He’s been described as Britain’s hottest youngbaritone by the media both at home and abroadbut to us he’s quite simply ‘our Don’.

Christopher Maltman, who’s in demand at opera housesand on concert platforms all over the world, will play thefirst Don Giovanni of his career in Samling Opera’sproduction this summer at The Sage Gateshead – andhe’s as excited about it as we are. “I have waited, it seems, a long time for an opportunity toperform my first Don Giovanni. Whilst offers have beenthere, they have never felt quite right. Don Giovanni is oneof the jewels in the crown of a baritone’s repertoire anddeserves respect, as many have thrown themselves at itand fallen short. It requires great mental and physicalmaturity to walk hand in hand with perhaps opera’sgreatest anti-hero,” said Christopher.Not only that, Christopher is absolutely delighted to bedirected in the role by the man who has made the part hisown - Sir Thomas Allen. “I had no idea that either TheSamling Foundation or Thomas Allen would consider meto take on this tour-de-force but, once aired, the wholeproject made immediate sense to me,” he said.“Tom is one of the greatest Dons of all time, full stop. Ihave watched, listened to and admired his performancessince I first stumbled into the world of music I now inhabit.To have him at the helm of my first voyage into theseturbulent waters seems almost too poetic to be true and Irelish the prospect.”Working with The Samling Foundation once again, at TheSage Gateshead and with a stellar cast and orchestra, issomething he also relishes. “Add to all this theenveloping patronage of The Samling Foundation,inspired musical impetus from Thomas Zehetmair and

Northern Sinfonia and a fabulous cast, which includesLisa Milne as Donna Elvira, and it seems we have quite atreat in store.“Finally, if all that were not enough, I am forced toseduce my beautiful wife, Leigh Woolf, who plays Zerlinathe simple peasant girl. They call this a job? I’m in heavenalready…”To find out more about Samling Opera’s production ofDon Giovanni and education project please go towww.samlingfoundation.org or telephone 01434 602885.

Page 2Meet the rest of the cast…who’s playing who in SamlingOpera’s Don Giovanni

Page 3Forty two teenagers get ready to embark on a creativejourney of a lifetime

Page 4Still to come...looking ahead to the rest of 2007 andthose all-important dates for your diary

Inside this issue:

Our Don ©Levon Biss

newsspring 2007 issue 19

Samling Opera’sDon Giovanni

Directed by Sir Thomas Allen4th June The Gillian Dickinson Schools’ Performance

(free to schools)Public performances 5th, 7th, 9th June 2007

Hall One, The Sage Gateshead Don Giovanni - Christopher MaltmanIl Commendatore - Ronald NairneDonna Anna - Kate ValentineDon Ottavio - Adrian WardDonna Elvira - Lisa MilneLeporello - Marc LabonnetteMasetto - Benedict NelsonZerlina - Leigh Woolf

Northern Sinfonia ChorusNorthern Sinfonia conducted by Thomas Zehetmair

Lisa Milne – Donna Elvira Scottish soprano Lisa Milne flies in direct fromplaying Eurydice in Gluck’s Orfeo at the

MetropolitanOpera in NewYork to take onher debut role asDonna Elvira –Don Giovanni’sformer mistresswhowholeheartedlybelieves she is hisone true love.Described as a“celebrated lyricsoprano”, Lisa is

in demand at opera houses all over the world andis also a renowned recitalist and recording artist.She recently appeared in BBC One’s ‘Imagine’programme - ‘Being a Diva’ - with her teacherPatricia MacMahon.

Leigh Woolf – ZerlinaThe stunning mezzo-soprano Leigh Woolf playsthe peasant girl Zerlina who attracts the attentionof the arch-womaniser (played by her husbandChristopher Maltman) on her wedding day! Since

graduating from TheRoyal College of Musicwith first classdiplomas in opera andrecital, Leigh has sungmuch of the majorrepertoire on theconcert platform underthe baton of Sir DavidWillcocks, Sir JohnEliot Gardiner andThomas Zehetmair.Her operatic rolesinclude covering

Cherubino, Le nozze di Figaro for Glyndebourneon Tour and Euphemia, La Bohème for ENO.

Who’s who?You’ve met ‘our Don’ now it’s time to introduce the rest of the cast for Samling Opera’s “unmissable”(to quote the Guardian) new production of Mozart’s Don Giovanni…and what a line-up it is! Anabsolutely outstanding cast of young singers – all of whom we’re proud to say have, at some pointover the past ten years, been through a Samling Foundation Masterclass.

Marc Labonnette – LeporelloDon Giovanni’s man-servant and side-kick Leporello is

played by the charming Frenchbaritone Marc Labonnette. A regularon the concert platform here and inFrance, his repertoire has includedFauré’s Requiem with the BrittanyOrchestra and Bach’s St MatthewPassion with Jean-Claude Malgoire.Marc already has a number of theclassic roles under his belt – havingplayed Bottom, Falstaff, Basilio andDon Alfonso for Bampton Classical

Opera and the Classical Opera Company.

