Enjoy an evening of familiar songs, arias and duets sung in various languages from the 17th Century to the 20th Century in the beautiful setting of this historic Church. The singers for the evening are the soprano Lauren Scully, the baritone Simon Wilson and the tenor Kevin John. Judith Flint is the accompanist for the evening.
There will be a refreshments bar for the interval. The Church is well situated for both the railway and the bus station and has a car park adjacent to the Church. The Church has good disabled access with a ramp.
Please note that the seats are unnumbered, so it’s first come, first served.
The Box Office payment system does not issue a ticket, but issues a receipt which you should keep and present as your ticket.
What's on the programme
There is a tempting selection of songs, arias and duets.
Duets will include The Pearl Fishers, as well as those from La Boheme and La Traviata.
Rusalka’s Song to the Moon features as well as arias by Mozart, Bizet, Verdi and Leoncavallo.
‘Summertime’ will be looked forward to, including a visit to Naples!
Our Soloists
Soprano Lauren Scully has won various prizes both in her native Ireland and abroad, and advancing to the final rounds of the International Hans Gabor Belvedere Singing Competition and the Premio Fausto Ricci Competition. She was a member of the Northern Ireland Opera Studio for the 2017-18 season, where she made her company debut in Mozart’s Così fan Tutte. In the same year she made her role debut as Edith in Gilbert and Sullivan’s Pirates of Penzance, and joined the chorus of Irish National Opera for Verdi’s Aida. She subsequently featured in their Young Artist Showcase. She has gone on to perform frequently with INO in recordings and productions such as Puccini’s La Bohème, Strauss’ Elektra & Bizet’s Carmen. Last summer, Lauren joined the prestigious Opernfest Prague as a young artist, where she made her debut at the Vinohrady Theatre under conductor Jaroslav Kyzlink.
Lauren sang the title role in our acclaimed Spring 2024 production of Verdi’s Aida
Kevin John studied singing and piano at the Royal Academy of Music and began his professional career with the Glyndebourne Opera chorus, and made his professional debut there as an understudy. He subsequently worked for Opera 80, Northern Ireland Opera, Kent Opera and covered roles for ENO and Opera North as well as singing in France, Spain and the Middle East and recording for Opera Rara on a series devoted to early Italian opera. He has worked with conductors and directors who include Sir Simon Rattle, Raymond Leppard, David Parry, Roger Norrington, John Copley, Giancarlo Menotti, John Cox and Nicholas Hytner. He studied singing latterly with the late New Zealand baritone, John Hauxwell.
Kevin has long been associated with Guildford Opera as a previous Music Director, Stage Director and as soloist.
Simon Wilson was born in London and started his singing career in the Temple Church Choir. Simon has studied with Mark Wildman and Phillip Guy Bromley and won a scholarship to study on the Opera Course at the Royal Academy of Music. His solo repertoire includes: Requiems by Verdi, Brahms, Mozart, Duruflé and Fauré, St John and St Matthew Passions, Five Mystical Songs, The Creation, Messiah, Elijah, Beethoven’s Ninth, La Traviata, Aida, Le Nozze di Figaro, Così fan tutte, The Magic Flute, Cavalleria Rusticana, Carmen, Zampa,Hansel and Gretel, Verbum Nobile, Don Pasquale, Si j’étais roi, Samson and Delilah, Faust, Carmen, Un ballo in maschera, Pagliacci, Rita, La Cenerentola, Rita, Un Giorno di Regno, Pearlfishers, the title roles in Henry VIII, Nabucco, Rigoletto and Don Giovanni and many Gilbert and Sullivan Operas.
Simon is playing the role of Belfiore in the current Guildford Opera production of Verdi’s King for a day.