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<br />{{in use}}
{{in use}}
'''Nicky Spence''' (born 1983) is a [[Scottish people|Scottish]] [[tenor]] performing in [[opera]], [[oratorio|concert]] and [[recital]].
'''Nicky Spence''' (born 1983) is a [[Scottish people|Scottish]] [[tenor]] performing in [[opera]], [[oratorio|concert]] and [[recital]].


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During his time as a Harewood Artist at [[English National Opera]], Nicky created the role of Brian In the world premiere of [[Nico Muhly]]’s opera [[Two Boys]] at ENO in 2011, a role he reprised for his [[Metropolitan Opera]] debut in New York in 2013. Other roles at ENO have included The Novice ''[[Billy Budd (opera)|Billy Budd]]'' directed by [[David Alden]], David in [[Richard Jones (director)|Richard Jones]]’s award-winning ''[[Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg|Die Meistersingers Von Nürnberg]]'', Steva ''[[Jenůfa|Jenufa]]'' directed by [[David Alden]]'','' Alwa ''[[Lulu (opera)|Lulu]]'' directed by artist [[William Kentridge]], and Francesco ''[[Benvenuto Cellini (opera)|Benvenuto Cellini]]'' directed by [[Monty Python]]’s [[Terry Gilliam]].
During his time as a Harewood Artist at [[English National Opera]], Nicky created the role of Brian In the world premiere of [[Nico Muhly]]’s opera [[Two Boys]] at ENO in 2011, a role he reprised for his [[Metropolitan Opera]] debut in New York in 2013. Other roles at ENO have included The Novice ''[[Billy Budd (opera)|Billy Budd]]'' directed by [[David Alden]], David in [[Richard Jones (director)|Richard Jones]]’s award-winning ''[[Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg|Die Meistersingers Von Nürnberg]]'', Steva ''[[Jenůfa|Jenufa]]'' directed by [[David Alden]]'','' Alwa ''[[Lulu (opera)|Lulu]]'' directed by artist [[William Kentridge]], and Francesco ''[[Benvenuto Cellini (opera)|Benvenuto Cellini]]'' directed by [[Monty Python]]’s [[Terry Gilliam]].


== On stage ==
==Roles (Full list)==
“A voice of great integrity”, Nicky is now forging an important International career. Having become a great exponent of Janáček's music, he has notably appeared in ''Jenůfa'' (La Monnaie, Brussels, ENO); ''From the House of the Dead'' (Royal Opera, Lyon Opera, La Monnaie); ''Katya Kabanova'' (Seattle Opera, Opera Holland Park), ''The Makropoulos Case'' (Oper Frankfurt) and recently recorded ''The Diary of One Who Disappeared'' with Julius Drake for the Hyperion label.

Nicky’s other role successes include Alwa in Berg's ''Lulu'', David in Richard Jones' ''Die Meistersingers von Nürnberg'', Novice ''Billy Budd'' (ENO); Andres ''Wozzeck'', Jungermann ''Moses und Aron'' (Opéra de Paris); Tamino ''Die Zauberflöte'' directed by Sir Thomas Allen, Baron Lummer ''Intermezzo'' (Scottish Opera); Francesco ''Benvenuto Cellini'' (De Nederlandse Opera); Rodolphe ''Guillaume Tell'' (WNO); Chevalier de la Force ''Dialogue des Carmelites'' (Grange Park Opera); Don Ottavio ''Don Giovanni'' (New Zealand Opera); and in concert: Mime ''Das Rheingold'' (Hallé Orchestra / Sir Mark Elder), Steuermann ''Der Fliegender'' Holländer (CBSO / Andris Nelsons), Iago Rossini's ''Otello'' (Buxton Festival), Young Sailor ''Tristan und Isolde'' (BBCSSO / Donald Runnicles), and Courtois Leoncavallo’s ''Zaza'' (Opera Rara / Maurizio Benini).

Establishing himself as an impressive Jungend Heldentenor, future roles for Nicky include his debut as Siegmund ''Die Walküre,'' The Prince ''Rusalka'', Lensky ''Eugene Onegin'' and Hexe ''Hansel und Gretel.''

