Cast

Patrick Ashcroft (Goro)

Before embarking on a career in music, Patrick completed a PhD. in cosmology at the University of Cambridge, subsequently studying at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama.  He was the recipient of the John Scott Award from Scottish Opera and an Endowment Award from Grange Park Opera where he sang Fenton to Bryn Terfel’s Falstaff as one of their Rising Stars. Past credits include Remendado, Carmen and covering Lindoro, The Italian Girl in Algiers both for Scottish Opera; Nemorino, L’elisir d’amore; Almaviva, The Barber of Seville; Don Ramiro, La Cenerentola and Roberto, Roberto Devereux. In addition he sang the Suitor in The Sofa(Elizabeth Maconchy), a performance that is on general release from Chandos, and gained critical approval for his portrayal of Mr Triquet in Eugene Onegin with English Touring Opera.

Jessica Costelloe (Kate Pinkerton)

Irish born Mezzo-soprano Jessica Costelloe is a recent graduate of the Juilliard School of Music.  Her operatic experiences include: At Juilliard, Zita (Puccini; Gianni Schicchi), Oberon (Britten; A Midsummer Night’s Dream) Genevieve (Paul Hindemith; The Long Christmas Dinner) and Mrs. Todd (Menotti; The Old Maid and the Thief). For The Chautauqua Opera Institute; Mercedes (Bizet; Carmen) , Larina (Tchaikovsky; Eugene Onegin) and Mrs. McLean (Carlysle Floyd; Susannah). With The Banff Opera Center (Canada), she was seen performing the role of Alma March for the Canadian Premier of Mark Adamo’s Operatic adaptation of Little Women. Most recently in recital Ms. Costelloe made her Alice Tully Hall (NYC) debut at their Wednesdays @ 1 recital series where she performed excerpts from Gustav Mahler’s Rückert Lieder.

Nicholas Delvallé (Young Pinkerton)

Trained at Bristol Old Vic Theatre School where he was fortunate enough to play Hamlet, Paris in Romeo and Juliet, and August Sonders in On The Razzle by Tom Stoppard as well as many others. Since leaving he embarked on a six month tour of Austria with Vienna’s English Theatre, creating the role of Jake Latchford in their production of Sacrifice by Claudia Leaf. Last summer he performed in Alls Well That Ends Well and Anne Boleyn at Shakespeare’s Globe and earlier this year he portrayed John Hutchins in the critically acclaimed production of Night of January 16th. This is his first production with The Wedding Collective and he is delighted to be taking on the role of Young Pinkerton.

Attila Mokus (Dr Shinigi)

Attila Mokus, baritone, was born in Novi Sad where he began his classical vocal education in 2001. From 2005 to 2010 he worked with Nikola Mitic, one of the lead singers of The National Theatre of Belgrade Opera, and then enrolled at the Faculty of Music Arts in Graz, Austria with the renowned professor Tom Sol. He had his operatic debute on stage as Germont in Verdi’s “La Traviate”, after which he performed as Proccolo in Donizetti’s “Le convenienze ed inconvenienze Teatrali”, Marcello in Puccini’s “La Boheme”, as well as the lead role in “Le nozze di Figaro”, the Father in “Haensel und Gretel” and Conte Robinson in “Il matrimonio segreto” by Domenica Cimarosa.

Joe Morgan (Benjiro/Pinkerton)

Tenor Joe Morgan graduated from the Guildhall School of Music and Drama having studied with David Pollard. Previous roles include Tom Rakewell (cover) and Vanderdendur for Welsh National Youth Opera, Figaro in Barber of Seville and Pluto in Orpheus in the Underworld both with Unexpected Opera, Nemorino in L’elisir d’amore with Opera at Bearwood and Pop-up Opera, Jupiter in Semele with Opera in Space, Paris and Ajax 1 in La Belle Hélène and Alfredo in La Traviata both with Merry Opera, The Defendant in Trial by Jury with Opera Minima, First Armed Man (cover) and Second Priest (cover) in The Magic Flute with Garsington Festival Opera and Dr Caius in Falstaff with Opera Berbiguieres.Future engagements include further performances of Alfredo in La Traviata with Merry Opera.

