Meet six soloists

Director Neil Kirkman’s tweaking of the La Sonnambula plot sets the Opera in a Nursing Home. Combined with Graham Billing’s witty translation this gives great potential for comic antics and dialogue ensuring some laugh out loud moments in the show. 

However this beautiful music demands some astonishing skill, technique and stamina by the singers to perform it.  And we certainly have some rather spectacular voices to convey just that…

Sarah Grosvenor (soprano) plays Amina (the sleepwalker) who is portrayed as the Nurse in this production. Now a doctor, Sarah began her musical training as head chorister at Edinburgh’s St Mary’s Cathedral singing in several BBC Radio 3 broadcasts. She studied Modern and Medieval Languages at Cambridge.

Rupert Drury (tenor) plays Elvino, a Doctor who is also Amina’s fiancée. Rupert was Head Chorister at Ripon Cathedral before studying at Durham University and the Royal Academy of Music. He is currently Director of Music at Bath’s King Edward’s School and has played several lead roles with Bath Opera and other UK companies.

Niall Hoskin (bass) plays Rodolfo, a Care Quality Commissioner. He sang in Clare College Choir, Cambridge where he read Modern Languages, and then with Dorset Opera. Subsequently Niall’s opera performances have included many title roles and this will be his 14th main production with Bath Opera.

Gill Clark (mezzo-soprano) plays Teresa, the Cook. A principal singer with Bath Opera for over 30 years, Gill is equally at home on the concert platform as well as on the operatic stage. She is a founder member of Operaletta and has sung with Shawford Opera along with many choral societies in the South West.

Sophie Kirk Harris (soprano) plays Lisa, the care home manager. Born in Germany, Sophie sung with the Stuttgart Youth Opera before studying at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama. Having sung in many opera roles she has also co-founded the company Opera Boots making opera more accessible to children.

Robert Felstead (baritone) plays Alexis, Lisa’s suitor. He sings as a soloist ranging from oratorio to Gilbert and Sullivan wit choirs and companies from Swindon to London. Robert is turning to Grand Opera for a greater challenge and is also the Musical Director for Swindon-based Theatre Ink.

And in addition to these six stars there is also chorus of 36 singers who are actually on stage for most of the opera, accompanied by an orchestra of 13 instrumentalists all under the baton of our talented Musical Director, Peter Blackwood. 

It’s going to be an epic night out!

La Sonnambula

The Sleepwalker

21 – 23 February 2019, 7:30pm
Roper Theatre, Upper Oldfield Park, Bath BA2 3LA
Tickets: £20.00-£27.00 

£10 student tickets on Thursday
Gala Night on Saturday