APRIL FREDRICK
'...a real soprano, her tone is beautifully placed..'Christopher Morley
“The splendid, strong-willed Jane of April Fredrick, whose terrific dramatic sense, reflected both visually and vocally, revealed the music as not just dramatic but utterly riveting.”
Roderick DunnettThis new recording pays an affectionate tribute to composer John Joubert who is 90 in March. The world première of his 2-Act Opera Jane Eyre was recorded live during a concert performance at the Ruddock Performing Arts Centre in Birmingham last year and features April in the title role along with David Stout, Gwion Thomas, Mark Milhofer and the English Symphony Orchestra conducted by Kenneth Woods. This special 2-disc release will be available to coincide with John’s birthday celebrations in March.
2 February, Mote Hall, Maidstone
Mote Hall, Maidstone, ME15 7RN
Maidstone Symphony Orchestra
Brian Wright, conductor
Wagner Liebestod
Strauss Four Last Songs
9 February, Pittville Pump Rooms
Cheltenham Symphony Orchestra
David Curtis, conductor
Strauss Four Last Songs
22-23 February Haslemere Hall, Surrey
Opera South
Jonathan Dove, Mansfield Park
Director: James Hurley
Music Director: Harry Sykes
Haslemere Hall, Surrey CR7 7BE
April joins a stellar cast as the vivacious, scheming ‘Mary Crawford’ in Opera South’s ingenious new production of Jonathan Dove’s Mansfield Park, directed by James Hurley.
23 March, Albert Hall, Nottingham
Nottingham Harmonic Choir
Richard Laing, conductor
Albert Hall, Nottingham NG1 5AA
Haydn Creation
14 April, Shire Hall, Hereford
English Symphony Orchestra
Academia Musica Choir
Michael Young, conductor
Shire Hall, Hereford HR1 2HX
Bach Magnificat in D Major
15 April, Queen Elizabeth Hall, London
Goldsmiths Choral Union
Musicians of London
Brian Wright, conductor
Queen Elizabeth Hall, Southbank Centre, London SE1 8XX
Beethoven Missa Solemnis
20 April, Danbury Mission, Chelmsford, Essex
Dei Gratia Baroque Ensemble
Matthew O’Donovan, conductor
Danbury Mission, Chelmsford, Essex, CM3 4QL
Handel Messiah
4 May, Trinity College Chapel, Cambridge
Cambridgeshire Choral Society
Richard Laing, conductor
Poulenc Gloria
8 May, The Pheasantry, Pizza Express Kings Road, London
April takes the recital platform once more with duo partner William Vann for Americana, a vibrant, diverse celebration of American song as part of the Pizza Express Live series, with music from Copland, Ives, Barber, and Bernstein and special sets devoted to the memories of Dominick Argento and André Previn.
Programme
From Twelve Songs of Emily Dickinson: Nature, the gentlest Mother | There came a wind like a Bugle | The world feels dusty | Dear March, come in – Aaron Copland
Two Love Songs – Leonard Bernstein
From the Diary of Virginia Woolf: The Diary | Rome | War – Dominick Argento
Three Songs of Emily Dickinson | Sallie Chisum Remembers Billy the Kid – André Previn
Sure on this shining night | A Green Lowland of Pianos | Nocturne – Samuel Barber
The Circus Band | Down East | They are There – Charles Ives
28 May, Stratford Playhouse, Stratford-upon-Avon
Orchestra of the Swan
Kenneth Woods, conductor
Stratford Playhouse
Stratford-upon-Avon CV37 6LU
Mahler Symphony no. 4
David Matthews Le Lac (world premiere)
April returns to Mahler’s masterful miniature jewel of a symphony and sings the world premiere of a major new work by David Matthews for chamber orchestra and soprano, setting Alphonse de Lamartine’s epic poem Le Lac.
5 June, Pembroke College, Oxford
April Fredrick, soprano
William Vann, piano
Pembroke College
Pichette Auditorium
April returns to the recital stage with long-time duo partner William Vann for a varied programme of songs by Gurney, Ireland, Rachmaninov, Debussy and John Joubert.
29 July, Gloucester Cathedral
Ivor Gurney Hall, 9.30am
Three Choirs Festival
April Fredrick draws upon her Masters and doctoral work on the late songs of Ivor Gurney to give the audience a window into the fascinating work of this multi-faceted and troubled creative genius.
30 July, Gloucester Cathedral
BBC National Orchestra of Wales
Neal Davies, bass
Three Choirs Festival
Gloucester Cathedral
John Joubert, An English Requiem
After her critically acclaimed premiere of ‘Jane’ in Joubert’s opera Jane Eyre, April makes her premiere at the Three Choirs Festival as well as with the BBC National Orchestra of Wales, singing another masterwork by Joubert dedicated to the memory of its composer, who died in January 2018.
16 October, Malvern Priory
Malvern Priory, Great Malvern
English Symphony Orchestra
Kenneth Woods, conductor
Strauss Four Last Songs, arr. James Ledger
Humperdinck ‘Die kleine Sandmann’ from Hansel und Gretel
After her critically acclaimed premiere of ‘Jane’ in Joubert’s opera Jane Eyre, April makes her premiere at the Three Choirs Festival as well as with the BBC National Orchestra of Wales, singing another masterwork by Joubert dedicated to the memory of its composer, who died in January 2018.
16 November, Trinity Church, Harrow
Trinity Orchestra
Tom Seligman, conductor
Strauss Four Last Songs
Trinity Church,
Hindes Road,
Harrow, HA1 1RX
April returns to the beloved song cycle by Richard Strauss, full of the ‘gifts reserved for old age’, in T.S. Eliot’s term, of reflection and serene acceptance.
17 December, Malvern Priory
English Symphony Orchestra
Kenneth Woods, conductor
Handel Messiah
Malvern Priory
Great Malvern
April returns to Handel’s beloved oratorio framing the epic span of the Christian story of salvation.
25 April, 2020, Worcester Cathedral
English Symphony Orchestra
Worcester Mayflower Chorus
Neil Ferris, conductor
Philip Sawyers Mayflower on the Sea of Time (world premiere)
Worcester Cathedral
Worcester
A major new work for soprano and baritone soloists, orchestra, and choir commemorating the 400th anniversary of the sailing of the Mayflower.
20 June, 2020 Bridgewater Hall, Manchester
Wrexham Symphony Orchestra
Richard Howarth, conductor
Bridgewater Hall, Manchester
Mahler Symphony no 8
29 July, 2020 Worcester Cathedral
English Symphony Orchestra
Worcester Mayflower Chorus
Kenneth Woods, conductor
Worcester Cathedral
Philip Saywers Mayflower on the Sea of Time