Based on the Old Testament prophet, Elijah, Mendelssohn’s oratorio is a masterpiece in action packed musical storytelling.

In the grip of a terrible drought, Elijah claims that the people only have themselves to blame as they, including Queen Jezebel, worship the false god, Baal.  Fire descending from heaven marks the conclusion of the challenge between God and Baal, with Elijah proving that his God is the true and only one.  Turning to God the people’s prayers are answered with the arrival of rain on the parched land, however their faith is short lived.

The fury of Queen Jezebel, forces Elijah in to exile.   Feeling a failure, dejected, asking God to take his life, he is consoled by angels.  Nature quivers at God’s approach with tempest, earthquake and fire.  Finally, Elijah hears the still, small voice of God.  Transformed and spiritually strengthened Elijah returns to his task, before eventually departing to heaven in a fiery chariot.

Mendelssohn’s wonderful music depicts every detail of this dramatic and compelling story with imaginative orchestration and beautiful arias.  With thrilling, energetic choruses and hushed, reflective scenes the choir are delighted to be performing this much-loved work.

Soprano (The Widow) – Catherine Hamilton
Catherine was the first singer to be awarded a Junior Exhibitioner’s scholarship in the history of the Royal Academy of Music at the age of ten.  After gaining a BA Hons in Music and English from Southampton University, she returned to the RAM on the post-graduate opera course and was awarded the Diploma of Advanced Studies and an LRAM with Distinction. During her time there, she was chosen to be a soloist for an official recording for HRH Prince William.

Catherine is a versatile performer whose international career has encompassed opera, oratorio, recitals and musical theatre.  She made her West End debut in the acclaimed production of Masterclass and toured Germany as Christine in ‘Das Phantom der Oper’. Her many operatic roles have taken her throughout Europe and closer to home for Opera Holland Park’s summer season and Devon Opera’s recent Autumn Gala.

As a soloist for oratorio, Catherine has sung extensively in major venues across the UK and Europe and her recital highlights include singing for the ambassador at the Spanish Institute and The Barbican in London. She was also chosen for the regional premiere of ‘The Great War Symphony’ by Patrick Hawes and a specially commissioned work for the Mayflower 400 celebrations.

Mezzo-soprano (Queen Jezebel) – Clare McCaldin
Mezzo-soprano Clare McCaldin began her singing life as a choral scholar at Clare College, Cambridge. Described by The Independent as “an outstanding singing-actress”, she brings charm, charisma and passion to her live performances.

In oratorio she has performed with the Academy of Ancient Music/King’s College, Cambridge (Bach B Minor Mass), The Three Choirs Festival (Mozart Requiem, Handel Messiah), Barokksolistene (Bach, St Mark Passion), the Orchestra of the Golden Age (Messiah), the Northern Sinfonia (Bach, B Minor Mass), Harrogate Choral Society (Rossini Stabat Mater), Ryedale Festival and St Albans Bach Choir (Rossini, Petite Messe Solennelle). She made her solo debut at the 2012 BBC Proms in Debussy’s The Martyrdom of St Sebastian with the BBCSO, which also opened the 2014 Edinburgh International Festival.

Clare is in demand as an ensemble musician, working with artists such as Libby Burgess, Iain Burnside, Simon Lepper, Andrew West, the Brodsky Quartet and Berkeley Ensemble. She has appeared in recitals at the Royal Opera House, Ludlow English Song Weekend, Oxford Lieder and Presteigne Festival.

Clare has recorded songs by Hugh Wood (NMC) and Ned Rorem (Champs Hill Records) as well as a significant body of mezzo-soprano repertoire written especially for her, notably Stephen McNeff’s Madrigali dell’Estate and Vivienne. She has also recorded the role of Miss Tina in Michael Hurd’s The Aspern Papers (Lyrita) and Mrs Fairfax/Hannah in John Joubert’s Jane Eyre (Somm).

Clare has sung as a soloist with Sir Antonio Pappano, Vladimir Jurowski and Esa Pekka-Salonen. Her operatic roles include Fox The Cunning Little Vixen/Örsze Hary Janos (Ryedale Festival) Meg Page Falstaff (Iford Arts), Oreste La Belle Helene (Diva Opera),  In contemporary opera, Clare has appeared as the Stardust Seller (The Gentle Giant, ROH Linbury), the Mezzo Actor (A Night at the Chinese Opera, Scottish Opera) and Mezzo Cautioner (Cautionary Tales, Opera North), as well as works in development at ROH, Opera North, WNO and Aldeburgh Music. Clare’s one-woman operas Vivienne (2013) and Mary’s Hand (2018) were reviewed with ✮✮✮✮✮ by the Evening Standard and Independent respectively.

