MATTHEW SPRANGEBaritone
Matthew completed the Opera Course at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in 2010 having previously taken MMus and MMP degrees at the school, studying with John Evans. He began his vocal training with Wynford Evans whilst at Royal Holloway, University of London where he took BMus and MMus degrees (specialising in composition).
He has recently covered the role of Guiglielmo COSI FAN TUTTE for Welsh National Opera and last summer performed Schaunard LA BOHÈME for British Youth Opera. At GSMD he undertook the roles of Sid ALBERT HERRING, Eustachio in Donizetti’s L’ASSEDIO DI CALAIS Calais), Mill in Rossini’s LA CAMBIALE DI MATRIMONIO, Le Baron in Massenet’s CHÉRUBIN and Le Chef de caravane in Gluck’s LA RENCONTRE IMPRÉVUE. Other roles have included Commissario LA TRAVIATA and Le Chasseur GUILLAUME TELL for Chelsea Opera Group at the Queen Elizabeth Hall, the title role in THE MARRIAGE OF FIGARO for Opera Brava on a country-wide tour over the summer of 2009 and covering the roles of Mr. Gedge ALBERT HERRING and Minskman in Jonathan Dove’s FLIGHT for British Youth Opera in the summers of 2007 and 2008.
Oratorio engagements have included Handel’s SOLOMAN at Eton College with Dame Emma Kirkby, Haydn’s CREATION in St. George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle as part of the Windsor Festival, Handel’s JUDAS MACCABEUS and MESSIAH, Mozart’s REQUIEM and SOLEMN VESPERS and Puccini’s MESSA DI GLORIA in venues including Worcester Cathedral, St. James’ Church, Piccadilly and the Farnham Maltings. He made his solo Barbican debut in a performance of Tippett’s FIVE NEGRO SPIRITUALS in a concert conducted by Bob Chilcott and featuring the BBC Singers.
On the recital platform, Matthew gave two concerts at the Henley Festival in 2010 and performed Mahler’s LIEDER EINES FAHRENDEN GESELLEN at the City of London Festival. He has also given recitals at Christchurch Spitalfields and the Ryedale Festival, and the John Ireland Festival at Holy Trinity, Sloane Square. He won second prize in the inaugural Chelsea Schubert Festival Song Prize and whilst at GSMD, performed Barber’s DOVER BEACH at the Barbican Centre with the Idomeneo Quartet.
Matthew has taken part in masterclasses with artists including Graham Johnson, Helmut Deutsch, Susan Bullock, Rudolf Piernay and Yvonne Kenny and masterclasses for BYO with Dame Josephine Barstow and Robert Tear. 2007 saw his Wigmore Hall debut and he also took part in a staged song programme devised by Iain Burnside. Opera Magazine’s review commented on his ‘thoughtful persona and lyrical timbre’ and ‘clarity of diction [which] would put a major name or two to shame.’
In the 2011-12 season Matthew performs Marcello LA BOHEME for Vignette Productions in London, Cambridge and the South of France, he will sing Yamadori and cover the role of Sharpless in Mid Wales Opera’s new production of Puccini’s MADAME BUTTERFLY, returns to WNO to cover the title role of Le Nozze di Figaro. In May 2012 he will perform Marcello for Lyric Opera Productions in Dublin and in the summer will perform the title role in LE NOZZE DI FIGARO for Opera à la Carte.