Benedict Nelson – MasettoCurrently studying at the Guildhall School of Music with

Robert Dean, Benedict joins the castto take on the role of Zerlina’sbetrothed Masetto. Benedictrecently played Marcello in LaBohème for British Youth Opera inTuscany. Future engagements forthis increasingly busy baritoneinclude Brahms’ ‘Ein DeutschesRequiem’ at the Royal Albert Hall

with Sir David Willcocks and Bach’s ‘St John Passion’ atCadogan Hall with Ronald Corp.

Ronald Nairne – Il CommendatoreOur third Scot in the cast is bass RonaldNairne whose dark voice usually placeshim in roles where he plays older moremature characters. Roles he hasundertaken have included Italiangentlemen, Egyptian priests, a Turkisheunuch and a Mongolian soldier!Having studied on the opera course atthe Royal Academy in London under theguidance of Glenville Hargreaves,Jonathan Papp and Tony Legge, hewould now like to widen his repertoireto include more oratorio and song aswell as opera.

Adrian Ward – Don OttavioTenor Adrian Ward from the Guildhall School of Music playsDonna Anna’s fiancé, who vows to avenge the murder of herfather by Don Giovanni. A regular on the concert platform, thisvery special young singer has performedin most of the UK’s major venuesincluding Wigmore Hall, Barbican Hall, StJohn’s, Smith Square and Cadogan Hall.Adrian’s opera experience includes therole of Gonzalve, L’heure espangole,(Ravel) in the South of France near Aix enProvence, Mercurio, La Didone (Cavalli)and Anfinomo, Il Ritorno d’ Ulisse(Monteverdi), both with Christian Curnynat the Guildhall School.

Kate Valentine – Donna AnnaAnother very talented Scottish soprano, KateValentine, takes on the role of Donna Anna – thedaughter of the ill-fated Commendatore and objectof Don Giovanni’s insatiable lust in the openingscenes of the opera. Her pastoperatic roles includeRosalinde, Die Fledermauswith Scottish Opera Go Roundand Countess Almaviva, Lenozze di Figaro withGlyndebourne on Tour. Aregular on the concertplatform, she recentlyappeared at the Royal AlbertHall in Handel’s Messiahconducted by Sir David Willcocks.

Journey of a lifetime . . . Forty two teenagers from seven schools across the NorthEast and Cumbria are getting ready to embark on acreative journey of a lifetime.

Running in tandem with Samling Opera’s production ofDon Giovanni will be an education project that is secondto none. Building on the experience and success of theone devised for its 2005 Così fan tutte production, TheSamling Foundation team has put together an even morecomprehensive and enlightening journey of performanceand musical discovery.

“Forty two gifted and talented 15 year olds will be givenunparalleled access to the opera and the productionprocess as well as working on and performing their own‘take’ on the story, which will involve dance, drama, musicand singing,” said Katrina Quilliam, education projectmanager.

It will follow a similar format to the Così project, which theindependent evaluator Jane Dancer described as “one ofthe most appropriate to its target group I have seen inover 16 years of leading, co-ordinating and evaluating artsand education projects nationally and regionally”.

“The ‘way-in’ to the opera for the students will be a chatshow where Don Giovanni stands accused and each ofthe prinicipal characters will present their stories to theaudience.

“Taking the themes of love, betrayal, murder, revenge,repentance and retribution the students will explore inworkshop the motivation of the characters and throughimprovisation, composition, creative writing andperformance, produce their own piece of words and musicin response. The result will be performed in Hall One atThe Sage Gateshead on Friday 8th June 2007,” explainedKatrina.

The decision to work with the same seven schools as in2005 is supported by Jane Dancer, The Sage Gatesheadand the schools involved. “Samling has made aconsiderable investment in each school and because theCosì project was new and very different, there was afeeling that that investment had only started to pay offwhen the project came to an end,” said Mike Dutton, headof music at Whickham High School.

“For most students it was a totally new experience thathad a huge effect on them, in some cases, life-changing.One of the greatest things is that it stays with them – ourstudents who were involved in the Così project still talkabout it two years on,” he added.

The Don Giovanni education project kicks off in Februaryhalf term at The Sage Gateshead. The seven schoolstaking part are: Oxclose Community School, Washington;St Wilfrid’s RC Comprehensive School, South Shields;Whickham High School, Gateshead; Whitley Bay HighSchool, North Tyneside; Queen Elizabeth High School,Hexham; Queen Elizabeth School, Kirkby Lonsdale andGosforth High School, Newcastle.

Samling Opera’s innovativeeducational CD-ROM basedon its production of Così fantutte is now available priced£29.99 offering teachers andstudents new and excitingways of delivering theNational Curriculum, whilstat the same time strippingaway once and for all themyth that opera is for thefew. But don’t think it’s justfor students; the word is outthat anyone –whatever theage – will find it illuminatingand fun. For further detailsof how to order your copycontact The SamlingFoundation on01434 602885.

