One of the UK’s leading mezzo sopranos who has performed with some of the best known opera companies around the world will be in concert on Tyneside this weekend.
Anne-Marie Owens has performed for the Opéra National de Paris, Théâtre Royale de La Monnaie, Opéra de Lausanne, the Komische Oper – Berlin, New York City Opera, Santiago Opera, Arizona Opera, Opera Australia, and at the Hong Kong and Saito Kinen Festivals. Closer to home, performances have included the Royal Opera House Covent Garden, Glyndebourne, Scottish Opera, Welsh National Opera and Opera North.
Anne-Marie’s vast operatic repertoire has included Brangäne Tristan und Isolde, Amneris Aida, Azucena Il Trovatore, Venus Tannhäuser, Herodias Salome and Santuzza Cavalleria Rusticana.
On the concert platform she regularly performs the works of Mahler, Vaughan Williams, Elgar and the choral works of Verdi, Handel, Mendelssohn, Mozart and Beethoven.
Orchestras she performs with include the London Symphony Orchestra, Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, Detroit Symphony Orchestra, BBC Symphony Orchestra, City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, Royal Scottish National Orchestra, Orchestre Philharmonique de Liège, City of London Sinfonia and Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra.
South Shields-born Anne-Marie, who studied at the Guildhall School of Music & Drama and joined the English National Opera in 1985, will be accompanied by Sage Gateshead-based Bede Wind, which celebrated its 30th anniversary in January.
The band has been led since its launch by conductor Ernest Young, who was last month awarded the British Empire Medal in the Queen’s Birthday Honours for services to music.
The concert is being held at St George’s Church, Cullercoats, at 7pm this Saturday, July 6th. The programme will include both well-known regional tunes and songs from the shows, with Habanera from Carmen, I Could Have Danced All Night from My Fair Lady, Edelweiss from The Sound of Music and You’ll Never Walk Alone from Carousel.
Tickets costing £6 can be purchased online at ticketsource.co.uk/bede-wind or can be bought on the door. Proceeds are to local charities Beach Access North East and the North East Assisted Ventilation Service (NEAVS) Fund.