In 1594, the job of royal lutenist to Queen Elizabeth I became available. John Dowland did not get the job, allegedly for being Catholic. But did Queen Elizabeth listen to his compositions or even play them? Come and find out! Tamsin Simmill, voice; Salomé Sandoval, voice, lute and the curator of this program. $20 Suggested donation. PROMO VIDEO
Tamsin Simmill: English mezzo-soprano, Tamsin Simmill, grew up singing the traditional Anglican church repertoire. As a student at Oxford, she toured in Denmark, Germany, Jakarta, and Hong Kong; sang and recorded with Emma Kirkby and the Consorte of Musicke – notably reviving a 17th-century opera in London’s Royal Albert Hall; premiered works by Arvo Pärt in France with the Western Wind and Hilliard Ensembles; and, with the then-newly-formed Finzi Singers, continued for some years, premiering vocal works by modern British composers, and recording on the Chandos label. A member of the choir of St. George’s, Hanover Square – base of the London Handel Choir & Orchestra under famed Handelian scholar, Denys Darlow – Tamsin also sang in Robert King’s Monteverdi 1610 Vespers in St. John’s, Smith Square. On moving to Ireland, she sang, toured, and recorded with the National Irish Chamber Choir and Dublin Grand Opera, appearing as Kate Pinkerton in a live Christmas Eve broadcast of Madama Butterfly. Tamsin moved to the US in 1999, singing in Duke Vespers Ensemble (where she met her husband), the Vocal Arts Ensemble of Durham, and Duke Collegium Musicum; she has soloed with groups including the Durham Choral Society, Women’s Voices Chorus, and Chapel Hill Community Chorus. For 6 years she co-directed and sang in Women’s a cappella ensemble, Isabella, which was twice invited to appear in the Piccolo Spoleto Festival in Charleston, SC. Tamsin is a charter member of the NC Symphony Chamber
Choir, singing Marcellina in their semi-staged production of Amadeus. She occasionally sings at Chapel of the Cross in Chapel Hill, and is a guest singer with the NC Baroque Chamber Orchestra and with El Fuego, a group specializing in Spanish and New World Baroque music. El Fuego took part in this year’s BEMF fringe, to great acclaim. She lives in Durham with her husband and their 6 cats, and has for more than 2 decades run a bodywork therapy business from home: http://powerfulgoodhealing.com She is also co-owner of Triangle Wine Company, with stores in Morrisville, Southern Pines, and Cary: www.trianglewinecompany.com
Multifaceted artist Salomé Sandoval (SaSa) sings and accompanies herself
with lutes, early and classical guitars, in multilingual, creative and innovative programs,
ranging from Medieval, Renaissance, Baroque to 20th century repertoires. Her
performances often include a combination of visual arts, dance, theater and music as a
protagonist. Originally from Venezuela, SaSa holds a GPD in Early Music voice and
lute from Longy, as well as MA from MTSU and a BM from IUDEM, both in
classical guitar. In addition to her appearances in masterclasses, radio shows, theater,
movie soundtracks and television, SaSa is an award winner in several music
competitions. She has sung and played in various ensembles and choirs in Venezuela
and the US, she is an active music teacher and has given masterclasses in classical
guitar in NY , MN and Mexico. SaSa has collaborated in CD recordings with
distinguished organizations and has two of her own. Her recent collaborations include
Raleigh Camerata, Boston Camerata, El Mundo and the Newberry Consort, as well as
her own group El Fuego Early Music Ensemble. Youtube: @salomesandoval and
@elfuegoearlymusic
