A classical music festival has proved that the show can go on after Saturday’s star performer was forced to pull out days before she was due to appear in Dumfries.
Owing to an injury this week, soprano Susan Bullock will no longer be able to travel to the region to star in the International Musicians Platform festival’s gala performance on Saturday at Greyfriar’s Church.
At the eleventh hour, director Alex McQuiston managed to secure two operatic starlettes of the highest calibre in her place to sing alongside tenor Nicky Spence in what will prove to be a spectacular evening event.
Alex said: “It was a blow to hear that Susan was injured and could no longer head-up the gala performance and we wish her a very speedy recovery.
“I am absolutely delighted, though, to have secured international opera stars Corinne Winters and Madeleine Shaw who have both performed with Nicky on stage before and have kindly agreed to step into the breach at the last minute.
“Corinne and Madeleine are fast becoming two of the biggest names in world opera alongside our own Nicky Spence and their presence on a Dumfries stage is an unparalleled coup for the region.
“We are extremely fortunate to have them both perform here before they begin their season in London and Saturday’s gala performance will be magnificent.”
Corinne has garnered the highest acclaim the world over for her portrayals of Mimi, Violetta, Micaëla, and Melisande.
The New York Times hailed her as “an outstanding actress, as well as a singer of extraordinary grace and finesse” and she makes her Covent Garden debut this season. She is esteemed for the vibrancy and colour she brings to the roles she plays and is able to sing in any language.
Madeleine Shaw studied at the RSAMD (now the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland) and the National Opera Studio and was subsequently part of the Young Singers Programme at English National Opera.
Madeleine has also graced many of the world’s greatest stages including La Scala, Milan, the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden and she recently played Magdalena (Nicky Spence’s on-stage wife) at London’s Coliseum in the English National Opera’s multi award-winning production of The Mastersingers of Nuremberg by Wagner.
The singers will be accompanied by pianist Simon Lepper in a stunning programme that includes works by Verdi, Massenet, Tchaikovsky and Mozzart. The performance begins at 7.30pm.
Tickets from www.absoluteclassics.co.uk
Main Photo – Corrine Winters credit Fay Fox
