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English counter-tenor
DAVID JAMES
was a choral scholar at
Magdalen College, Oxford and subsequently joined the choir
of Westminster Abbey. He won first prize in the prestigious
‘s-Hertogenbosch competition in The Netherlands in 1978
and has since enjoyed an international career as soloist and
ensemble singer, performing with such groups as The Sixteen
— with whom he recorded
Messiah
, Bach’s
St. John Passion
and some cantatas—and taking major operatic roles for English
National Opera, Handel Opera, Geneva Opera and Aldeburgh
Festival. A founder-member of the Hilliard Ensemble, James gives some 100 concerts
a year with that internationally renowned vocal chamber group, performing both
Medieval and Renaissance repertoire as well as new works by composers such as
Veljo Tormis, John Casken, Elena Firsova, James MacMillan, Barry Guy and Stephen
Montague.
Officium
, the ensemble’s collaboration with jazz saxophonist Jan
Garbarek on the ECM label, has topped both classical and jazz charts in many
countries. The Hilliard Ensemble has gained a special reputation for performances
of the Estonian composer Arvo Pärt, several of whose works they have recorded on
ECM. David James’ solo engagements have taken him world-wide, specializing in
Baroque and contemporary repertoire. He recently recorded the alto arias in Bach’s
St. Mark Passion
with the European Community Baroque Orchestra and also took part
in a recording of Kancheli’s Third Symphony for EMI with the London Philharmonic
Orchestra. He has been invited to give the first performances of important newworks for
countertenor and, in particular, developed a special relationship with Heinz Holliger
and Gavin Bryars, performing Holliger’s song cycle
Beiseit
throughout Europe and
recording it for ECM, and singing and recording several works by Bryars and taking
part in the premiere of his opera
Dr. Ox’s Experiment
with the English National Opera.
English tenor
STEVEN HARROLD
was accepted into the choir
of St. Paul when he was eight years old. With that choir he sang
at the Royal Wedding of Charles and Diana and visited the
famous Abbey Road Studios to sing on a pop single,
We All
Stand Together
, with Paul McCartney and the King’s Singers.
He won a choral scholarship to St. John’s College, Cambridge,
where he studied for an economics degree in his spare time.
After graduating, he sang for a year with the St. Albans Abbey
choir before moving to Westminster Abbey. Steven Harrold is a
high tenor, which has been very useful career-wise, since this kind
of voice is relatively rare. Over the years he has sung with many early music ensembles,
including the Tallis Scholars, Gabrieli Consort, Taverner Consort, Clerk’s Group, The
Sixteen and Collegium Vocale Gent. Besides Gothic Voices. He still sings regularly for
the Cardinall’s Musick, but much of his time is now spent with the Hilliard Ensemble,
which performs a great deal of contemporary music, most recently a piece by American
composer Stephen Hartke written for them for performance with Lorin Maazel and the
New York Philharmonic.
Originally from Tunbridge Wells in Kent,
MARK DOBELL
was a choral scholar of Clare College, Cambridge, where he
read Classics. He later studied as a postgraduate at the Royal
Academy of Music, and was awarded the Clifton Prize for the
best final recital. Dobell has worked as a soloist throughout
Europe and North America with world-renowned conductors,
including Harry Christophers, Sir John Eliot Gardiner, Sir
Roger Norrington and James MacMillan. His extensive
concert and oratorio repertoire includes many of the major
Friday and Saturday, June 26 and 27, 2015
