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Discover the World of Art Song & Opera — in a relaxed, welcoming evening. Voice, piano, storytelling, and a glass of something lovely to finish.
Join mezzo-soprano Rachel Roper and collaborative pianist Claire Habbershaw for an intimate recital of art song and operatic favourites This programme journeys through the lyric richness of Richard Strauss (Der Rosenkavalier), the profound spirituality of Bach (St Matthew Passion), the sparkling wit of Rossini (L’Italiana in Algeri), and the unmistakable expressive world of Kurt Weill. Between pieces, we’ll chat about the music and what it means, making this the perfect concert for anyone new to art song and opera — no need to feel like you have to “know” anything in advance. |
ProgrammeRichard Strauss
Wie du warst (Der Rosenkavalier) Johann Sebastian Bach Buß und Reu (Matthäus-Passion) Gioachino Rossini Cruda sorte, amor tiranno (L’italiana in Algeri) Kurt Weill Nanna’s Lied Ian Venables My Heart Makes Songs on Lonely Roads (Pine Boughs Past Music) - 2009 Ian Venables Midnight Lamentation Ivor Gurney In Flanders Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Non so più cosa son (Le Nozze di Figaro) Francis Poulenc Hôtel (Banalités) Gioachino Rossini Una voce poco fa… io sono docile (Il Barbiere di Siviglia) |
Rachel Roper |
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Rachel Roper is a mezzo-soprano and graduate of the Opera Course at the Guildhall School of Music & Drama, where she studied with John Llewelyn Evans. She was named MOCSA Young Welsh Singer of the Year in 2022 and is a recipient of the Marianne Falk Award and Joyce Budd Second Prize (Kathleen Ferrier Society Bursary).
Recent roles include Zweite Knappe Parsifal, Feklusa Káťa Kabanová, Cherubino (cover) Le nozze di Figaro and Hermia (cover) A Midsummer Night's Dream as a Jerwood Artist at Glyndebourne, Mistress Ford Sir John in Love (British Youth Opera), Ottavia L’incoronazione di Poppea (Guildhall Opera), Kate The Pirates of Penzance (Tarantara Productions), Berthe Blond Eckbert (Guildhall Opera), and Jade Boucher Dead Man Walking (Guildhall Opera), as well as the creation of roles in new operas by Noah Max and Elif Nur Karlidag. Rachel appears regularly on the concert platform, with repertoire including Handel's Messiah, Karl Jenkins' The Armed Man, Beethoven’s Symphony No.9, Mozart’s C minor Mass, and Coronation Mass, and Rossini’s Petite messe solennelle. She performs widely as a recitalist with pianist Claire Habbershaw and has worked in masterclasses with artists including Roderick Williams, Catherine Wyn-Rogers, and Sarah Walker. |
Claire Habbershaw |
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Claire Habbershaw is an award-winning British pianist and musical director, who specialises in art song, opera and musical theatre repertoire. She is an international recitalist, concert curator and recording artist.
Claire is the regular pianist for world renowned tenor Charles Castronovo and has partnered him in numerous recitals abroad and in the UK. She has recorded art songs from the Belle Époque period alongside Castronovo for their debut album, which will be released in early 2026 with Naxos/Orfeo. She regularly partners world renowned counter tenor James Laing and they premièred major living composer Ian Venables’s piece, Little Old Cupid, in 2025. Claire is passionate about promoting British Art Songs and she frequently collaborates with Ian Venables on projects and concerts. Claire has performed Out of Winter in the presence of the composer, Jonathan Dove, as part of his 60th birthday celebrations and gave the live performance première of major composer Ivor Gurney's solo piano piece Autumn. She has performed in major music festivals and concert halls, both abroad and throughout the UK. Her other regular duo partners with whom she performs a variety of song programmes are British singers, soprano Susanna MacRae and mezzo soprano Rachel Roper, and is beginning a new collaboration with American bass baritone DeAndre Simmons. Claire completed her Artist Masters in piano accompaniment with distinction at Guildhall School of Music and Drama, where she was a Guildhall Scholar. Claire was the Junior Fellow in Piano Accompaniment at Guildhall, where she is now a staff pianist and often engaged as a musical director for a variety of different projects and performances, as well as a tutor on their short courses. She previously studied as a Trinity London Scholar at Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance, where she won every duo Song prize available and was furthermore awarded the Founders Prize for Piano Accompaniment and the Raymond Russell Prize for Harpsichord. |
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