Lunchtime Concert: Opera Asteria Valentine's Concert

TUE 14 FEB, 13.05

Take time out this lunchtime for a performance by Opera Asteria and Trinity Laban alum in the beautiful surroundings of the Old Royal Naval College Chapel.

While students work on CoLab projects, Opera Asteria presents a concert for Valentine's Day, featuring Trinity Laban alum, Alicia Mallace-Goulbourne and Rhian Davies, and joined by Fran Stafford and pianist Jack Campbell.

Madeline Dring
It Was a Lover
Alicia Mallace-Goulbourne

R. Strauss
Ständchen
Frances Stafford

Wagner
From Wesendonck Lieder
iv. Träume
iii. Im Treibhaus
Alicia Mallace-Goulbourne

Ireland
From 2 Songs: No 2
My True Love Hath my Heart
Rhian Davies

Liza Lehmann
There are Fairies at the Bottom of Our Garden
Alicia Mallace-Goulbourne

R. Strauss
From 8 Gedichte aus ‘Letzte Blätter’
Allerseelen
Rhian Davies

Donizetti
From Don Pasquale
Quel guardo il cavaliere...So anch'io la virtù magica
Frances Stafford

Saint-Saëns
From Samson et Dalila
Printemps qui commence
Rhian Davies

R. Schumann
From Frauenliebe und Leben
Er, der Herrlichste von allen
Rhian Davies

Jonathan Dove
From The Enchanted Pig
Adelaide’s Aria/It’s My Wedding!
Frances Stafford

Rhian Davies is a postgraduate mezzo-soprano completing her final year at Trinity Laban, studying under Teresa Cahill. Prior to studying at the conservatoire, Rhian graduated from the University of Cambridge, having read Music at Robinson College as an alto choral scholar. Rhian sings with the Philharmonia Chorus and is a member of Levedy Ensemble, a female voices and harp quintet, winning the inaugural Carne Trust Chamber Competition with them in 2020. In partnership with pianist Cèlia Margalef Boquera, Rhian has participated in The London Song Festival’s masterclass with Dame Sarah Connolly and competed in the final of the British Art Song Competition in December 2021. The duo was also delighted to reach Trinity Laban’s Elizabeth Schumann Lieder Duo Competition final in May 2022. On the operatic stage, Rhian has studied roles from Juno (Semele) to Auntie (Peter Grimes) in Postgraduate Opera Scenes. In honing her operatic interpretation, Rhian has been fortunate to participate in masterclasses with Patricia Bardon, David Gowland, Stephanie Wake-Edwards and Michael Morfidian, and Susan Bullock. Rhian is currently working with Josh Kaye to bring the role of Lucy to life in his chamber opera (Outlier) which premieres at the ‘Tête à Tête’ opera festival in September 2022

British lyric soprano Alicia Mallace-Goulbourne has been praised as having a "sensitive legato" and "an outstanding sense of poise and command". Alicia made her role debut last year as Female Chorus/The Rape of Lucretia with Opera Asteria. Roles in staged operatic scenes include First Lady/The Magic Flute, Fifth Maid/Elektra, Queen Elizabeth I/Gloriana, Elettra/Idomeneo, Euridice/Orfeo ed Euridice, Countess/The Marriage of Figaro and Alice/Falstaff, the latter of which was performed with the Welsh National Opera. Alicia graduated with a Distinction MMus from Trinity Laban and during her time there was a semi-finalist of the prestigious Soloist Competition and was selected twice to participate in masterclasses with David Gowland and perform in concert with the ROH Jette Parker Young Artists. Ensemble roles include Fulham Opera’s Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg (2019), Hampstead Garden Opera’s La bohème (2019) & Savitri (2020). Alicia also covered the role of Anna and was part of the small ensemble for Gothic Opera's Le nonne sanglante (2021), which won the Offie for Best Opera Production 2021, was part of the small chorus for Regent Opera's La forza del destino (Feb-Mar 2022), was in chorus for Scherzo Ensemble's production of L'elisir d'amore (July 2022) at Longhope Opera and sang in the chorus for Saffron Opera Group's Tannhäuser (Sept 2022). Most recently, she has sung the role of Naiad in Ariadne auf Naxos with Uncovered Opera Company and Cis in Albert Herring with New Palace Opera. Up next, she is singing the role of Dama for Uncovered Opera Company's production of Verdi's Macbeth (Feb-Mar 2023). Alicia is also Company Director for Opera Asteria and freelances in assisting, producing and events management.

Frances Stafford recently completed postgraduate studies in voice at the Royal College of Music, as well as postgraduate studies in music performance at Royal Holloway University. She studied Psychology for her undergraduate degree at Royal Holloway University of London, where she sang as a choral scholar. She trained and performed with The King’s Singers, Eric Whitacre, and recorded 3 Albums with Hyperion. Frances sang in the Royal Albert Hall’s 2015 Festival of Remembrance, broadcasting live on BBC1, and at the Festival for the 800th anniversary of the signing of the Magna Carta, attended by The Royal Family and the Prime Minister. She has made appearances on BBC Radio 3 with the Britten Sinfonia, the Choir of Royal Holloway, and the Jazz Trio Acoustic Triangle. She also sang in the UK premier of Sir James Macmillan’s St. Luke Passion, performed in London’s Barbican Hall, and broadcasted live from King’s College, Cambridge. Frances currently holds the Valerie-Boyes scholarship at Richmond’s St Mary Magdalene Church, and performs for corporate and private events with Guest Artists. As a soloist Frances has enjoyed stage work alongside recital engagements, and having also benefitted from training with British Youth Opera training, her role work has included Barbarina (Le Nozze di Figaro), Lady Dunmow (A Dinner Engagement), Alice (Le Comte Ory), Mabel (The Pirates of Penzance) and First Lady/First Boy (Die Zauberflöte) in London’s Grimeborn Festival in 2022.

An inventive multidisciplinary musician, Jack Campbell wants to break down barriers and share vivid and gripping music. A composer, soloist, and collaborative pianist, Jack also has an eye for the unconventional. He’s woven coloured lighting and electronic soundscapes into his piano recitals and composed a piece with a computerised score for six pianos. In BBC Young Musician 2016, Jack won the keyboard category and Walter Todds bursary. He was a semi-finalist in the George Enescu piano competition 2021–22. One of Jack’s great loves is song – a fusion of music and story. He collaborates with many singers from his alma mater, the Royal College of Music, and he won the Most Promising Young Pianist prize at the Somerset Song Prize 2022. Jack’s also recorded a CD of unpublished piano music by the British composer Robert Ely, and he was music director for the world premiere of Robert’s opera, Fishing, in September 2022. His next performance is on 8 April, when Frances Stafford and Jack will give a song concert in Bushey.


Old Royal Naval College Chapel
Admission Free, no booking required