Tenor (Obadiah and Ahab) – Robyn Lyn Evans
Robyn Lyn Evans is from Ceredigion in mid Wales and is a postgraduate of the Royal College of Music, a graduate of Trinity College Carmarthen, and recipient of the Stuart Burrows Bursary.

His operatic roles include Rodolfo La bohème (English National Opera, Mid Wales Opera, Diva Opera); Don José, Carmen, Alfredo La traviata and Macduff Macbeth (Scottish Opera); Lord Cecil and Roberto Devereux, Ismaele Nabucco, Lord Hervey Anna Bolena (Welsh National Opera); Malcolm Macbeth (Opera North); Don Ottavio Don Giovanni and Rodolfo La bohème (English Touring Opera); Pinkerton Madama Butterfly and Ruggero La rondine (West Green House Opera); Lensky Eugene Onegin, Luigi Il tabarro (Mid Wales Opera); Duke of Mantua Rigoletto (Opera Project, Longborough Festival Opera); Cavaradossi Tosca, Rinuccio Gianni Schicchi and Fenton Falstaff (Opera Project); Nemorino L’elisir d’amore; and Alfred Die Fledermaus (Pavilion Opera).

Robyn can be frequently heard on the concert platform with countless performances from the oratorio repertoire and appearances which have taken him to the Royal Albert Hall, Royal Philharmonic Hall Liverpool, Usher Hall Edinburgh, St David’s Hall Cardiff, as well as guest soloist with choirs touring Europe.

Baritone (Elijah) – Thomas Humphreys
Thomas Humphreys is fast establishing himself as one of the most in demand baritones of his generation.

In opera, his roles include Don Giovanni (Don Giovanni), Il Conte Almaviva (Le nozze di Figaro), Guglielmo (Cosi fan tutte), Escamillo (Carmen), Marcello (La boheme), Tomsky (Pique Dame), Jake Wallace (La fanciulla del West) among others for many of the major opera companies across the UK. He was recently critically acclaimed for his role as Il Conte Almaviva in Dorset Festival Opera’s production of Le nozze di Figaro, with Opera Magazine stating ‘Thomas Humphreys’ finely-sung alpha-male Count mixed Marlon Brando-like virility with baffled authority’.

Thomas recently made his debut at the Philharmonie de Paris, the Salle de la Cite de la Musique also in Paris and the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation in Lisbon, performing concerts of Schubert Lieder with the worldwide renowned pianist Maria João Pires, for which he was universally acclaimed. Other recital work has taken him across the UK and to Italy, Russia and Bulgaria.

Thomas is equally in high demand on the concert platform, regularly performing with the premiere choirs and orchestras in the UK, notably the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, English Symphony Orchestra, the London Mozart Players and the City of London Choir. He recently made his Royal Festival Hall debut singing Requiem (Verdi) with the London Mozart Players. His repertoire includes Messiah (Handel), Elijah (Mendelssohn), St. John Passion (Bach), Christmas Oratorio (Bach), Ein deutches Requiem (Brahms), Requiem (Mozart), Requiem (Faure), The Creation (Haydn), Nelson Mass (Haydn), Five Mystical Songs (Vaughan Williams).

During the pandemic, Thomas was proud to serve as a Police Constable on Response with Dorset Police for two years before returning to singing. He lives in Dorset with his wife Emily, their two daughters and their Labrador, Rory.

 

CHRISTOPHER FLETCHER  Conductor

Christopher Fletcher considers himself to be both fortunate and privileged to have been Plymouth Philharmonic Choir’s conductor since 1996, during which time the choir has come to be recognised as one of the best in the South West. As well as the choir’s regular concerts with professional orchestras and soloists in Plymouth he has conducted the choir in cathedrals and churches all over Europe, including Notre Dame in Paris.

Christopher was born in Leeds. At an early age he began to show considerable musical talent. At the age of ten he won the Northern Choirboy’s Championship in Harrogate singing Hear ye Israel from Mendelssohn’s Elijah and two years after this he became the first boy treble in the Bradford Diocese to be awarded the R.S.C.M. St. Nicolas Award.

In 1978 Christopher was awarded a scholarship to study at Trinity College of Music, London. After graduating Christopher moved to South Devon, since when he has been actively involved in choral singing, church music and teaching. He has been organist and Master of Music at Plymouth R. C. Cathedral since 2001, previously holding a similar post at the Parish and Priory Church of St. Mary, Totnes.

Christopher is a former conductor of the Stanborough Chorus, The Lupridge Singers, The Chagford Singers and the South Devon Choir.

As well as being in demand as a workshop teacher, Christopher helped to found the annual Rotary Club Come and Sing in1999.This is now an annual event which, under his direction, regularly attracts two hundred singers from all over Devon and beyond.

In 2008 he was awarded a Paul Harris Fellowship by Rotary International.