Auction Items promised by:

LOT Number

SIR THOMAS ALLEN

Lot TA1

A drawing - his own

Sir Thomas Allen is an established star of the great opera houses of the world. At the Royal Opera House Covent Garden, where in 2006 he celebrated the thirty-fifth anniversary of his début with the company, he has sung over forty rôles. In 2006, he also celebrated his twenty-fifth anniversary of his début at the Metropolitan Opera, New York. Equally renowned on the concert platform, he appears in recital in the United Kingdom, throughout Europe, in Australia and America, and has performed with the world's great orchestras and conductors. The greatest part of his repertoire has been extensively recorded.

He made a triumphant directing debut in 2003 with ‘Albert Herring’ at the Royal College of Music and he has recently directed tremendously successful productions of ‘Don Giovanni’ and ‘Così fan tutte’ for Samling Opera at The Sage, Gateshead. He made an equally acclaimed U.S. directing debut with ‘Le nozze di Figaro’ for Arizona Opera at the beginning of the 2006/07 season and with ‘Il barbiere di Siviglia’ for Scottish Opera in 2007.

In the New Year's Honours of 1989 he was created a Commander of the British Empire and, in the 1999 Queen's Birthday Honours, he was made a Knight Bachelor.
 

CHRISTINE BOTES

Lot CB1

A  long weekend for two in a charming self-catering stone cottage in rural France'.

Christine Botes Mezzo Soprano, trained at National Opera Studio, RNCM and Durham University
She has won several awards including S’Hertogenbosch International Singing Competition, and the Miriam Lycette Prize.
Her operatic career includes Amastris Serse (Cambridge Handel Opera Group), Flosshilde Gotterdammerung (ROH), Kabanicha Katya Kabonova (OTC), Charlotte Werther (ETO) and Hansel Hansel and Gretel (ENO).Mrs Gross Turn of the Screw (ETO)
 

Christine’s promise is for a weekend in her French retreat. This is a 1 bedroom cottage, sleeping two to four, is located on the edge of a peaceful hamlet in the Vienne, close to beautiful countryside and nature reserves but within easy reach of numerous attractions and the airports of Poitiers and Tours. The winner would need to make their own arrangements for travel They can use the ferry to Calais, Boulogne, Dieppe (shorter) or Caen (even shorter), or Eurostar to Poitiers via Paris. Also Eurotunnel or Ryanair to Poitiers (30 miles from house) or Tours (under 60 miles).For a short trip the best choice would be flying to Poitiers. Prices vary. Booking well in advance with Ryanair can be very cheap Driving from Calais, which takes 6-7 hours undoubtedly costs more. The nearest proper town is Chatellerault which is 8 miles away.Suit poet, nature lover or musician with difficult score to learn. It's very quiet apart from the odd passing tractor and a few barking dogs. Also there's room downstairs for a string quartet !

CHRISTINE BREWER

Lot CB2

2 Signed CDs

Grammy Award winning American soprano Christine Brewer's appearances in opera, concert and recital are marked with her own unique timbre, at once warm and brilliant, combined with a vibrant personality and emotional honesty reminiscent of the great sopranos of the past. Her range, golden tone, boundless power, and control make her a favorite of the stage as well as a sought-after recording artist.
 
Highlights for Ms. Brewer's 2007-8 season are numerous and include the season opening recital for London's Wigmore Hall with pianist Roger Vignoles; her company and role debut at the Lyric Opera of Chicago as Dyer's Wife in Strauss's Die Frau ohne Schatten, a role she will repeat in her debut at the Paris Opera; and performances of Mahler's Symphony No. 8 with the Philadelphia Orchestra and Christoph Eschenbach in Philadelphia and on tour to Carnegie Hall.  Other concert performances include Wagner excerpts with Sir Charles Mackerras and the Gewandhaus Leipzig; Wesendonk Lieder with Yannick Nezet-Seguin and the Dresden Staatskapelle; Four Last Songs with the Toulouse Orchestra; Verdi's Requiem in Florence with James Conlon and with Jaap van Sweden and the Dallas Symphony Orchestra; and Gorecki's Symphony No. 3 with Donald Runnicles and the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra.  She will record the Gorecki with Runnicles and the ASO for Telarc.  She returns to her home town to join the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra and David Robertson for concert performances of Fidelio

