BYLINE
Donna Quick has got her dream job. A journalist at the Daily Post. Well, an intern. But she’ll still get her own desk, her own quests, her own stories. No, not her stories. Other peoples’ stories – all the wild, and wonderful, and worldly people of London and beyond, wrapped up in her words and deposited neatly on the page in crisp black and off-white. She is beyond pleased.
She’s pretty much the only one though.
A new cross-genre opera-in-progress of misinformation, misplaced vocation, and fools tilting at rumour mills.
SIMONE IBBETT-BROWN librettist and composer
Simone loves songs and stories that bring joy, and reflect and affect the world we live in. Writing highlights include Shuck‘n’Jive, her and Cassiopeia Berkeley-Agyepong’s “wild, witty, painfully perceptive” (The Stage) look at misogynoir and who controls the narrative (Soho Theatre, Bloomsbury); What Do You Hope For?, in which nine African diaspora artists explore heritage and what’s next (English National Opera); The Anonymous Lover, “vivid, powerful, charismatic” (CitiBlog) portrait of composer and revolutionary Joseph Bologne (Glyndebourne); A Tale of Eurydice & Orpheus, “musically spell-binding” (ReviewsHub) gig theatre about why we make music (Opera North); FEAST, “victorious, vengeful, vulnerable” (Spy in the stalls) story of code-switching and class (Wilton’s Music Hall); and climate futures digital experience HAM the Illustrator’s Munkination (Royal Opera).
She studied at the University of York and Guildhall School of Music and Drama, returning as a Junior Fellow to run a course on artist-activism. She’s honoured to have been a BBC Radio 3 Next Generation Voice, Festival d’Aix en Provence Women Opera Maker, and Women of the Future Award-winner. She’s a jack of all trades who also performs, directs, facilitates, and currently helps develop tools to further diversity, equity and inclusion in the broadcast industry with the Creative Diversity Network.
SUSIE BUCKLE Donna/Anya
Susie trained at Trinity Laban and has sung roles with companies including Opera North, Opera Holland Park, Mahogany Opera Group, Charles Court Opera, Vache Baroque, OperaUpClose and British Youth Opera.
Susie is passionate about new writing in opera and has recently performed the role of Samuel in Displaced: A Woolwich Arsenal Opera with Co Align. Previously, they performed the title role in Russell Hepplewhite’s Borka: the Adventures of a Goose with no Feathers (based on the book by John Burningham). Forthcoming roles include Norah in a new adaptation of Riders to the Sea with OperaUpClose.
Susie loves to experiment with the voice, questioning boundaries over style and tone; so Simone Ibbett Brown’s new cross genre opera is a really exciting prospect.
JULIAN CHOU-LAMBERT Oscar/Miles
Julian began singing as a chorister at King’s College, Cambridge, returning to Cambridge as a choral scholar at Trinity College, achieving first class honours in music. He completed postgraduate studies with distinction at the Royal Academy of Music. He continues his training at Identity School of Acting, is a Pegasus Opera Mentee, and a DEBUT Horizon artist.
Passionate about new music, Julian has created several operatic roles including Boris Johnson in Cummings & Goerings for Tête à Tête, Mr. Bear in Peace at Last for OperaUpClose/ENO, Maxentius in Sursum Corda for CUOS, and Dream Sweeper in his composition The Lingerer for ENO mini-opera competition finals. Traditional roles include Papageno in Die Zauberflöte for Rhosygilwen and Berlin Opernfest, Hildebrand/North Wind in The Enchanted Pig for Hampstead Garden Opera, Nardo in La Finta Giardiniera for Hand Made Opera and Marco in Gianni Schicchi for Cambridge Summer Music Festival.
Song premieres include Protest! at Shoreditch Town Hall and his own song cycle Sommerlied und Winterlied for Pembroke Music Society, Cambridge. Also a trained jazz singer and composer, Julian won second prize in the Deutsche Bank Music Awards, and his original music videos Yeah Shanghai! and Reverie have been selected for multiple film festivals.
GABRIELLA LIANDU Lily/Mina
Gabriella Liandu is a Zambian-Scottish singer and creative, passionate about versatility and malleability of the voice. Being raised in the Middle East, her vibrant cultural upbringing and eclectic background is reflected through her artistry and style as a writer and performer.
The Mezzo-Soprano takes her roots in performing within the Opera world. She completed her Vocal and Operatic studies, graduating with First Class Honours in Music, followed by a Masters (with Distinction) in Jazz, from the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire. She has since formed her own ensembles, performing original works and arrangements around the country and internationally. Her diverse experience spans a wide range of genres across the music industry, which can be seen throughout her solo and ensemble work.
Gabriella has also forged her own way in the music world off-stage, building her off-stage presence delivering workshops and singing lessons, focusing her efforts on community outreach in under-served areas through Opera-making.
JACK CAMPBELL piano and percussion
Jack Campbell won the “most promising young pianist” award at the Somerset Song Prize and specialises as a collaborative pianist. He was also an Enescu competition semi-finalist. He received the Worshipful Company of Musicians’ Silver Medal for his collaborative performances at the RCM. A Musicians’ Company Young Artist, Jack has been supported by the Marjorie and Dorothy White Trust.
Jack also composes, works in concert marketing, and experiments with technology. His works include a computer-synced score for six pianos and an interactive work using nature sounds.
rough for opera 