DURHAM OPERA ENSEMBLE

We are very pleased to annouce that internationally renowned baritone Roderick Williams has accepted the role of Chairman of the Patrons! Roddy has had a great involvment with the society over the past year and has written a few words to introduce himself and his role: 

"My career in opera spans almost twenty years, beginning around the same time as the birth of my first daughter who is now a member of the University and a member of DOE.  Through her I have been delighted to share with DOE members some of my experience of performing on the opera stage and in discovering and communicating character.  I hope to be of particular use in preparations for DOE's production of Le Nozze di Figaro, an opera in which I was last directed by the Chancellor of Durham University, Sir Thomas Allen.

It gives me great pleasure to assume the role of Chairman of the Patrons to the Durham Operatic Ensemble; in the brief time that I have been associated with the students I have already been strongly impressed by their enthusiasm for opera, their commitment to high standards of performance and the warmth of their welcome to Durham when I have had the opportunity to visit.  Mounting an opera is no mean feat as any professional opera company will affirm; that all parts of the operation are performed from within the student ensemble and done with such vigour and attention to detail is a most remarkable achievement.  I salute the members of DOE for their ambitions and their resolution in bringing these performances to fruition and I look forward both to exciting forthcoming productions and also a long and enjoyable association with the Ensemble."