Susannah Waters who will once again leadSamling Opera’s education project

Pho

to: M

ark

Pin

der

Designed and printed by the Abbey Press, Hexham NE46 1PG. Tel. 01434 602244

4th June – The Gillian Dickinson Schools’ Performance5th, 7th, 9th June – public performances 7pmSamling Opera’s Don GiovanniHall One, The Sage GatesheadStarring Christopher Maltman as Don GiovanniDirected by Sir Thomas AllenNorthern Sinfonia conducted by Thomas ZehetmairTickets from £7 - £28Available from The Sage Gateshead:Box Office: 0191 443 4661 Online: www.thesagegateshead.org

24th June 12 noon onwardsParty in the GardenDilston House, CorbridgeLive music from Steelquake, Quintessential and Peter Tickell,auction and original art to buy. Tickets available from The Samling Foundation on 01434 602885

September/OctoberPerformance and Outreach Project with SouthbankSinfoniaMore details to follow in next newsletter

Sunday 18th – Sunday 25th NovemberSamling Masterclass WeekLed by Sir Thomas Allen, Isobel Buchanan and PaulFarrington with pianists Simon Over and Caroline Dowdleand six specially selected singers

Wednesday 21st November 2-5pm Samling Public MasterclassTickets £7.50Saturday 24th November 7pmSamling Masterclass ConcertTickets £26, £18, £12, £6Hall Two, The Sage GatesheadAvailable from The Sage Gateshead:Box Office: 0191 443 4661 Online: www.thesagegateshead.orgThere will be a number of special tickets, whichinclude a three-course dinner, wine and coffeewith the artists after the concert. These arepriced at £75 and will be available only from The SamlingFoundation: 01434 602885

Friday 14th December 7.30pmSamling Foundation ShowcaseWigmore Hall, LondonPatron Sir Thomas Allen and four Samling Scholars star in acaptivating winter-themed evening of songs and operaensembles. Tickets: £28, £24, £18, £12 available from JuneWigmore Hall Box Office: 0207 935 2141 orwww.wigmore-hall.org.ukThere will be a number of special tickets, which include athree-course dinner, wine and coffee with the artists after theconcert. These are priced at £120 and will be available onlyfrom The Samling Foundation: 01434 602885

The Samling FoundationCommunity Centre, Gilesgate, Hexham, Northumberland NE46 3NP Tel / Fax 01434 602885

e-mail: enquiries@samlingfoundation.org website: www.samlingfoundation.orgPatron: Sir Thomas Allen CBE Artistic Director: Karon Wright Registered Charity No: 1112032 Company No: 05576907

Sunday 24th June will be our annual ‘Party in the Garden’ at DilstonHouse, Corbridge – the home of our chairman, Roger McKechnie.Hopefully the sun will shine but no matter what the weather (we’ve gotplenty of cover) it will be a glorious family fun day including great food,live music from Steelquake, Quintessential and Peter Tickell, an auctionand art exhibition.

We’re also currently in the early planning stages of our education andoutreach project in partnership with Southbank Sinfonia working withyoung people andschools in the NorthEast in September.

At the end of November we’re heading back to The SageGateshead for our second masterclass of the year. This timePatron Sir Thomas Allen with soprano Isobel Buchanan andpianists Caroline Dowdle and Simon Over will be nurturing thetalents of six specially selected young singers. There will be, asalways, two public events in Hall Two sponsored once again,we’re delighted to say, by UBS Wealth Management.

We finish on a high in December when we return to WigmoreHall to showcase four outstanding Samling Scholars - SimonaMihai, Wendy Dawn Thompson, Mark Chaundy and Benedict Nelson. Alongside our Patron Sir Thomas Allen andaccompanied by pianists Simon Over and Caroline Dowdle and players from Southbank Sinfonia, they will beperforming a winter-themed evening of songs by Brahms, Ralph Vaughan Williams and Ravel and opera ensemblesfrom Rimsky-Korsakov’s Christmas Eve and Puccini’s La Bohème – definitely one not to miss!

There is an exclusive corporate sponsorship opportunity for this concert at Wigmore Hall. For more details pleasecontact The Samling Foundation on 01434 602885.

Still to come in 2007

Sponsored by

Our year doesn’t end with Samling Opera you’ll be pleased to hear! We’ve got a lively programme of events to lookforward to throughout the year.

(Centre right) Paddy Lewis, UBSWealth Management with SirThomas Allen and four of theyoung singers who took part inlast November’s Masterclass atThe Sage Gateshead

Samling Foundation chairman, Roger McKechnie in fullswing during the auction at last summer’s garden party

Pho

to: M

ark

Pin

der

Pho

to: G

eorg

e A

nder

son

Dates for your diary