Prize.
Tara Martin - Clarinet:Tara started playing the clarinet at the age of 12 after hearing a demonstration of Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue. After a year of lessons she won the Music Cup at the school's Music Festival. Shortly after this she joined the Ealing Youth Orchestra soon becoming the principal clarinet and touring France, Italy and Spain. She was also a member of the London Schools Symphony Orchestra. In 2002 Tara began her studies at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama where she studied with Andrew Webster, Joy Farrall, Laurent Ben Slimane, Jennifer McLaren and Thea King. She was also offered a place onthe orchestral training course and played alongside the London Symphony Orchestra and the Philharmonia Orchestra. In 2007 she was a offered a scholarship to go to the USA to complete her Masters where she also performed with the Key West Symphony Orchestra, South Florida Symphony Orchestra and Colombus Symphony Orchestra. Having returned to the UK in summer 2011, Tara now regularly plays with The World Orchestra, Amadeus Orchestra, London Mozart Symphony Orchestra, West London Sinfonia and many show productions in and around London. In the last few years Tara has also had the opportunity to perform with the German-Scandanavian Orchestra, international Jugend Orchestra Academy, De Havilland Philharmonic, Smithfield Sinfonia and the Evansville Philharmonic Orchestra. Tara also teaches the clarinet and saxophone and is enthusiastic about encouraging music and ensemble playing in children of all ages.
Steffan Rees - Cello:
Steffan read music as a scholar and music exhibitioner at Christ Church, Oxford, and studied cello at the Royal College of Music with Melissa Phelps, where he gained postgraduate diplomas in Performance and Advanced Performance, both with distinction. He now is much in demand as a cello soloist, chamber musician and orchestral freelancer, and has performed widely in the UK at venues such as the Wigmore Hall, the Barbican and the Holywell Music Rooms. As a chamber musician, Steffan has worked with artists such as the Chilingirian Quartet, Raphael Wallfisch, Martin Frøst, Kathy Stott, Melvyn Tan and Colin Lawson and appeared in major festivals across Europe, including the Lake District Summer Music Festival, the Harmos Festival in Porto, the Greenwich String Quartet Festival and the Trondheim International Chamber Music Festival. He is also an Executive Director of the Arensky Chamber Orchestra, the young ensemble that is changing the way people think about classical music concerts in the UK.
Joshua Bishop - Musical Director:
Joshua Bishop is a musician and composer who graduated from the University of Bristol with a 1st Class Honours Degree in Music in 2011, where he studied with Prof. John Pickard, Neal Farwell and Raymond Clarke. He now works at the Jackdaws Music Education Trust in Frome and teaches peripatetically in Bristol.
Louie Lister - Designer:
Louie Lister is an artist and designer who works with performance, sound, video and graphics. He was involved in the creation of the Islington Mill Art Academy and worked there for 2 years exploring a student lead alternative to arts education. He has collaborated with Arthur Keegan-bole on previous projects, most notably with the 'Prosper and Queue'.
Heather Day - Director:
Heather Day trained for 8 years in singing, dance and drama at the Lee Academy, Stoke Golding performing in musicals, dance shows and plays, including singing lead roles in Her Majesty's Theatre and productions at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. She has sung in many choirs including the Manchester University Chorus and has regularly directed and choreographed the productions in which she has been involved. Having worked closely with the composer since this piece's inception, she is excited to direct her first opera.
Elisse Power - librettist:
Having studied drama and theatre Elisse has performed in and directed countless theatre productions. She began writing for the theatre whilst at University where she studied French and Italian Literature, specialising in French translation. Having collaborated with the composer on numerous projects the commission for this libretto is her first operatic text.
Arthur Keegan-Bole - Composer:
Having studied music composition for five years Arthur is now taking a year outside the cosy confines of University walls to work toward the première of his first opera The Interrogation of Adam Pollo. 2011/12 saw pieces completed for Stephen Rockey, Jonathan Godsall, CoMA Bristol, Gemini ensemble and a piece written for Schola Cantorum Bristol which won the Raymond Warren Prize for Composition. Other awards include the University of Bristol Centenary Prize for composition. Arthur is also active writing music journalism, conducting various ensembles and curating the annual CMV concert series. Come October he will be returning to the University of Bristol, studying music composition under Neal Farwell and John Pickard whilst developing further professional opportunities. For commissions, collaborations or other projects contact [email protected]
Text - Elisse Power (based on J.M.G. Le Clézio's novel Le Procès-Verbal )
Director - Heather Day
Designer - Louie Lister
Musical Director - Joshua Bishop
Adam Pollo - John Upperton
Cello - Steffan Rees
Clarinet (Bb) - Tara Martin
Percussion - Jonathan Godsall
Première performance run 11th & 12th August 2012
Biographies
John Upperton - Tenor:
Dramatic tenor John Upperton was born in Co. Durham and studied Music at the University of Liverpool as a first study pianist. He then completed a postgraduate singing course at the Royal College of Music in London where he was awarded both the French and the Italian prizes. He currently studies with David Pollard. Having already made his concert debut in 2005 at the Royal Opera House as Dom Antonio in Donizetti's Dom Sébastien (conducted by Sir Mark Elder and recorded by Opera Rara), at the beginning of the 2009/2010 season, John made his stage debut as Gherardo (Gianni Schicchi) under the baton of Antonio Pappano. Recent performances include the role of Tristan alongside Elaine McKrill as Isolde in the Act II duet from Tristan and Isolde with the Boston Youth Symphony Orchestra conducted by Federico Cortese. Other triumphs include the title roles of Idomeneo, Don Carlo and Max (Der Freischütz) with Midsummer Opera and, the title roles of Tannhäuser, Peter Grimes and Aschenbach. Projects for 2012 and 2013 include Pinkerton, Calaf, Florestan, Werther,Roberto Devereux, Siegmund and a recital tour in and around London of Poulenc Song Cycles with David Roblou.
