Nardus Williams

English National Opera announced their 2019/20 season on 3 April, and as ever there is a strong Intermusica presence at the house alongside Music Director Martyn Brabbins.

Alongside three revivals, the season features seven new productions, the most for five years. For the first time, four of the new productions present different versions of the same story as ENO presents four takes on the Orpheus myth. In keeping with the season’s theme of the rise of the feminine, more than half of the new productions are directed by women, with Tatjana Gürbaca, Emma Rice, Barbora Horáková and Netia Jones all helming productions.

> Click here to see full details of ENO's 2019/20 season

Martyn Brabbins conducts two productions. On 18 October he opens Daniel Kramer’s production of Harrison Birtwistle The Mask of Orpheus. The production stars Marta Fontanals-Simmons as Eurydice the Woman and Susan Bickley as Eurydice the Myth and Persephone. Brabbins then returns on 26 February 2020 to conduct a revival of Anthony Minghella’s Olivier Award-winning production of Madam Butterfly, starring Natalya Romaniw in the title role. Brabbins will be assisted for the production by Adam Hickox.

Valentina Peleggi continues her Mackerras Fellowship with her first full production in the main house: a revival of Calixto Bieito’s production of Carmen from 29 January 2020, which features a cast starring David Butt Philip as Don José and Nardus Williams as Micaela. Earlier in the season she conducts three performances of Offenbach Orpheus in the Underworld on 1, 26 and 28 November. The new production from Emma Rice features Sir Willard White as Jupiter and Mary Bevan as Diana.

Geoffrey Paterson debuts on 15 November conducting a new production of Phillip Glass Orphée from Netia Jones. The cast features Anthony Gregory, who makes a return to ENO as Cégeste, and Simon Shibambu as the poet.

Alexander Joel returns to conduct Verdi Luisa Miller from 12 February 2020. This new production is directed by Barbora Horáková Joly and stars Elizabeth Llewellyn in the title role.

Susan Bickley appears in a second production when she returns in the role of Marcellina in The Marriage of Figaro from 14 March 2020, in a new production directed by Joe Hill-Gibbons.

Antony Hermus makes his debut at ENO on 28 March 2020, conducting the premiere of Tatjana Gürbaca’s new production of Dvorák Rusalka, and taking it to Theatre du Luxembourg for additional performances after the London run. David Butt Philip takes the role of the Prince, while Patricia Bardon appears as Ježibaba.

Nardus Williams and Thomas Atkins perform in the Kiri Te Kanawa Foundation Gala, which takes place at Wigmore Hall on 14 December 2018. Both artists are former Kiri Te Kanawa Scholars. The concert also features singers Bianca Andrews, Phillip Rhodes and Julien Van Mellaerts, and pianists Gary Matthewman and Jake Heggie.

Praised for her "superbly controlled, sensuous soprano" (Opera Today), Williams is a member of the Houston Grand Opera Studio for the 2018/19 season, where roles include Mimí La bohème and Donna Anna Don Giovanni.

Thomas Atkins’s season highlights include his role debuts as Rodolfo La bohème with New Zealand Opera and Lysander in Britten’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream at Opéra de Montpellier as well as returns to Royal Opera House as Gastone La Traviata, First Armed Man Die Zauberflöte at the Glyndebourne Festival and an Opera Rara recording of Donizetti’s Il Paria at the Barbican under the baton of Sir Mark Elder.

The Gala concert features art songs by Strauss, Mozart and Duparc and arias by Verdi and Puccini.

Nardus Williams makes her house and role debut at Houston Grand Opera on 1 November 2018 singing Mimí in Puccini’s La bohème. Conducted by James Lowe and directed by John Caird, the 1 November performance is the first in a series of matinées aimed specifically at students, followed by a final matinée performance for the general public on 11 November.

Williams is currently a member of the Houston Grand Opera Studio, with other roles in the 2018/19 season including Donna Anna Don Giovanni. Recent highlights include the role of Milliner in Strauss Der Rosenkavalier in a production directed by Richard Jones and conducted by Robin Ticciati at Glyndebourne, the role of Martha in a new commission Wake by Giorgio Battistelli for Birmingham Opera Company directed by Graham Vick, and Countess (cover) The Marriage of Figaro for English National Opera.

Williams has been praised for her "superbly controlled, sensuous soprano which has sheen and shimmer as well as real focus of tone" (Opera Today). Her 2017 Donna Elvira for Opera Holland Park attracted critical acclaim:

“Just as impressive was Nardus Williams as Donna Elvira. She has a rich creamy, elegant voice and seemed to be singing Donna Elvira fully formed…. this was indeed a very complete and ultimately moving performance.”
Planet Hugill, June 2017

La bohème takes place at the Wortham Theater Center, with performances on 1, 6, 8 and 11 November 2018.

Nardus Williams makes her debut at Glyndebourne Festival Oprea from 20 May 2018, singing the role of Der Milliner in Strauss Der Rosenkavalier. Robin Ticciati conducts a cast also including Kate Lindsey as Octavian and Brindley Sherratt as Baron Ochs.

Earlier this season Williams sang the roles of Maggie/Marjana in the Glyndebourne Youth Opera world premiere of Belongings by Lewis Murphy. Richard Jones directs the performances, which run from Sunday 20 May to Tuesday 26 June.

Williams completes her training at the Royal College of Music International Opera School this summer, before joining the Houston Grand Opera Studio for the 2018/19 season where her roles will include Mimí La bohème. Opera Today have praised her “superbly controlled, sensuous soprano which has sheen and shimmer as well as real focus of tone.” (May 2016).

We are delighted to announce that soprano Nardus Williams has joined Intermusica for worldwide management.

The British soprano is currently studying at the International Opera School at the Royal College of Music where she is the sole recipient of the prestigious Kiri Te Kanawa Scholarship. From September 2018 she will be an artist at the Houston Grand Opera Studio.

A Jerwood Young Artist at Glyndebourne this season, Williams will perform the role of Milliner in Der Rosenkavalier in a production directed by Richard Jones and conducted by Robin Ticciati. Highlights this season also include the role of Martha in Wake, a new commission by Giorgio Battistelli for Birmingham Opera Company directed by Graham Vick, and Countess (cover) The Marriage of Figaro for English National Opera.

Recent highlights include Maggie/Marjana in the world premiere of Lewis Murphy Belongings for Glyndebourne Festival Opera, Donna Elvira Don Giovanni for Holland Park Opera and Fox in Janáček The Cunning Little Vixen at the Royal College of Music.