Join me in conversation with the wonderful Matthew Rose on the 'All Things Opera' vlog and podcast. ✨ Folkestone on Song: https://www.soundsfolkestone.co.uk/initiatives/folkestone-on-song/ Spoleto Vocal Arts Workshop: https://www.mahler-lewitt.org/spoleto-vocal-arts-workshop Matthew Rose: British bass Matthew Rose studied at the Curtis Institute of Music before becoming a member of the Young Artist Programme at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden. Matthew's international career has seen him enjoy a close relationship with The Metropolitan Opera, for whom he gave his 100th performance in 2022. His roles there include Filippo II and Monk (Don Carlos), Raimondo (Lucia di Lammermoor), Claudio (Agrippina), Masetto and Leporello (Don Giovanni), Oroveso (Norma), Ashby (La Fanciulla del West), Talbot (Maria Stuarda), Bottom (A Midsummer Night's Dream), Night Watchman (Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg), Frère Laurent (Roméo et Juliette) and Colline (La bohème). The 2024/25 season includes returning to the role of Fasolt in Das Rheingold for the Bayerische Staatsoper, and performances of Rocco in Fidelio with the Opéra National de Bordeaux. On the concert platform, Matthew sings Bruckner's Mass No. 3 with the SWR Symphonieorchester, Mussorgsky's Songs and Dances of Death with the London Philharmonic Orchestra, and returns to Winterreise in performances across the United Kingdom.

Join me in conversation with the fabulous Kim Begley on the 'All Things Opera' vlog and podcast. ✨ Kim Begley is best known for his long and distinguished career as one of the UK’s leading dramatic Tenors. Since his debut in 1982 with the Royal Opera House Covent Garden , Kim went on to sing over forty principal roles; He sang regularly with the Metropolitan Opera New York, Lyric Opera Chicago, San Francisco, Hong Kong, Japan, Bayreuth, Vienna Staatsoper, Berlin, Salzburg, Munich, Frankfurt, Geneva, La Scala, Florence, Bastille and Chatelet , Aix en Provence Festival and Paris Opera. In the UK Kim was a regular guest artist with ENO, Glyndebourne and WNO. Kim also enjoyed a busy and demanding International concert career appearing regularly with major orchestras at The Proms, Carnegie Hall, Tanglewood etc Prior to his singing career Kim studied costume making and set design at Wimbledon school of Art before commencing work as a professional actor. In 1978 Kim became a member of the Royal Shakespeare Company where he collaborated with directors Trevor Nunn and John Barton, before being discovered as a promising vocal talent gaining a Gulbenkian scholarship to study at the Guildhall School of Music . Kim graduated from the Guildhall in 1981 and was invited to join the Royal Opera house Covent Garden as a principal Tenor. Kim made many recordings and in 2003 was the recipient of a Grammy Award for his interpretation of ‘Mefistofeles’ in Busoni’s Doctor Faustus with conductor Kent Nagano. He was also nominated for an Olivier Award for his performance as Parsifal with English National Opera. His discography includes “Das Rheingold” and “Salome” (Dohnanyi) “Falstaff” (Solti) “Leonora” (Elliot Gardner), “Flying Dutchman” (Parry Chandos). His Live performance Opera Streamings include Herod “ Salome”, Pierre “ War and Peace” from The Metropolitan Opera New York and King Roger from Covent Garden. Alongside his busy schedule Kim has whenever possible nurtured his passion for directing and design. Drawing on his varied theatrical career Kim has created numerous innovative and original productions involving young people across the UK. Directing highlights include Beckett “ Krapps last Tape” and Arthur Koppits “ Indians” at the Chester Gateway Theatre, John Mortimers “The Dock Brief” and “What shall We Tell Caroline” at the Cellar theatre Hemel Hempstead and Mortimers” A Voyage round my Father” at South Hill Park Theatre Bracknell., “ Tons of Money” and “All My Sons” by Arthur Miller and” Stags and Hens” by Willy Russell for Trinity Theatre Tunbridge Wells. In 2001 Kim devised and directed” Dream Time” for the Tobacco Factory Bristol .” Dream Time” was an amalgamation of Shakespeare’s ” A Midsummer Nights Dream” with Brittens Opera . Other theatre credits include a highly acclaimed production of” Sweeney Todd” at Shawford Mill Theatre and a dramatasied performance of “ Brittens War Requiem” at the Falkland Island memorial Chapel Pangbourne . In 1990 Kim founded the Broomhill International Opera Course with the late Jonathan Miller and conductor Nicholas Cleobury to provide a platform for young Opera singers from all over the world. Kim also works with the Wagner Society coaching potential young Heldon Tenors in the Wagner repertoire. After thirty five years, Kim retired from singing in 2018 following the highly acclaimed premier of Brett Deans Opera “Hamlet” at the Glyndebourne Festival . In 2021 Kim was involved in the development of a unique and exciting project at the Grange in Hampshire, a collaboration between Kim and director Keith Warner hatched in the back of a taxi whilst rehearsing in Vienna. Known as the Lear Project, it was a unique experiment involving some of our finest British singers performing Shakespeare’s “ King Lear” , the spoken word as opposed to the vocal line . It received great acclaim, Sir John Tomlinson as Lear, Kim as the Fool, Sir Thomas Allan as Gloucester and Susan Bullock as Regan amongst others. Since retiring to Ludlow, Kim has collaborated successfully with Two Score Theatre company on “All the worlds a stage “, which was a celebration of Shakespeare’s work to mark the 400th Anniversary of his death. Kim designed and directed a fully staged performances of Anhouill’s “Becket” in St Lawrences Church Ludlow. He is in demand judging competitions and giving Masterclasses which he enjoys immensely.