http://www.christinebrewer.com/

SALLY BURGESS

Lot SB1

3 Singing Lessons

Sally Burgess has made some of the most exciting operatic rôles her own - the Sunday Times describing  her as " the greatest exponent of Carmen I have ever seen" a rôle she debuted for English National Opera's new production by David Poutney and then went on to perform for the Metropolitan Opera, the Opera National de Paris, Bastille, the Bavarian State Opera, Munich, the Bregenz Festival and in Zurich, Berlin, New Zealand and Portland. Her Azucena Il Trovatore excited similar reviews - the Guardian considered her performance for Opera North " great singing by a remarkable artist " and her Amneris Aida for Opera North was described as ... " rarely can a performance have been so completely dominated " (a rôle also performed for Scottish Opera and in Strasbourg, Nancy, Lausanne and Wiesbaden).  Other operatic successes include Hanna Glawari  The Merry Widow for the Metropolitan Opera; Kabanicha Katya Kabanova  for the Bavarian State Opera Munich and Opera North, UK; Fricka The Ring  in Geneva, Marseille and for Scottish Opera;  Mistrees Quickly Falstaff for Scottish Opera; Ottavia in David Alden's new production of L'Incoronazione di Poppea for Welsh National Opera also recorded for BBC TV; Dalila Samson et Dalila for Nantes Opera; Judith Bluebeard's Castle in Bordeaux , for English National Opera, Opera North in Utah, Seattle, Houston and Portugal; title rôle in Gluck's Orfeo for Opera North; Dulcinee Don Quixote for English National Opera where she also enjoyed success as Widow Begbick The Rise and Fall of Mahagonny and Herodias Salome;   Mere Marie Dialogues des Carmelites for Welsh National Opera; Pantalis/Martha Mefistofele for De Nederlandse Opera; and the world premiere of On London Fields on stage in London
 

ALISTAIR CAMPBELL

Lot AC1

A Signed Copy of his book “The Blair Years”

In his time in Downing Street  Alistair was involved in all the major policy issues and international crises. He has said that in ten years in the media, and a decade in politics, he saw his respect for the media fall and his respect for politics rise. He is a sought after speaker at events around the world, specialising in strategic communications.

In July 2007, he published his first book on his time with Tony Blair, The Blair Years, extracts from his diaries from 1994 to 2003, which was an instant Sunday Times Number 1 bestseller. His first novel, All In The Mind, appeared in November 2008, to enthusiastic reviews for its frank examination of mental illness. His second novel Maya, a gripping analysis of fame and the obsession it attracts, was published in February 2010. It was described by Piers Morgan as 'a superb read ... sometimes disturbing, always fascinating.'

In October 2008 Alastair Campbell broadcast a one hour documentary on BBC2 about his own breakdown in 1986
http://www.alastaircampbell.org/lifesofar.php

DAISY CHUTE

Lot DS1

2 Nights B&B at Inveresk House

Invited onto Mathew Kelly's Stars in their Eyes Kids, Granada Television showcased Daisy to an audience of 6 million British viewers, performing as the young Judy Garland "You made me love you". Ray Monk, (Mister Television Music) remarked during rehearsals on "Daisy's distinctive voice". Daisy was getting a solid grounding in musical theatre as well as keeping up her jazz interests with trips to hear every jazz singer who came to Edinburgh. The Edinburgh Festival of Jazz and Blues provided an education in itself with Daisy hearing and meeting such greats as Sheila Jordan, Carol Kidd, Barbara Morrison, Claire Martin, Stacey Kent, Rebecca Kilgoreand Clare Teal.
 

The promise would be for two nights with breakfast at Inveresk House with a tour around the local area which includes the oldest golf course in the world and the fishing harbour. Edinburgh is 20 minutes away and during August and September there will be wonderful things going on at the Edinburgh International Festival and of course the Fringe Festival. Subject to availability

http://invereskhouse.com/

JOHN COPLEY

Framed Costume designs

John Copley has directed opera in most of the world’s major opera houses.  He was Resident Director at the Royal Opera House Covent Garden, where he worked on many new productions with the world’s greatest conductors, Sir Georg Solti, Sir Colin Davis, Carlos Kleiber, Sir John Pritchard and many other distinguished colleagues.   Among his greatest successes there were Mozart’s Le Nozze di Figaro and Cosi fan Tutte that remained in the repertoire for 21 years and 24 years respectively.  His acclaimed production of La Boheme is still in repertoire after nearly 30 years.
John’s promises are:

http://www.hazardchase.co.uk/artists/john_copley

Lot JC1

Carl Tom’s beautiful design for Countess in Nozze di Figaro for New York City Opera                              *SOLD*

