OPERA FAVOURITES SET TO TAKE CENTRE STAGE FOR CATHEDRAL CONCERT

A concert featuring some of the world's most popular operatic overtures and arias is set to take place in the historic surroundings of Chester Cathedral.

Staged by Chester Philharmonic Orchestra, the concert on Saturday 28^th June at 7.30pm will include performances of music and arias from operas including "The Flying Dutchman" by Wagner, "La Bohème" by Puccini, Mozart's "The Magic Flute", "La Traviata" by Verdi, "Gianni Schicchi" by Puccini and many more. 

Chester Philharmonic Orchestra will be joined on stage by soloists Ukrainian soprano Khrystyna Makar, baritone Marcus Dawson and guest conductor Juan Ortuño. 

Speaking about the special concert, Diana Anderson, Chair of Chester Philharmonic Orchestra said:

"Our season of song & dance music concludes with an evening of favourite orchestral music and much-loved solos from the world of opera directed by Spanish conductor Juan Ortuño, a passionate advocate for singing and working within opera and choral societies. We are also delighted to be joined by acclaimed soloists soprano Khrystyna Makar and baritone Marcus Dawson for what promises to be a glittering finale for our 2024/25 season of concerts."

Originally from Lviv, Ukraine and now living in Aberystwyth, soprano Khrystyna Makar graduated with a Master's degree in voice at the Lviv National Music Academy. She completed her studies with Alexander Vostryakov of the Kyiv National Opera and Olga Pasichnyk of the Polish Royal Opera. Khrystyna has performed in many of the most prestigious Concert Halls and Festivals of Europe. She is a passionate enthusiast of 21st century music and has performed in the World Premieres of several works. Khrystyna arrived in the U.K. from  Ukraine with her two young sons in July 2022. Since then she has reached out to friends and supporters who helped her to continue performing, mostly in Wales.

During this time she has performed at the Welsh National Eisteddfod, presented a solo recital of Ukrainian art songs at various venues including at Oxford University, St. Andrew's Church, Holborn in London, Rhosygilwen, Clonter Farm Opera in Cheshire, the Aberystwyth Arts Centre, the National Library, The Tabernacle MOMA Machynlleth and, most notably, as guest performer at the St. David’s Day Celebrations at the Welsh Senedd. Khrystyna’s deep love for Ukrainian classical art song has prompted her to accept an invitation to conduct her first masterclass in Wales at the Narberth A Capella Festival 2025. She is a passionate vocal teacher, started her teaching career in 2017 in schools, and she is also conducting individual vocal classes online. She has taken part in various documentary films about Ukraine presented by the BBC where she displayed the wealth of Ukrainian classical art song.

A graduate of The Danish Opera Company and The Royal Academy of Music in London, Marcus Dawson is a Norwegian-Australian baritone. Recent performances include the role of Conte Almaviva in the Royal Danish Opera Academy’s production of The Marriage of Figaro and the title role of Don Giovanni with North Wales Opera Company. In January of 2024, Marcus made his debut on the main stage of the Copenhagen Opera House in six performances singing the Herold in Peter Heise’s opera Drot og Marsk. Other notable performances include "Amadeus" by Peter Schaffer at the Danish Royal Theatre, singing excerpts from a wide range of Mozart operas.

During his time in London, he also performed in The Royal Academy of Music's bicentennial opera, Witch, by Freya Waley Cohen, in The Susie Sainsbury Theatre and played the role of Gabriel von Eisenstein in Strauss's Die Fledermaus with Kings College Opera Society. Marcus also premiered the solo a cappella voice work Moon Over Maenefa by Rhian Samuel on the occasion of The Royal Academy of Music's bicentennial celebration.

Spanish conductor Juan Ortuño is a Masters graduate from the Royal Northern College of Music and is developing an exciting career in the UK where he has worked with professional orchestras such as the Manchester Camerata and the Royal Scottish National Orchestra. Recently, he was finalist in the “Luigi Mancinelli” International Opera Conducting Competition in Orvieto, Italy. Juan also enjoys working on projects with companies such as Pint Sized Opera or Classical Revolution, who aim to bring opera and classical music to new audiences in informal locations like pubs. In 2006, he was selected to take part in the young conductors’ project of the Spanish Youth Orchestra (Joven Orquesta Nacional de España) and since then has continued working with them as guest conductor in concert tours. Juan also has been awarded a scholarship from the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs to continue further studies in the UK.

Full details of Chester Philharmonic Orchestra's upcoming concert at Chester Cathedral can be found at: 

www.chesterphilorchestra.co.uk 

...where tickets can be booked online.