== Roles (Full list) ==

*
*
*The Messenger ''The Tale of Tsar Saltan'' (d. Tcherniakov c. Altinoglu - La Monnaie, Brussels)
*The Messenger ''The Tale of Tsar Saltan'' (d. Tcherniakov c. Altinoglu - La Monnaie, Brussels)
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==External links==
==External links==
* [http://www.nickyspence.com Official web site]
* [http://www.nickyspence.com Official web site]
*[https://www.askonasholt.co.uk/artists/nicky-spence/]Askonas Holt Agent





Revision as of 14:25, 1 February 2019

Nicky Spence (born 1983) is a Scottish tenor performing in opera, concert and recital.

Life and career

Spence was born in Dumfries in 1983. He was educated at Wallace Hall Academy in Thornhill where he had his first lessons with Margaret Davies aged 15 and attended Scottish Youth Theatre and the National Youth Music Theatre. Aged 16, he was accepted to the Guildhall School of Music and Drama and studied there as their youngest singer. After his first year, he won the Kathleen Ferrier Society Young Singers Bursary[1] and studied with Ian Kennedy, Rudolf Piernay and latterly professor John Llewelyn Evans.

In 2004, Spence received a record contract with Universal Classics on the Decca label and was billed as The Scottish Tenor. his debut album My First Love, was recorded with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra.[2] He was twice nominated for a Classical Brit Award in both 2005 and 2006. At this time, he sang regularly on TV and for Royalty and Heads of State across the world. On the stage, he performed with popular singers such as Domingo and Kiri te Kanawa and duetted with Bryn Terfel, Katherine Jenkins, Hayley Westenra, Lesley Garrett and was the official support act with Shirley Bassey for her worldwide UK tour.[3]

Nicky Spence turned his back on his recording contract to pursue a legitimate opera career in 2006 and returned to the Guildhall School of Music and Drama for their renowned Opera Course under the direction Clive Timms. Subsequently, he won a place at the National Opera Studio in 2009 where he won the Bruce Millar Gulliver Opera Prize and went on to the English National Opera to become one of their inaugural Harewood Artists in 2010.

Young Artistship

As a young artist, Spence was nominated by the International Opera Awards as Young Singer of the Year in 2015 and was also one of ten artists included in the Times Breakthrough Award at the South Bank Sky Arts Awards celebrating the best up and coming young British talent from across the Arts industry.

During his time as a Harewood Artist at English National Opera, Nicky created the role of Brian In the world premiere of Nico Muhly’s opera Two Boys at ENO in 2011, a role he reprised for his Metropolitan Opera debut in New York in 2013. Other roles at ENO have included The Novice Billy Budd directed by David Alden, David in Richard Jones’s award-winning Die Meistersingers Von Nürnberg, Steva Jenufa directed by David Alden, Alwa Lulu directed by artist William Kentridge, and Francesco Benvenuto Cellini directed by Monty Python’s Terry Gilliam.

Roles (Full list)

