Hans Werner Henze El Cimarron

Directed by Tim Carroll, with lighting by Simon Opie, and design by Soutra Gilmour, El Cimarron - Henze’s tale of a runaway Cuban slave - was given an unconducted performance at the RNCM in Manchester, 1999 before touring to the Bath Festival, the Cheltenham Festival, and the Henze Festival at Queen Elizabeth Hall in London.

Baritone (Kelvin Thomas)

Psappha Ensemble (4 musicians)

A remarkable performance of an extraordinary piece where words, music and lighting were used to stunning effect. GLOUCESTERSHIRE ECHO

Ronald Caltabiano Marrying the Hangman

Ronald Caltabiano’s music-theatre work Marrying the Hangman is based on a short story by Margaret Atwood, written especially for Psappha. First performed at the Cheltenham International Festival 1999, Psappha took Marrying the Hangman to the Guggenheim, New York, to San Francisco and to Sacramento in a production directed by Benjamin Twist. Soutra Gilmour was the designer, with lighting from Simon Opie.

Mezzo Soprano (Phyllis Bryn-Julson/Ruth Peel) Conductor (Nicholas Kok)

Psappha Ensemble (6 musicians)

This is an exciting work which packs plenty of dramatic punch. Psappha under Nicholas Kok gave a characteristic committed performance. Ruth Peel triumphed in a triple role. GLOUCESTERSHIRE ECHO

Igor Stravinsky The Soldier’s Tale

Psappha performed The Soldier’s Tale in a production directed by Elaine Tyler-Hall, design by Becky Brown and lighting by Simon Opie. Highly acclaimed, this production visited the Lowry, Salford and the Buxton and Cheltenham Festivals in 2002.

Narrator (Robert Tear) Soldier (David John) Devil (Michael Rolnick) Princess (Maxine Fone)
Conductor (John Carewe)

Psappha Ensemble (7 musicians)

The Soldier’s Tale made much more dramatic sense than usual thanks to the colourful characterisation and choreography of Elaine Tyler-Hall’s ambitious production. The poised performances (of the singers) made a stunning counterpoint to the musicianship of Psappha’s instrumental ensemble. MANCHESTER EVENING NEWS

Mark-Anthony Turnage Twice Through the Heart

Twice Through the Heart is an opera based on Jackie Kay’s poem and tells the shocking true-life story of a woman who murders her husband following years of violent abuse. Directed by Tim Carroll, with lighting by Simon Opie and design by Soutra Gilmour, this was performed by Psappha at the Lowry in October 2001.

Soprano (Sarah Castle) Conductor (Baldur Brönnimann)

Psappha Ensemble (16 musicians)

György Ligeti Aventures & Nouvelles Aventures

Ligeti’s Aventures & Nouvelles Aventures combines meaningless texts with emotional, yet abstract, music. Directed by Stephen Langridge, design by Delia Peel and lighting by Simon Opie, this production was very well received at the Lowry, Salford in 2001.

Soprano (Nicole Tibbels) Mezzo Soprano (Linda Hirst) Baritone (Omar Ebrahim) Conductor (Garry Walker)

Psappha Ensemble (7 musicians)

The three singers…were rewarded with an enthusiastic reception from the audience after their performance. Psappha’s members demonstrated great skill and artistry in this idiom. MANCHESTER ON STAGE

Peter Maxwell Davies Mr Emmet Takes a Walk

A black comedy from world-renowned director David Poutney, Mr Emmet follows the journey of a businessman pursuing his ultimate contract. The production, with design by Robert Innes Hopkins and lighting by Davy Cunningham, for which Psappha won the Manchester Evening News Opera Award 2000, has since toured Scotland in 2000, Paris, Rotterdam and Antwerp in 2001 and toured England in 2002.

Soprano (Nicole Tibbels/Rebecca Caine) Baritone (Adrian Clarke/Richard Lloyd Morgan) Bass (Jonathan Best) Conductor (Etienne Siebens)

Psappha Ensemble (10 musicians)

The admirable cast were superbly accompanied by the contemporary ensemble Psappha. OBSERVER

Mesmerising from start to finish…top rate. THE INDEPENDENT

Peter Maxwell Davies Eight Songs for a Mad King

Eight Songs for a Mad King is an extravagant, disturbing and poignant portrayal of madness. Directed by Tim Carroll, with design by Soutra Gilmour and lighting by Simon Opie, it has recently accompanied Mr Emmet on the English tour, as well as performances throughout the U.K. and Australia, in an unconducted production.

Baritone (Kelvin Thomas)

Psappha Ensemble (6 musicians)

Eight Songs – proved a disturbing experience. How unnerving it seemed, especially in Kelvin Thomas’ daring, straitjacketed depiction, neatly directed by Tim Carroll. OBSERVER

Peter Maxwell Davies Miss Donnithorne’s Maggot

Miss Donnithorne’s Maggot is a more introverted and contemplative monodrama. Psappha performed this at the Barossa Festival in Australia, 2000, in an unconducted production staged by Jane Manning, with lighting by Simon Opie. Psappha have also performed Miss Donnithorne at the St. Magnus Festival, Orkney, Cheltenham Festival and at Lancaster Concerts.

Soprano (Jane Manning)

Psappha Ensemble (6 musicians)

The instrumental music, expertly and confidently delivered by the actor-players of Psappha, conveys moods that are unmistakeable…ADELAIDE ADVERTISER