Lot JC2

David Walker's Sophie (Werther) from Glyndebourne, the same                                                                *SOLD*

Lot JC3

David Walker's Annina (Traviata ENO)                                                                                                         *SOLD*

Lot JC4

Philip Prouse's Euridice (Orpheo) Covent Garden                                                                                        *SOLD*

LAURENCE CUMMINGS

Lot LC1

Tour of Handel House and a recital by Laurence Cummings followed by reception. (28 people – can be sold in separate lots or for a party)

Laurence Cummings is one of Britain's most exciting and versatile exponents of historical performance both as a conductor and a harpsichord player. He was an organ scholar at Christ Church Oxford where he graduated with first class honours. In 1996 he was appointed Head of Historical Performance at the Royal Academy of Music which has led to both baroque and classical orchestras forming part of the established curriculum. He is also Musical Director of the Tilford Bach Society and a trustee of Handel House London. Since 1999 he has been Music Director of the London Handel Festival where performances have included productions of Deborah, Athalia, Esther, Agrippina, Sorsame, Alexander Balus, Hercules, Samson, Ezio, Riccardo Primo and Tolomeo. He is a regular guest at Casa da Musica in Porto where he conducts Remix Baroque.
http://www.handelhouse.org/

SUZI DIGBY (Lady Eatwell) OBE

Lot SD1

SINGING workshop for 12 to 30 people (Queens' College, Cambridge). A 3-hour workshop to include vocal development and masses of rep for the uninitiated.

Founder and Principal, The Voices Foundation
Suzi Digby Eatwell is a leading light in the revival, over 2 decades, of singing both in schools and the community. She is a choral conductor and music pedagogue, with teaching experience both in the UK and abroad, including 12 years as Head of Music at Diocesan Girls Junior School, Hong Kong.

In 1993 Suzi founded The Voices Foundation – the UK’s leading music education charity – having been inspired by her Churchill Fellowship travels in 1990 to Hungary and other countries. The charity’s main aim is to transform inner-city and rural primary schools throughout the UK with its dynamic, singing based curriculum programme involving every child and every teacher in each school. So far it has reached nearly 300,000 children and trained over 7,500 teachers.

Suzi currently serves as one of the Foundation’s 35 advisory teachers and is in charge of its education project in primary schools, having personally delivered the programme up and down the country since 1993. She also established Young Voices, a central London after-school singing club for primary age children to learn musicianship skills in a fun, informal atmosphere.

Suzi has worked with and lobbied successive governments and education departments for 16 years, and she was instrumental in the establishment of the Music Manifesto. In 2007, she was awarded an OBE in recognition of her outstanding services to music education
http://www.suzidigby.com/

CHRISTOPHER FIFIELD

Lot CF1

'Have a go at Conducting' with the Lambeth Orchestra

'Have a go at Conducting' spot with the Lambeth Orchestra at one of their rehearsals. Not at a concert we hasten to add. The music/date can be decided with the successful bidder. The Lambeth Orchestra is one of London's premier amateur orchestra and fields some 80 players. It has a 38 year history and Christopher has been Music Director for 28 of them.

