Strand International Festival of Song 1

About the Event

International opera stars launch London's newest classical song series held in the intimate space of 'The Jewel in the Strand', St Mary le Strand. These five recitals, curated by soprano Susan Parkes, will cover a broad spectrum of composers, from Scottish folksongs, Vaughan Williams songs of Travel, Schubert lieder and Rossini's Cat Duet to a tribute to Rachmaninov's 150th Anniversary.

Rodney Earl Clarke Hailed by Gramophone as a 'singer to be watched', Rodney Earl Clarke is recognised for his versatility in performance. At home with the music of 1940‐1960 Broadway, Rodney has appeared in many shows including Carmen Jones at the Royal Festival Hall, London, Kismet at the English National Opera, Jude Kelly's award winning production of Bernstein's On the Town, Kenneth Branagh's epic film version of Mozart's The Magic Flute, Sondheim's 80th Birthday Celebration Prom, The Broadway Sound BBC Prom with the John Wilson Orchestra, Jake in Gershwin's Porgy & Bess under the baton of Sir Simon Rattle and Crown in Porgy & Bess under the direction of John Doyle with the Royal Danish Opera in Copenhagen. He also stars in Raymond Gubbay's popular show Crazy for Gershwin which recently toured the UK.

Rodney travelled to Australia in 2014 where he performed songs from the Gershwin Songbook alongside Australian soprano Julie Lea Goodwin and the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Boston Pops Orchestra conductor Keith Lockhart. He will be returning to Australia to perform the bass solos in Handel's Messiah at the Sydney Opera House with the Sydney Philharmonia under the baton of Brett Weymark and he will kick off 2016 with an arena tour of West End/Broadway hits concert with the Czech Philharmonic under the baton of Keith Lockhart.

Rodney performs regularly with major orchestras and conductors with repertoire including Bernstein's Mass with London Symphony Orchestra under Marin Alsop, title role in Porgy and Bess with the Orchestra of Accademia di Santa Cecilia Rome under Wayne Marshall and Jake in Porgy & Bess with the Chamber Orchestra of Europe under Nikolaus Harnoncourt. Rodney was delighted to join the BBC's team of TV presenters in last year's Proms at the Royal Albert Hall, London.

Rodney was elected an Associate of the Royal Academy of Music for his services and contributions to the music industry.

Annabel Thwaite Recognised as one of the most versatile and charismatic pianists, Annabel has won all the major accompanying prizes, including the prestigious Kathleen Ferrier, Gold Medal, and Richard Tauber Piano Prizes. She has collaborated with renowned artists such as Roberto Alagna, Bryn Terfel, David Kempster, “Only Men Aloud!, the Michael Clark Company and Ensemble Midtvest. As a Soloist, Chamber musician and regularly collaborating with Sir Bryn Terfel, she has toured and performed in many countries, including the USA at Carnegie Hall and Queens College, Walter Hall and Koerner Hall in Canada, France, Italy, Sweden and Slovenia, and in England, concertos at the Birmingham Symphony Hall and Imperial College, London.