Li Li (Butterfly)

Li Li has been awarded numerous Singing Prizes, including the Mario Lanza Opera Prize and Ashleyan Opera Prize. Li Li gives regular performances in the UK and China. Besides her chorus activity – including Raymond Gubbay’s production of Puccini’s Madame Butterfly at London’s Royal Albert Hall – Li Li has sung main roles as Queen of Night (The Magic Flute), Donna Anna (Don Giovanni), Fiordiligi (Cosi Fan Tutte). Li Li is currently touring the UK with Britain’s Got Talent’s finalist saxophonist Julian Smith. “Your excellent technique and your hard work impressed me a lot” David Syrus (head of music, Royal Opera House)

Latana Phoung (Suzuki/Old Suzuki)

Born in Paris Latana obtained two Master’s degrees in History of Art from Sorbonne University and in vocal training from GSMD in London. Following her course at GSMD she toured as the title role of Orpheus (Gluck) with the Opera Studio of Geneva. She performed since then the title role of Carmen at Questor’s Theatre, the Sorceress in Somerset, Marcellina at St Paul’s Church, Gianetta at Sandringham House, Maddalena and Brigitte (Franz Curti) in Geneva. She had the opportunity to sing in famous venues as Theatre des Champs Elysees, Salle Pleyel, Chateau Clos-Lucé, Versailles Castle, Longborough Festival. As the Director of two promising companies Musicanima Theatre and Metamorphosia Recitals Latana will have a busy summer performing at the Garrick’s temple in Hampton Court, in Bermuda and at the Handel House Museum for a solo recital in September 2012.

Megumi Shiozaki (Suzuki, Old Suzuki)

The Japanese mezzosoprano Megumi Shiozaki studied singing at the Musashino College of Music in Tokyo and completed the graduate course in 2008. From 2008 to 2011 she was a member of the Opera Studio of the New National Theatre in Tokyo. Here she performed as Frugola Il Tabarro,  Zita Gianni Schicchi, Quickly Falstaff, Maddalena Rigoletto, Mother Marie Dialogues des Carmelites, Sonyetka Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk. She has been granted the 2011-2012 Fellowship by the Japanese Government Overseas Study Programme for Artists, which sends young artists of proven talent abroad. She has began her studies in Berlin in 2011. She sings as Maddalena Rigoletto sponsored by Opera Classica Europa in Germany in August 2012.

Xiaoran Wang (Yamadori/Bonze)

Xiaoran graduated from Royal Northern College of Music with a Bachelor Degree of Music with honour. He was trained by Peter Alexander Wilson.He was then admitted to the Royal College of Music in 2009 and gained a Graduate Diploma in Vocal study in 2010. Under the guidance of Sir Roderick Earle, he was granted a Master degree of performance in July 2012, during which he was involved in several opera roles including: Senaca/L’incoronazione di Poppea(Brutwood Theatre 2008), Don Alfonso/Cosi Fan Tutte(Brutwood Theatre 2008), Tonio/Pagliacci (Brutwood Theatre 2009), The Count/ Le Nozze di Figaro (Britten Theatre 2009;2010,2011), Armourd Man/Die Zauberflote(Britten Theatre 2009), Demetrius/ Midsummer Marriage (Britten Theatre 2010), River God/Rusalka(Britten Theatre 2011), Pandolfe/Cendrillon(Britten Theatre 2011), The title role of Don Giovanni(Britten Theatre 2011). His recent performances includes Sid/Albert Herring; Albert/Wether; Belcore/ L’Elisir D’amore(Britten Theatre 2012). Doctor Gregg/Gallantry(Etcetera Theatre 2012).

Can Xie (Butterfly)

In her childhood she learned dance. In 2000 she was awarded as “best talented young singer” of the city of Neijang and was laureate of many Chinese Singing competitions. In March 2012 she finished her studies of voice with the master’s degree of honours at the Music University of Graz. Additional to her studies she took part in Masterclasses with Renate Holm and Angelika Kirchschlager and had regular lessons for art song with Julius Drake. She took part in opera productions of “the Mikado” by Gilbert and Sullivan in Japan and sang “La ciesca” in “Gianni Schicchi” by Puccini, “Sandmann und Taumann” in “Hänsel und Gretel” by Humperdinck and “Papagena” and “1. Dame” in “Magic Flute” by Mozart. Can Xie sang in many solo concerts and vocal recitals. Among them at the Graz Opera House and Casino Baden near Vienna.