http://www.lambeth-orchestra.org.uk/

KATE FLOWERS

Lot KF1

A long weekend for up to 7 people in a Cottage in Mid-Wales *SOLD*

Kate began her career whilst still at college, first with English Opera Group and then the London Festival Ballet, (not on point), but singing in the Three Cornered Hat . Her first major rôle was at Glyndebourne where she sang Barbarina, Despina, Nerina in “La Fedelta Premiata” and the Vixen and where she was given the John Christie Award. Kate’s career has taken her around the world and to all the major opera houses in the UK. For Opera North she has sung Susanna, Zerlina, Despina, Gretel, Yum Yum, Nedda, 1st Lady (Magic Flute), Aloes (L’etoile), Jenny (Threepenny Opera) D’Oyly Carte: Rosalinda (Fledermaus) and Yum Yum.  Scottish Opera: Polly (Beggars Opera), Gabrielle ( La Vie Parisienne),  Jenny (Mahagonny), Anna (Intermezzo)
C.B.T.O: Karolina (Two Widows),  Alice (Falstaff), Dolly (Silas Marner), War in Carl Davis’ Peace. Garsington; Madame La Rose in La Gazzetta. Welsh National Opera: Jenufa, Valencienne, Marenka, Micaela. Kate made her debut at La Fenice in Venice in the rôle of Selina in Weber’s Oberon., her ENO debut as Damigella in Poppea and her Royal Opera House debut in Der Rosenkavelier as Marianne Von Leitmezzerin

Kate’s promise is for a long weekend in her Welsh retreat. The cottage sleeps up to 7 ( 2 doubles, 1 twin and 1 single) and is set in the rolling hills of the Welsh Marches, very convenient for Mid Wales Opera and the Presteigne Festival - great for walking, seeing loads of Red Kites and Buzzards and generally chilling!!
 

EIDDWEN HARRHY

Lot EH1

Singing lesson

Eiddwen Harrhy made her Covent Garden debut in The Ring cycle with Sir Colin Davis, directed by Götz Friedrich and that same year joined English National Opera, singing Countess Adele (Cont Ory), Michaela (Carmen), Pamina (Magic Flute), Countess (Figaro) in her first season. Other notable roles include Poppea, Alcina, Donna Elvira, Fiordiligi, Iphigenie, Katya, Butterfly, Composer, Octavian and Marie in Wozzeck. She has sung in over 20 Handel operas.

She has since sung at many leading opera houses including Teatro Colon Buenos Aires, La Scala Milan, Glyndebourne, Berlin, Paris, Los Angeles, and appeared with many leading orchestras around the world. At home, she has sung with every major British orchestra, and with all the major opera companies. She has worked with many of the great conductors and directors, including amongst others Haintink, Solti, Marriner, Hogwood, Pritchard, Willcocks, Davis, Gardiner, Herreweghe, Jansons, Mackerras, Minkowski and Norrington. She has performed with the leading accompanists of her generation, including Geoffrey Parsons, Pascal Rogé, Graham Johnson, Roger Vignoles and Michael Pollock. She has appeared in Amsterdam, Athens, Buenos Aires, Hong Kong, Los Angeles, Milan, Paris, Rome, St. Petersburg. Sydney and Vienna, taking part in major Festivals like Aldeburgh, Batignano, Edinburgh, Flanders, Geneva, Lucerne and Hong Kong.

Eiddwen Harrhy has made many notable appearances in the BBC Proms, and in other broadcast concerts. Among others, she has recorded for BBC, EMI, Deutche Grammophon, Harmonia Mundi, Erato, Virgin Classics, Opera Rara and Nimbus. She has given lessons and Master Classes in Vienna, Prague, Vilnius, Utrecht, Buenos Aires and Stockholm.

She is a Fellow of both the Royal Society of Arts and the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, and Professor of Vocal Studies at the Royal College of Music.

ROBERT HAYWARD

Signed Royal Opera House programmes from the 1950’s

Robert Hayward studied at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama and National Opera Studio and made his professional opera debut singing the title role in Don Giovanni for Glyndebourne Touring Opera in 1986. Since then he has performed at the Royal Opera House, ENO, Bayerische Staatsoper Munich, WNO, Opera North, Scottish Opera, Glyndebourne Festival and Touring Opera, Houston Grand Opera, New Israeli Opera, and Minnesota Opera in a wide repertoire including Wotan and the Wanderer in the Ring, Amfortas/Parsifal, Kurwenal/Tristan und Isolde, Jokanaan/Salome, Figaro and Count Almaviva/Le Nozze di Figaro, the title roles in Eugene Onegin, Der Fliegende Holländer, Mazepa and Don Giovanni, Iago/Otello, Ford/Falstaff, Scarpia/Tosca, Marcello/La bohème, Escamillo/Carmen, Tomsky/The Queen of Spades, Khovansky/Khovanshchina, Nick Shadow/The Rake’s Progress, Mandryka/Arabella and Golaud/Pelleas et Melisande. http://www.ingpen.co.uk/artist_detail.php?aid=49

Lot RH1

Tosca 1955 signed by Renata Tabaldi, Ferruccio Tagliacini

Lot RH2

Tristan Und Isolde 1958 signed by Ramon Vinay and Birgit Nilsson

Lot RH3

Manon Lescaut 1951 signed by Victoria de los Angeles and Jess Walters

ANGELA HICKEY

Lot AH1

Image Makeover and Vocal Support!

