Opera appointments

London's Royal Academy of Music announces two opera appointments to the staff at Royal Academy Opera. From January 2009, Jane Glover will be Artistic Director of Opera and Glenville Hargreaves will be Head of Opera Studies for the Academy's specialist postgraduate opera course. Jonathan Freeman-Attwood, Principal of the Royal Academy of Music, said: 'After five distinguished years under Anthony Legge, Royal Academy Opera has appointed a magnificent team to take this flagship department onto the next stage. Jane Glover is one of the UK's most extraordinary musicians with the practical experience, penetrating insight and boldness of purpose to make a remarkable difference to students' lives. I am thrilled that Jane has decided, at this stage in her career, to dedicate such a significant proportion of her life to continuing her work with young people and taking forward the artistic ambitions of Royal Academy Opera. Few institutions could wish for a more respected and rounded musician, stage artist and singing mentor than Glenville Hargreaves to join the department as it seeks to provide the opera world with a training second to none'.

Royal Academy Opera is a specialist and intensive postgraduate course for those with the potential and aspirations to succeed as principals at the highest international standard. The concept of the human body being the singer's instrument is fundamental; physical fitness, agility, stage technique, communication and vocal skills, together with a broad repertoire, are all prerequisites for today's opera singers. The three annual productions are directed by highly-experienced professional conductors with senior Academy orchestras.

Glover has been Music Director of Chicago's Music of the Baroque since 2002. In continual demand on the international opera stage, she has appeared with numerous companies and has also performed with many of the major symphony and chamber orchestras in Britain and abroad. Known chiefly as a Mozart specialist, her core repertoire also includes Monteverdi, Handel and Britten. She is also an author, most recently of Mozart's Women, and has spent much of her career working with young singers.

Hargreaves' solo career has taken him to almost every major concert hall, cathedral and opera company in the UK, and many overseas, singing all the standard concert repertoire and more than ninety operatic roles. He has particularly specialised in the repertoire of nineteenth-century Italian opera. His numerous recordings and broadcasts include many for BBC Radio 2 and 3. He was appointed a professor of singing at the Academy in 1997.

Anthony Legge will become Assistant Music Director of Opera Australia at the Sydney Opera House in January 2009 but will continue his involvement with Royal Academy Opera as the Sir Arthur Sullivan Visiting Professor of Opera.

Information: www.ram.ac.uk/opera

Posted: 24 October 2008

Next item: Vernon Handley >>