CULTURE WHISPER

After Tár: women conductors to watch in London

Highly-praised film Tár has put women conductors into the spotlight. Here are just a few of many, at work in London shortly. Make a date, and maybe take a daughter too...

OLIVIA CLARKE “A regular artist at English National Opera where she is a Mackerras Fellow, Olivia Clarke also works with the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, Glyndebourne, and Longborough Festival Opera. Catch her conducting Carmen at ENO on 22 February (Kerem Hassan conducts other performances) before she gets to work assisting on ENO's Akhnaten…”

MEET THE NEW CBSO ASSISTANT CONDUCTORS.

A new stage in our long history of championing emerging conductors begins this March, with the introduction of six new Assistant Conductors.

Each Assistant Conductor will be assigned at least 4 weeks of work with the CBSO, to assist us in a full range of our activity from Family Concerts to our international tours, World Premiere performances, and everything in between. They will also benefit from meetings and workshops with CBSO musicians, management and stakeholders, alongside an open invitation to attend all our rehearsals and concerts throughout the period from March 22 - June 23.

These promising young conductors were chosen by a panel of CBSO musicians and management from an incredibly competitive field of applicants. Each brings valuable experience and fresh perspectives to the music we're proud to make, right here in Birmingham. 

'It's a visceral, full-body experience'

Young conductor Olivia Clarke describes the experience of working with English National Opera and how it has crafted its sound for the Coliseum.

“I’m in the final year of my conducting fellowship with ENO, which is designed to support early career conductors. As part of the fellowship I have been mentored by Martyn Brabbins and the whole of ENO have been really welcoming to me…"

  • "Olivia Clarke, Mackerras fellow at English National Opera, conducted with sharp, analytical insight and lyrical purpose: a name to watch"

    The Guardian. The week in classical: The Marriage of Figaro; LPO/Jurowski; Southbank Sinfonia/Clarke – review

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  • "Throughout, Olivia Clarke and the orchestra of English National Opera accompanied with sympathetic aplomb ... Clarke admirably took over the entire programme, showing a quiet sense of skill and decisiveness throughout"

    Planet Hugill. Opera scenes from the Young Artists of the National Opera Studio with the orchestra of English National Opera at Cadogan Hall

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  • “Musically this performance was top-class…lively and in the best Italian tradition, the Glyndebourne Sinfonia under the superior baton of Olivia Clarke”

    Klassik begeistert. Glyndebourne startet mit Turco in die Herbstsaison

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  • “Conductor Olivia Clarke, a rising star with a distinguished background that includes the International Conducting Academy in Berlin, expertly handles Rossini’s demands on singers and brings out the best in the Glyndebourne Sinfonia”

    Plays To See. Il turco in Italia

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  • “ There is also no doubt that Olivia Clarke has the measure of the music’s dynamic pace and vitality in her assured, unfussy grasp”

    Classical Source. Glyndebourne Autumn Season 2024 – Rossini’s Il turco in Italia – Inna Demenkova, Grace Durham, Ross Ramgobin & Michael Mofidian; directed by Mariame Clément; conducted by Olivia Clarke

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ENGLISH NATIONAL OPERA (ENO) IS DELIGHTED TO ANNOUNCE THE OLIVIA CLARKE IS TO BECOME THE NEW ENO MACKERRAS FELLOW.

The ENO Mackerras Fellowship for emerging conductors provides a unique opportunity for an exceptional emerging conductor to develop their skills through a structured two year programme with mentoring from ENO Music Director, Martyn Brabbins, members of the ENO music team and visiting conductors.