Believe it or not, in addition to successful careers in opera and now teaching, Angela has another string to her bow.  As Angela Bailey, she is a leading Image Consultant with Colour Me Beautiful.
Angela is offering a top-of-the-range Image Makeover Consultation in her studio in Bristol.
In her teaching role, under the title of Vocal Support, Angela specialises in helping young singers on the threshold of their careers and those entering post-graduate courses at Conservatoire.
If Angela’s gift is bought for a young soprano or mezzo preparing for auditions, she will add a two-hour concentrated audition coaching session to the Image Makeover.
After giving expert advice on making and maintaining that all-important first impression, with her vast knowledge of the repertoire, Angela will work on musicality, use of language and ironing out any lingering vocal problems to produce a polished audition performance.
 

MURRAY HIPKIN

Coaching Sessions

Murray Hipkin has been a member of the Music Staff of English National Opera for most of his career and specialises in coaching opera and music theatre in English. For ENO he has conducted The Pirates of Penzance, The Mikado, The Gondoliers and Kismet, and elsewhere, La bohème (Surrey Opera, Opera Box), Salieri’s Falstaff, Haydn La vera costanza, Mozart Apollo and Hyacinth and Gluck Il Cinesi (Bampton Classical Opera) . His MD work includes Sondheim’s Sweeney Todd at Shawford Mill, Frome and over 170 performances of The Sound of Music at the London Palladium. Other freelance work has included assisting the composer John Adams and conducting on location for the award-winning Channel 4 film The Death of Klinghoffer, two projects with Björk including Pierrot Lunaire at the Verbier Festival and community and education projects with ENO Baylis. Since 2003 he has been Musical Director of the North London Chorus.
 

Lot MH1

1 hour coaching

Lot MH2

1 hour coaching

SARAH HOLDFORD

Lot SH1

2 tickets and 2 dinners Les Azuriales Opera Festival, Nice

The promise is for 2 tickets and 2 dinners for Il trionfo del tempo e del destino by Handel on 21st August at les Azuriales Opera Festival, Nice, France. See their website. http://www.azurialopera.com/

Whoever wins this will need to get themselves to Nice and provide their own accommodation.

http://www.azurialopera.com/

ROSEMARY JOSHUA

Lot RJ1

2 tickets for Vixen in Amsterdam

Rosemary Joshua's operatic appearances have included Adèle (Die Fledermaus) at the Metropolitan Opera, New York; Vixen (The Cunning Little Vixen) and Tytania (A Midsummer Night’s Dream) at La Scala, Milan; Anne Trulove (The Rake’s Progress) for the Glyndebourne Festival and at La Monnaie, Brussels; Zerlina (Don Giovanni) for the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden; Oscar (Un ballo in maschera) and Vixen for the Netherlands Opera and Susanna (Le nozze di Figaro) at the Glyndebourne Festival, the Bayerische Staatsoper, the Welsh National Opera and in Cologne. For the Royal Opera House she sang Anne Trulove.

The production of Cunning Little Vixen - Jan/Feb 2011 ( date to be chosen by the successful bidder) is by Richard Jones, designed by Anthony Macdonald and is a feast for eyes, ears and heart. It is incredibly moving. The International cast includes Robert Poulton as the Hunter, Dale Duesing as the Poacher and of course Rosemary Joshua in the title role of the Vixen. Rosy would be very happy to have a drink after the show with the lucky couple who get this promise and hopes to get a programme signed by the cast as a souvenir of what looks to be a wonderful, memorable evening in Amsterdam.

" I have to say, it is such an honour to be involved in something which is going to promote a bursary in Philip's name. He was a consummate artist whom I admired for decades, long before I began my own professional career. His energy, generosity and skills as an actor and singer were completely unique and truly inspiring" Rosemary Joshua

 

NORMAN LEBRECHT

Lot NL1

Signed copy of his new book “Why Mahler?”

Norman Lebrecht is a prolific and cultural commentator and an award-winning novelist.

