Anna Gregg, Soprano - Gabriel, Haydn’s The Creation 2024
“I have found working with the Scherzo Ensemble to be an absolutely wonderful experience from start to finish, for several reasons. Matthew O'Keefe is a brilliant conductor, who ran rehearsals extremely professionally and had such brilliant attention to musical detail and text. I was so glad of the rehearsal time with the orchestra, which allowed me to relax in the performance and perform to the best of my ability without worrying that something musical wouldn't quite match up. I was very impressed with the quality of the performances as a result. This opportunity was so valuable to me at this early stage in my career, especially as critics and potential agents come to these sorts of things, and I am now in touch with a whole new creative network of other musicians and dancers too. I am so thankful for the opportunity, and I would jump at the chance to work with such a fantastic professional company again.”
Jack Dolan - Ernesto, Donizetti’s Don Pasquale 2024
“I sang the role of Ernesto with Longhope Opera in summer 2024. It was a thoroughly enjoyable experience for me, and it was a pleasure to work with the whole creative team. Longhope is providing an opportunity which is sadly in decline at present: the opportunity for young singers to work on full roles, in a full production, with orchestra and in the original language. Unlike other summer festivals which have Young Artist Programmes, Longhope gives singers the opportunity to actually perform operas in full rather than paired down versions. I believe that Longhope is a thoroughly viable and valuable organisation as it stands, and could expand to be a main player in the British summer festival scene with the unique draw of enabling young singers to have all the performance benefits of their more experienced colleagues.”
Daniella Sicari - Norina, Donizetti’s Don Pasquale 2024
“I’ve worked for Longhope Opera as a principal artist twice now and I am extremely grateful this company exists. As an early career artist, Scherzo Ensemble plays a fundamental role in the growth of young singers and the stepping stones for artists as they navigate the music industry. It is a young company and I have a lot of respect for the team that make these productions happen. The more financial support and people power this company gets, the more possibility there will be for this company. At the moment they run on a very small team and even with that, they make so much happen and get so much done. Scherzo Ensemble has a lot of potential to make an impact in this very crucial turning point of people’s careers. It gives singers an opportunity to prepare and perform full roles in staged productions. It also offers singers a place to invite industry professionals to see them in action in a professional setting. On site, they look after singers with travel, meals and accommodation which is appreciated when we are working hard in the lead up to shows. I can’t reiterate how important it is that this company exists for artists and audiences alike.”