  • The Messenger The Tale of Tsar Saltan (d. Tcherniakov c. Altinoglu - La Monnaie, Brussels)
  • The Tall Prisoner From the House of the Dead (d. Warlikovsky c. Wigglesworth - ROH / Lyon Opera / La Monnaie, Brussels)
  • Junger Seeman / Ein Hirt Tristan und Isode (d. Sellers c. Jordan - Opera de Paris / BBCSSO c. Runnicles)
  • Candide Candide (c. Lam - Xian Symphony Orchestra, China)
  • Lensky Eugene Onegin (c. Redmond - Cambridge Philharmonic)
  • Pirzel Die Soldaten (d. Bieto c. Heras-Casado - Teatro Real, Madrid)
  • Tichon Katya Kabanova (d. Nolan c. Dohnanyi - Seattle Opera / d. Fuchs c. Edwards - Opera Holland Park, London)
  • Steva Jenufa (d. Mitchell c. Lacey - Grange Park Opera / d. Alden c. Wigglesworth - English National Opera / d. Hermanis c. Morlot - La Monnaie, Brussels)
  • Andres Wozzeck (d. Marthaler c. Schonwandt - Opera de Paris)
  • Mime Das Rheingold (c. Elder - Hallé Orchestra)
  • Alwa Lulu (d. Kentridge c. Wigglesworth - English National Opera)
  • Borivoj Dvorak Saint Ludmila (c. Elder - Hallé Orchestra)
  • Janek The Makropoulos Case (d. Jones c. Darlington - Frankfurt Oper)
  • Courtois Zaza (d. Waters c. Benini - Opera Rara, Barbican)
  • Junger Mann / Mann Moses und Aron (d. Castellucci c. Jordan - Opera de Paris)
  • Francesco Benvenuto Cellini (d. Gilliam c. Elder / Gardener - Nederlandse Opera / English National Opera)
  • David Die Meistersinger Von Nürnberg (d. Jones c. Gardener - English National Opera)
  • Rodolphe Guillaume Tell (d. Poutney c. Rizzi - Welsh National Opera)
  • Mambre Mose in Egitto (d. Poutney c. Rizzi - Welsh National Opera)
  • Iago Otello (Rossini) (c. Barlow - Buxton Opera House)
  • Isacco La Gazza Ladra (d. Alden c. Nanasi / Sagripanti - Frankfurt Oper)
  • Brian Two Boys (Nico Muhly) (d. Sher c. Robertson - The Metropolitan Opera, New York)
  • Don Ottavio Don Giovanni (d. Brodie c. Davies - New Zealand Opera)
  • Chevalier de la Force Les Dialogues des Carmelites (d. Doyle c. Barlow - Grange Park Opera)
  • Steuermann Die Fliegeder Holländer (d. Fehr c. Corti - Scottish Opera)
  • Tamino Der Zauberflöte (d. Allen c. Wycik - Scottish Opera)
  • Novice Billy Budd (d. Alden c. Gardener - English National Opera)
  • Thomas Mason Hohepa (Jenny McLeod) (d. Brodie c. Taddei - New Zealand Opera)
  • Quint / Prologue The Turn of the Screw (d. Key c. Blunt - Arcola Theatre, London)
  • Brian Two Boys (Nico Muhly) (d. Sher c. Gamba - English National Opera)
  • Baron Lummer Intermezzo (d. Quetes c. Corti - Scottish Opera)
  • Lampwick The Adventures of Pinocchio (d. Duncan c. Parry - Opera North)
  • Jacquino Fidelio (d. Fuchs c. Robertson - Opera Holland Park)
  • MacM
  • Macheath The Beggar’s Opera (Britten) (d. Studer c. Lyness - West Green House)
  • Tom Rakewell The Rake’s Progress (d. Kerley c. Robertson - British Youth Opera)
  • Pyramus Pyramus and Thisbe (Lampe) (d. Studer c. Lyness - West Green House)
  • Dr Blindt Die Fledermaus (c. Lovell - London Festival Opera)
  • The Guide The King goes forth to France (Sallinen) (d. Lloyd-Evans c. Timms - Guildhall School)
  • La Rencontre Imprevue (Gluck) Osmin (d. Metcalf c. Kok - Guildhall School)
  • The Marriage Kokhkaryov (Martinu) (d. Talevi c. Timms - Guildhall School)
  • Bill Flight (Jonathan Dove) (d. Lloyd-Evans c. Cleobury - British Youth Opera)
  • Don Eusebio L’Occasione fa il Ladro (d. Talevi c. Greenwood - Guildhall School)
  • Belmonte in Die Entführung aus dem Serail (English Touring Opera)[4]
  • Shepherd and Various in King Arthur (Aldeburgh Festival, Britten-Pears Young Artist)
  • Pirelli in Sweeney Todd (Shawford Mill Theatre)
  • Tony in West Side Story (Oxford Philharmonia)
  • Count Zedlau im Wiener Blut (English Touring Opera)
  • 3rd Gentleman in Peter Grimes (Salzburg Festival)
  • Ferrando in Così fan tutte (Westminster Opera)
  • Scaramuccio in Ariadne auf Naxos (Garsington Opera)
  • The Soldier in Jonathan Dove’s I giardini della storia (Batignano Opera Festival)

Away from music

Nicky Spence is a patron for Blackheath Halls and their Community Opera Company and Scottish Opera Young Company. Nicky is a keen charity worker and is also an ambassador for Help Musicians UK, president of Dumfries Musical Theatre Company and is often asked to comment on current affairs in the arts and by the Scottish Government.

References

  1. ^ http://www.kathleenferrier.org.uk/index.php/bursary?showall=1&limitstart=
  2. ^ Brown, Geoff (13 January 2007)/ "Nicky Spence", The Times,
  3. ^ Hugh Davies,"There's a guy works down the chip shop swears he's Pavarotti", Daily Telegraph, 7 June 2006.
  4. ^ All roles listed here are from Spence's profile on Samling.org.uk

External links

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Nicky_Spence&oldid=881273727"