Classical and Jazz: Preview - Mozart's Clemency of Titus. Upstairs at the Gatehouse
Published: 15 April 2010
by SEBASTIAN TAYLOR
LIVELY, likeable Hampstead Garden Opera (HGO) is taking up the challenge of putting on Mozart’s rarely performed The Clemency of Titus at Upstairs at the Gatehouse in Highgate Village, starting next Thursday and running to May 2.
Although highly popular in its day, the opera has an undeserved reputation of being a tedious bore compared with Mozart’s great works. But it has some splendid duets, trios and ensembles that deserve to be appreciated by Mozart fans in a live performance
The HGO is again enlisting a double-cast of young professional singers as soloists. Among them is young Hampstead Garden Suburb soprano Lucy Roberts taking the part of Servilia, initially Emporer Titus’s chosen love.
Lucy has lived in Hampstead Garden Suburb all her life, attending Fairseat Junior in Highgate and then Henrietta Barnett, singing in the choir at St Jude’s and the New London Children’s Choir under Ronald Corp.
She spent her sixth-form years at the Royal College of Music’s junior department and then read music at Cambridge and she will be starting her post-grad masters at the Guildhall School of Music in September.
• Mozart’s Clemency of Titus, Hampstead Garden Opera, Upstairs at the Gatehouse, Highgate, April 22, 23, 24 then 29, 30 & May 1 at 7.30pm; April 25 & May 2 at 4pm. £20/con£18 (except April 22 & 23, £18/con £16) 020 8340 3488