Rebecca Afonwy-Jones

2017-2018 Highlights: A quick view…

Rebecca is making some interesting repertoire debuts, returning to familiar venues and recently enjoyed a world premiere of a revised work by Edward Gregson Songs of Innocence and Experience at The Presteigne Festival, together with works by Hugh Wood, Roxanna Panufnik, Helen Grime and Judith Weir. She will return to Presteigne Festival for Joseph Phibbs’ JULIANA following its world premiere at Cheltenham Festival in July.

Engagements have included Mozart REQUIEM for St. Magnus Festival with Miguel Harth Bedoya and The Norwegian Radio Orchestra and also with The Norwegian Wind Ensemble, conducted by Peter Szilvay, Elgar DREAM OF GERONTIUS for RTE Orchestra, Dublin, Bach ST. JOHN PASSION with Bournemouth Chamber Orchestra and Gavin Carr, Beethoven NINTH SYMPHONY with The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra for Hull City of Culture, Handel MESSIAH at The Royal Festival Hall, Mendelssohn ELIJAH at Cadogan Hall and the Welsh premieres of Mealor & Tarney MAGNIFICAT for the North Wales International Music Festival. Rebecca will return to Welsh National Opera this Autumn for Flora LA TRAVIATA.

World Premiere at Cheltenham Festival

Rebecca will sing with Nova Music Opera conducted by George Vass on Sunday 15th July 2018 at The Cheltenham Festival in the world premiere performance of Joseph Phibbs’ new chamber opera Juliana

Midsummer’s eve on a Swedish water-side estate – the night is short and passions run high in Joseph Phibbs’ intriguing new chamber opera. Juliana is recovering from a broken engagement; with her father away on business, she has only a canary for company. She’s bored and depressed, so goes to the kitchen in search of distraction…

Laurie Slade’s libretto brilliantly transplants Strindberg’s most celebrated play Miss Julie (1899) to a contemporary Swedish setting, exploring the transgression of class, immigration and social and sexual boundaries. Phibbs’ trademark breadth of instrumental colour and vocal expression will make for a stellar world premiere performance.

Supported by The Cheltenham Music Festival Society

A co-production between Nova Music Opera, Presteigne Festival and Cheltenham Music Festival. Supported by the Arts Council of Wales, the John S Cohen Foundation, the PRS for Music Foundation and the RVW Trust.

Follow this link to The Cheltenham Festival website for further details and ticket sales

Madame Butterfly at Festival Opera New Zealand

Rebecca with Luke Alizzi, playing Sorrow, the youngest member of the Madame Butterfly cast for Festival Opera, New Zealand, which played to capacity audiences during the Art Deco Festival in Napier last week, with colleagues Toni Marie Palmertree as Cio Cio San, Pene Pati as Pinkerton and Welsh baritone Gary Griffiths as Sharpless.

All best wishes to the whole Festival Opera team, especially Project Prima Volta, with whom it was such a pleasure to perform: “Finding Voices, Shaping Futures”

New Year, new headshots..

Courtesy of Tim Dunk Photography, based in Leeds, Rebecca is pleased to showcase her new headshots, taken on one of the coldest days of December, with the snow falling outside!

We kept warm indoors with cups of tea and here’s the result.

Please contact elin.jones@hazardchase.co.uk for a high resolution image suitable for programme use.

Start the new year in…New Zealand!

Following sell-out performances of Welsh National Opera’s MADAM BUTTERFLY in the UK and on tour to Dubai, Rebecca is excited to announce that she will reprise the role of Suzuki for Festival Opera, New Zealand in Napier, Hawkes Bay in February 2018. She will be singing alongside Toni Marie Palmertree as Cio Cio San, Pene Pati as Pinkerton and fellow countryman, Gary Griffiths as Sharpless.

A highlight of the time spent in Hawkes Bay will be Rebecca’s involvement with Project Prima Volta, which aims to give opportunities to local young people to develop their skills within a musical environment – their  maxim being Finding Voices, Shaping Futures. Together, the main cast and PPV members will create a collaborative concert  on 20th January 2018 to showcase the initiative and introduce the international artists . More details to follow soon…

Performance dates 13/15/17/19th February 2018, Tremains Art Deco Festival, Napier

Memorial Concert for Serena Fenwick – Sunday 12th November 2017

This Sunday 12th November, would have always been poignant, owing to its being a time for remembrance. This year, it promises to be even more so for those who knew Serena Fenwick, since there will be a very special event to remember her, a great supporter of British Youth Opera and many young singers. Rebecca was fortunate to have met Serena during her time at The Guildhall School of Music & Drama and British Youth Opera and looks forward to performing alongside many friends and colleagues as together, they celebrate Serena’s wonderful legacy and life.

16:00 St. Marylebone Parish Church, Marylebone Road, London, NW1 5LT

Last minute in Llandudno!

Remember, remember Sunday 5th of November!

Rebecca was delighted to step in at the last minute as soloist for the North Wales Choral Festival, in their 30th Anniversary year, representing the excellence of Welsh National Opera, showcasing an array of mezzo soprano arias. Thanks to Ruth Evans, all the choirs, backstage team, the two Dilwyns & Venue Cymru for such a warm welcome! Diolch o galon!

Here she is with wonderful Sioned, getting in to her second dress of the evening! #diva