He has written twelve books about music, which have been translated into 17 languages. Coming up in 2010 is Why Mahler?, a new interpretation of the most influential composer of modern times.  Also coming back in print is Mahler Remembered (Faber, 1987).

Norman Lebrecht's first novel The Song of Names won a Whitbread Award in 2003. His second, The Game of Opposites, was published in the US by Pantheon Books. A third is in preparation.

A collection of Lebrecht columns will be published this year in China, the first such anthology by any western cultural writer. A Lebrecht conversation appears monthly in The Strad, magazine of the strings professions
 

TASMIN LITTLE          

Lot TL1

Signed CDs  

Tasmin has played with many of the world's greatest orchestras in a career that has taken her to every continent of the world. In addition to her regular solo performances, she now play/directs orchestras such as Seattle Symphony, Norwegian Chamber, London Mozart Players, Royal Philharmonic, European Union Chamber Orchestra and Britten Sinfonia. In 2007/08 she joined the London Mozart Players as soloist and director in a tour of the UK which also featured her UK conducting debut.

As a concerto player, Tasmin's performances in the 2008/09 season took her back to the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam where she gave the World Premiere of a violin concerto by Robin de Raaff, and she will return in 2010 to the Concertgebouw to premiere a concerto by Willem Jeths. Other performances in 2009 include concerts in Utrecht, Seattle, Katowice, Belfast, Ireland, Spain and a major tour of China, where she continued her Naked Violin project as well as performing works from her new CD 'Partners in Time' with John Lenehan.

In 2008, Tasmin made her fifteenth appearance at the BBC Promenade Concerts in a performance of the Concerto for Violin and Horn by Dame Ethyl Smyth. She continues to champion seldom-performed repertoire, and has received critical acclaim as one of the few violinists to have mastered Ligeti's challenging violin concerto. Her 2003 tour with the Berlin Philharmonic and Sir Simon Rattle, during which she performed the concerto at the Proms, Berlin Philharmonie, the Salzburg Festival, New York's Carnegie Hall and Philadelphia's Kimmel Center, received unanimous critical acclaim ('the technical command was glorious' ­ The Guardian; 'very beautiful' ­ Berliner Morgenpost; 'a major violin talent' ­ Philadelphia Inquirer; 'a formidable soloist' ­ New York Times). In 2007 she returned to the work with the Göteborg Symphony and at the Concertgebouw, Amsterdam.
 

DAME FELICITY LOTT

Lot FL1

A Singing Lesson

Dame Felicity Lott is one of Britain's best-loved sopranos. In opera, her portrayals of the Strauss and Mozart roles in particular have led to critical and popular acclaim worldwide. Her concert engagements take her to the major orchestras, working with Rattle, Haitink, Mehta, Previn, Masur, Welser-Möst, Sawallisch and Sir Andrew Davis. Much of her concert and recital repertoire is recorded, as are many of her great operatic roles: from her wonderful Marschallin under Carlos Kleiber to her Belle Helene, with which she enchanted the Parisians when she sang the role for the first time at the Chatelet in Paris in 2000.  A founder member of The Songmakers' Almanac, Felicity has appeared on the major recital platforms of the world and in June 2005 she celebrated the 30th anniversary of her recital debut at the Wigmore Hall.   A noted exponent of French song, she has been awarded the title Officier de l'Ordre des Arts et des Lettres and the Legion d’Honneur by the French Government. She was made a CBE in the 1990 New Year Honours and, in 1996, was created a Dame Commander of the British Empire.   In February 2003 she was awarded the title of Bayerische Kammersängerin.

DENNIS MARKS

Lot DM1

A Week in Puglia

A three bedroom campania in an acre of garden/orchard. Kitchen, living room, study, bathroom and wc. Thirty minutes drive from Brindisi airport and sixty five minutes from Bari. Fifteen minutes drive from the Adriatic. Nothing posh but surrounded by olive groves and market gardens. It's free for the whole of  July and after the first week in September.

JOHN RAMSTER  

Lot JR1

A one-to-one working session on audition arias, or getting into character or stagecraft

John Ramster is a director, teacher and writer. As well as freelance directing, latterly for the Belgrade National Opera, Opera Theatre Company, London Handel Festival and the Iford festival, John has been drama professor for the Royal Academy Opera and Vocal Faculty for the last eight years where he is an elected Honorary Associate and has taught at all the major British conservatoires as well as the Porto Casa da Musica and the Academia Solti Te Kanawa.
 

