VINTAGE CLASSICS
at Birr Theatre & Arts Centre
On Tuesday 18 August, Birr Stage Guild presents a stunning night of music and song with John Molloy (Bass Baritone), Ann Hogan (Mezzo Soprano), virtuoso violinist Vladimir Jablokov and members of the Slovak String Ensemble with Claudia Boyle (Soprano) and Mairead Hurley (Accompanist).
This programme, ranging from Handel, Mozart, Strauss and Balfe to popular Neapolitan song, will combine the unique styles of these internationally acclaimed young artists.
John Molloy has performed extensively in opera and concert in Ireland, UK and central Europe, USA, Australia, China, Macau and Egypt.
His operatic roles include Figaro, Bartolo and Antonio in The Marriage of Figaro, Don Basilio in The Barber of Seville, Colline in La Bohéme, Sarastro in The Magic Flute, Don Alfonso in Cosi fan tutte, Timur and Mandarino in Turandot, Bonze in Madama Butterfly, Dr. Grenvil in La Traviata, Il Re in Aida, Leone in Attila, Ribbing in Un Ballo in Maschera, Zuniga in Carmen, Snug in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Truelove in The Rakes’ Progress, High Priest in Nabucco, Tiger Brown in The Threepenny Opera, Arthur in The Lighthouse, Cholmondeley in The Yeomen of the Guard and roles in all three opera’s of the Irish Ring Cycle.
He has performed with Opera Ireland, Co-Opera, Opera North, Lyric Opera, D’Oyly Carte Opera, Opera 2005 and Opera Theatre Company. Forthcoming engagements include Zuniga in Carmen with Lyric Opera and Handel’s Messiah to mark the composer’s birthday in his birthplace of Halle in Germany.
In September John will take up a full-time position at the prestigious National Opera Studio in London.
Ann Hogan graduated with distinction from the Royal Northern College of Music Vocal & Opera Studies Department in Manchester in 2007. Now living in Dublin Ann combines singing with primary teaching and studies with Sheila McCarthy.
Most recently Ann performed in Across the Atlantic, an Opera Gala in the John Field Room of the National Concert Hall. In December she was alto soloist in Messiah with The Royal Northern College of Music Baroque Ensemble conducted by Malcolm Layfield in North Wales. In November to commemorate the Balfe Centenary, she performed a Concert of Gems of Irish Opera with OTC Young Artists in the National Library. As part of her interest in Outreach Work, in June 2007 she performed in a cross-border project production of ‘The Vikings’ as part of the DownPatrick Fringe Festival with Live Music Now.
Operatic roles include Olga in RNCM spring ‘07 production of Eugene Onegin. Ann played the role of Lapak in the RNCM December ‘06 production of Janacek’s Cunning Little Vixen. An experienced Oratorio singer, she has performed Messiah, St. Matthew Passion, Vivaldi Gloria RV 589, Rossini Petite Messe Solenelle, and Mozart's Coronation Mass. She was the alto soloist with the Leeds Philharmonic on their Easter ’07 Tour of Austria, Brattislava and Hungary performing Handel's Messiah. Future Engagements include performances of Kurt Weill’s Seven Deadly Sins in Dublin.
Vladimir Jablokov began playing violin at the age of 5. Since 1995 he has performed regularly on concert stages in Slovakia, Austria, Poland, Czech Republic, Hungary, Germany, Ireland, Italy. In 2006 after the success of his first CD, he recorded Eastern Twilight II with the Slovak Dulcimer Ensemble and he formed The Slovak Festival Orchestra.
His concerts in Ireland have taken him to The Mansion House, Leinster House, Gaiety Theatre, RDS Concert Hall, The National Concert Hall, Marlay Park , and by the special request of President Mary McAleese he performed in Aras an Uachtarain.
In August 2008, he played and directed the Slovak Festival Orchestra at the biggest classical outdoor venue of the year in Marlay Park. Birr Stage Guild is delighted to welcome this return visit by Vladimir and the Slovak String Ensemble.
Dublin soprano Claudia Boyle has won third prize in the operetta section of the world’s biggest annual singing competition, the International Hans Gabor Belvedere event, which is held in Vienna, the home of operetta. About 3,000 singers took part in preliminary rounds in 50 cities around the world.
Boyle has made impressive progress on concert and opera stages in Ireland since graduating from the DIT Conservatory of Music two years ago, and this was her first competition abroad. Claudia is a consistent award-winner at the Feis Ceoil and in Irish competitions.
Her main focus is on pursuing a career as a bel canto artist and has appeared with Opera Ireland. She played the lead role of Adina last year in Lyric Opera’s production of Donizetti’s melodrama l’Elisir d’Amore.
There are still a number of tickets available for this festive event. Tickets Î20 (Î16 concession). Contact the box office at Birr Theatre & Arts Centre, (057) 9122911, Mon – Fri 1pm – 5.30pm.