Jonathan Godsall - Percussion:
Jonathan is currently a musicology research student at the University of Bristol, writing a thesis on the use of pre-existing music in film. Alongside this, he works as a freelance drummer and percussionist in the South West and beyond, having been recognised as a performer during his undergraduate study at Bristol with both the Music Department's Sir Thomas Beecham Scholarship and University Centenary Prize.
Tara Martin - Clarinet:Tara started playing the clarinet at the age of 12 after hearing a demonstration of Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue. After a year of lessons she won the Music Cup at the school's Music Festival. Shortly after this she joined the Ealing Youth Orchestra soon becoming the principal clarinet and touring France, Italy and Spain. She was also a member of the London Schools Symphony Orchestra. In 2002 Tara began her studies at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama where she studied with Andrew Webster, Joy Farrall, Laurent Ben Slimane, Jennifer McLaren and Thea King. She was also offered a place onthe orchestral training course and played alongside the London Symphony Orchestra and the Philharmonia Orchestra. In 2007 she was a offered a scholarship to go to the USA to complete her Masters where she also performed with the Key West Symphony Orchestra, South Florida Symphony Orchestra and Colombus Symphony Orchestra. Having returned to the UK in summer 2011, Tara now regularly plays with The World Orchestra, Amadeus Orchestra, London Mozart Symphony Orchestra, West London Sinfonia and many show productions in and around London. In the last few years Tara has also had the opportunity to perform with the German-Scandanavian Orchestra, international Jugend Orchestra Academy, De Havilland Philharmonic, Smithfield Sinfonia and the Evansville Philharmonic Orchestra. Tara also teaches the clarinet and saxophone and is enthusiastic about encouraging music and ensemble playing in children of all ages.
Steffan Rees - Cello:
Steffan read music as a scholar and music exhibitioner at Christ Church, Oxford, and studied cello at the Royal College of Music with Melissa Phelps, where he gained postgraduate diplomas in Performance and Advanced Performance, both with distinction. He now is much in demand as a cello soloist, chamber musician and orchestral freelancer, and has performed widely in the UK at venues such as the Wigmore Hall, the Barbican and the Holywell Music Rooms. As a chamber musician, Steffan has worked with artists such as the Chilingirian Quartet, Raphael Wallfisch, Martin Frøst, Kathy Stott, Melvyn Tan and Colin Lawson and appeared in major festivals across Europe, including the Lake District Summer Music Festival, the Harmos Festival in Porto, the Greenwich String Quartet Festival and the Trondheim International Chamber Music Festival. He is also an Executive Director of the Arensky Chamber Orchestra, the young ensemble that is changing the way people think about classical music concerts in the UK.
Joshua Bishop - Musical Director:
Joshua Bishop is a musician and composer who graduated from the University of Bristol with a 1st Class Honours Degree in Music in 2011, where he studied with Prof. John Pickard, Neal Farwell and Raymond Clarke. He now works at the Jackdaws Music Education Trust in Frome and teaches peripatetically in Bristol.
Louie Lister - Designer:
Louie Lister is an artist and designer who works with performance, sound, video and graphics. He was involved in the creation of the Islington Mill Art Academy and worked there for 2 years exploring a student lead alternative to arts education. He has collaborated with Arthur Keegan-bole on previous projects, most notably with the 'Prosper and Queue'.
Heather Day - Director:
Heather Day trained for 8 years in singing, dance and drama at the Lee Academy, Stoke Golding performing in musicals, dance shows and plays, including singing lead roles in Her Majesty's Theatre and productions at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. She has sung in many choirs including the Manchester University Chorus and has regularly directed and choreographed the productions in which she has been involved. Having worked closely with the composer since this piece's inception, she is excited to direct her first opera.
Elisse Power - librettist:
Having studied drama and theatre Elisse has performed in and directed countless theatre productions. She began writing for the theatre whilst at University where she studied French and Italian Literature, specialising in French translation. Having collaborated with the composer on numerous projects the commission for this libretto is her first operatic text.
Arthur Keegan-Bole - Composer:
Having studied music composition for five years Arthur is now taking a year outside the cosy confines of University walls to work toward the première of his first opera The Interrogation of Adam Pollo. 2011/12 saw pieces completed for Stephen Rockey, Jonathan Godsall, CoMA Bristol, Gemini ensemble and a piece written for Schola Cantorum Bristol which won the Raymond Warren Prize for Composition. Other awards include the University of Bristol Centenary Prize for composition. Arthur is also active writing music journalism, conducting various ensembles and curating the annual CMV concert series. Come October he will be returning to the University of Bristol, studying music composition under Neal Farwell and John Pickard whilst developing further professional opportunities. For commissions, collaborations or other projects contact [email protected]