MARTIN ROSCOE

Lot MR1

A Piano Lesson

One of Britain’s most prolific recitalists, Martin Roscoe performs at the Wigmore Hall every season. His chamber music partnerships include some long standing collaborations with artists such as Tasmin Little, Michael Collins, Jennifer Pike, Ashley Wass, Steven Osborne, the Leopold String Trio and the Brodsky, Endellion and Maggini Quartets. His piano duo with Peter Donohoe, formed in student days, has resulted in recordings that include a Gershwin disc, selected as Editor's Choice in Gramophone magazine, and a Rachmaninov disc, reviewed in February 2007’s BBC Music Magazine as “a remarkable achievement”. One of his most important chamber music partnerships has developed only in recent seasons: the Cropper Welsh Roscoe Trio with Peter Cropper and Moray Welsh. Together this trio have performed across the UK with highlights including BBC broadcasts, a performance at Wigmore Hall, recordings of the Beethoven Trios, a forthcoming engagement in Ischia at the former home of William Walton and a series at London’s newest venue, King’s Place.
 

SUSIE SELF

Lot SS1

A Solo Sound Healing session for one and a half hours with Susie Self in North London

Susie Self is a singer, composer, painter and facilitator. She is passionately devoted to releasing the  creative spark in each of us and  uses a gentle Shamanic/Jungian-based approach. Susie most recently sung Ma Moss in Copland’s “The Tender Land” for Lyon Opera and Mrs Grose in Salzburg. She was a “house mezzo” at Antwerp and Strasbourg for 7 years. She teaches holistic voice and sound healing at  Skyros in Greece, Rancho La Puerta in Mexico and Esalen in California.
For further information go to: www.selfmademusic.co.uk

PHILIP SHEFFIELD

Lot PS1

Two top price tickets to the premiere of David Alden’s new production of “Peter Grimes” at the Vlaamse Opera in Antwerp

Philip Sheffield is offering two top price tickets to the premiere of David Alden’s new production of “Peter Grimes” at the Vlaamse Opera in Antwerp which was first seen at ENO last year. The premiere is on 13^th June 2010. You will also be invited to the First Night reception where you can meet David Alden and stars of the production including Jorma Silvasti, Judith Howarth, Peter Sidholm and Leigh Melrose.

If the winner or highest bidder would prefer to come to a later performance this can be arranged but without the reception!! Further performances in Antwerp on 16^th,19^th,22^nd, 24^th, 27^th June. Gent 3^rd, 6^th, 8^th, 10^th July.  Both Antwerp and Gent are cities well worth a visit so why not combine with a thrilling performance of “Peter Grimes”

 This is a chance to see one of the roles that Philip Langridge made his own, at the Vlaamse Opera in Antwerp and an invitation to the first night reception. Hotel and travel not included.

TOBY SPENCE

Lot TS1

2 tickets at ENO this Autumn, followed by a backstage tour and dinner afterwards at a good restaurant in Covent Garden. *SOLD*

Toby Spence has sung with Scottish Opera, Welsh National Opera, English National Opera, the Royal Opera, Covent Garden, the Monnaie, Brussels, San Francisco Opera, the Paris Opera, the Bavarian State Opera, the Teatro Real, Madrid and at the Salzburg, Aix-en-Provence and Edinburgh festivals. Current projects include Tom Rakewell  (“The Rake’s Progress”) for the Paris Opera, the Theater an der Wien, the Teatro Real, Madrid and the Royal Opera; Pylade (“Iphigenie en Tauride”) in Hamburg; Candide for English National Opera and Tito (“La clemenza di Tito”) with the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment.  
This season his engagements include his debut with the Vienna Philharmonic and Rattle (Elgar “The Dream of Gerontius”), his debut at the Metropolitan Opera, as Laertes (“Hamlet”), his return to the Royal Opera for Tom Rakewell and to the Bavarian State Opera for Henry Morosus in the new production of “Die Schweigsame Frau”.  Next season he will make his debut with Chicago Lyric Opera as Nanki-Poo (“The Mikado”) and sing both Don Ottavio and Peter Quint for the Glyndebourne Festival.
 

