Wagner Verdi Recital Monday 23 September 2013, 1pm – Hamlyn Hall

Monika-Evelin Liiv​ - Mezzo-soprano
James Edwards ​- Tenor
Helen Nicholas​ - Piano
Jean-Paul Pruna ​- Piano
 
Liszt​Rigoletto Paraphrase
​​​Helen Nicholas (piano)
 
Verdi​L’esule
​James Edwards (tenor)
 
Verdi​O dischiuso è il firmamento!, from Nabucco, Act IV
​Monika-Evelin Liiv (Fenena)
 
Verdi​De miei bollenti spiriti, from La traviata, Act II
​James Edwards (Alfredo)
 
Verdi​Stride la vampa, from Il trovatore, Act III
​Monika-Evelin Liiv (Acuzena)
 
Verdi​Ella mi fu rapita, from Rigoletto, Act II
James Edwards (Duca)
 
– pause –
 
Fauré/Messager​Souvenirs de Bayreuth
Helen Nicholas, Jean-Paul Pruna (piano)
 
Wagner​Träume, from Wesendonck Lieder
​Monika-Evelin Liiv (mezzo-soprano)
 
Wagner​Prize Song, from Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg, Act III
​James Edwards (Walther von Stoltzing)
 
Liszt​Isoldens Liebestod
​Helen Nicholas (piano)
 
James Edwards : Tenor
British tenor
 
Monika-Evelin Liiv : Mezzo-soprano
Estonian mezzo-soprano
 
Helen Nicholas : Piano

British pianist Helen Nicholas is a recent graduate of the Royal Academy of Music, where she studied for a Masters with Carole Presland. She performed in masterclasses given by Joanna MacGregor, Steven Osborne and Freddy Kempf and received the Christian Carpenter Recital Prize for her performance of Ravel Gaspard de la nuit. She was also awarded the Greta Parkinson Prize for her achievements and successfully completed the Licentiate Teaching Diploma (LRAM).

She previously graduated with a First Class Honours Degree from Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance, where she studied with Hilary Coates and the late Yonty Solomon. She received the Nancy Thomas Prize for the highest achieving undergraduate pianist and represented Trinity in the Beethoven Piano Society of Europe's Senior Intercollegiate Piano Competition. She performs frequently as a soloist and with musicians from the London Philharmonic Orchestra, Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra and Royal Scottish National Orchestra.

Her concert repertory includes concertos by Rachmaninoff, Schumann, Gershwin and Shostakovich. She joined the Jette Parker Young Artists Programme in September 2012 and gave her first performance with the Programme at LSO St Luke’s s for Southbank Sinfonia’s 10th Birthday Gala. She principally works with The Royal Ballet and has joined the Royal Ballet music staff for In the Hothouse, Viscera, Concerto, Las Hermanas, Requiem, Don Quixote, The Nutcracker, The Firebird, Raymonda, 24 Preludes, Aeternum, Onegin, La Valse, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and La Bayadère, to be followed by Raven Girl. She has also played for duets/solos from Flower Festival of Genzano, The Prince of the Pagodas and Two Pigeons for education events. Next season, she will join the Royal Ballet music staff for Don Quixote, Romeo and Juliet, The Nutcracker, Giselle, The Sleeping Beauty, Sweet Violets and The Dream.