RICHARD SUART

Lot RS1

Signed copies of his book  “They’d none of ‘em be missed”

Richard Suart was born in Lancashire, and studied at St John’s College, Cambridge, and the Royal Academy of Music. He began his operatic career with the English Music Theatre Company and Opera Factory, and is now much sought after, particularly in music theatre, contemporary opera and, of course, as a comedian in the more standard repertoire.

He has worked for all the major British opera houses, including performances of The Mikado (Ko-Ko), Die Fledermaus (Frank), La Bohème (Benoit and Alcindoro) and The Pirates of Penzance (Major-General Stanley) for English National Opera; at Opera North he created the role of Stan Stock in Benedict Mason’s Playing Away; and for Welsh National Opera and at Covent Garden he sang Jack Point in The Yeomen of the Guard. At Garsington he has sung Don Magnifico in La Cenerentola, and Antonio in Le Nozze di Figaro, and at Grange Park, the Lord Chancellor in Iolanthe and Don Inigo Gomez in L’Heure Espagnole. He has been a member of the D’Oyly Carte since 1988 and has sung many of the Savoy operas for them, also Orpheus in the Underworld and La Vie Parisienne.

Richard will be also be signing books on the night.

SARAH WALKER CBE

Lot SW1

Sarah's BOX OF BLING *SOLD*

Early promise of a career as a violinist or ‘cellist was abandoned when Sarah discovered the amount of daily practice an instrumentalist must undertake to have a chance of success in that field. Singing held more attractions (too much practice tires the voice!) and now, a legion of operatic roles, countless concerts, an encyclopaedic recital and recording repertoire and a zillion hotel rooms later, she is delighted to hang up her frocks, and enjoy the next generation strutting their stuff. She is immensely proud of her C.B.E. awarded in 1991.

Sarah’s Box of Blling includes various items lovingly selected from her humongous collection of jewels suitable for adorning a colourful lady prone to taking advice, when it comes to frocks for special occasions, from the legendary Dame Edna.  The star piece is perhaps the Union Flag pair of earrings which were made by a fan in response to the second appearance as a flag-draped Britannia at the Last Night of the Proms.

Lot SW2

Sarah's CBE Hat

Dressing up was always a delight but HATs were a different matter. Sarah has always sported a 'hairdo' after all, and hats have a distressing tendency to ruin a carefully created coiffure! So, when choosing one in which to meet the Queen, she turned to Harrods, of course, where she found the perfect creation: a mixture of glamour and mystery - to which she confesses she added another rose or two 'just to balance the chosen outfit'!   She quite enjoyed wearing it on the day and packed it tenderly away in its box after - where it has languished ever since, like Sleeping Beauty! As one of the more understated pieces in her wardrobe, Sarah is quite sad to see it go but this is indeed a special cause and, to coin a phrase, every little helps - and she hopes you will too!
 

ANNE WILLIAMS-KING

Lot AWG1

A weekend with us, half way up a mountain in a converted barn in the wilds of North Wales (8 miles to Llangollen). Plus a singing lesson and general hospitality

Anne Williams-King first leapt to prominence as winner of both the Soprano Prize and the David Lloyd Memorial Prize. This launched her international career, taking her throughout Europe, and further afield to Australia, the USA and South America. She was a prize winner also in The Belgian Bel Canto Competition; the Cardiff Singer of the World and was awarded the Peter Styvesant Scholarship. She studied at the Royal Northern College of Music under Frederick Cox.

CATHERINE  WYN-ROGERS

Lot CWR1

A  painting - her own *SOLD*

Catherine Wyn-Rogers appears with the major British orchestras and at the Three Choirs, Edinburgh and Aldeburgh Festivals and at the BBC Proms. She appears regularly on the opera stage and has worked with Scottish Opera, Welsh National Opera, Opera North, English National Opera, the Salzburg Festival, Bavarian State Opera, Netherlands Opera and is a regular guest with the Royal Opera, Covent Garden. Her opera engagements include both First Norn and Erda under Pappano for the Royal Opera, Erda and Waltraute (“Goetterdammerung”) under Mehta in Valencia and Florence, Filipyevna (“Eugene Onegin”) for the Lyric Opera of Chicago, Hexe (“Königskinder”) in Munich and Britten’s Phaedra in Bordeaux