Congratulations to English National Opera who, having been nominated have come away triumphant with wins in both Opera categories at the Olivier Awards!

• Best new opera production – English National Opera’s Castor and Pollux at the London Coliseum
• Outstanding achievement in opera – ENO, for the breadth and diversity of its artistic programme

This week holds further excitement for ENO as they unveil their new Harewood Singers. To mark this, Nicky is featured alongside the other singers in an article for the Telegraph by Opera commentator Rupert Christiansen.

To read the full article CLICK HERE

You can find out more about ENO at their website www.eno.org.   A full list of the winners at the Oliviers can be seen at www.olivierawards.com

Still making an impression since its release at the beginning of the year, BBC Music Magazine is the latest musical establishment to offer A Constant Obsession with it’s highest praise in the form of a double five star review…

We’re glad to announce a number of new concerts in Nicky’s musical diary. These include a flag flapping performance at Warwick Castle with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, special appearances at Summer festivals including Cambridge and Buxton Opera House and following the success of their CD A Constant Obsession, a performance of Britten’s Serenade for Tenor, Horn & Strings with Thomas Kemp and Chamber Domaine at Britain’s premiere chamber music venue, The Wigmore Hall.

For more details and ticket information visit Nicky’s Schedule page.

Billed as “An Opera for all New Zealanders”, Hohepa has been a long labour of love for New Zealand Opera and Kiwi composer Jenny McLeod. Hohepa brings to life the true story of friendship between Maori chief Hohepa Te Umaroa and Pakeha settler Thomas Mason.

Nicky greatly enjoyed learning about this great part of New Zealand history with a fantastically diverse group of artists. Here’s what the press said about his creation of Thomas Mason.

‘Nicky Spence gave us some of the finest and most tender singing of the night.’

Capital Times, Wellington, Kate McLean

‘Tenor Nicky Spence sang with bright ardor as Mason…’

Huffington Post, Mike Silverman

‘and well-meaning British newlyweds Thomas and Jane Mason (Nicky Spence and Jenny Wollerman) produced many a chuckle as they tried to adapt to life in New Zealand.’

Heather McDonald for Wotzon.com

‘Thomas Mason, made even more of a lasting impression on me, dramatically (splendid singing from both Jenny Wollerman and Nicky Spence).’

Middle C review by Peter Mechen

‘Nicky Spence as Thomas Mason has superb tone’

New Zealand Theatre Review, Michael Gilchrist

Above Left to Right. Phillip Rhodes (Hohepa), Jonathan Lemalu (Te Kumete) and Nicky Spence (Thomas Mason).

In the string of Wagner appearances this year, we can confirm Nicky’s involvement in BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra’s serialisation of Wagner’s Tristan und Isolde.

Under the experienced baton of Donald Runnicles, the orchestra is serialising his seminal opera Tristan und Isolde in such a way that its three acts will feature successively in each of the three concerts that make up its 2012-13 Usher Hall season in Edinburgh.

Among the global stars handpicked for Tristan und Isolde are the Swedish soprano Nina Stemme, who has recorded the role of Isolde with Plácido Domingo; English tenor Ian Storey, whose operatic career was rocket-propelled by a performance as Tristan at La Scala Milan; Robert Dean Smith, who takes over from Peter Rose as Tristan for the colossal Third Act performance; and other inspired casting that includes Matthew Best (an heroic Wotan in Scottish Opera’s most recent Ring cycle) and Scots tenor Nicky Spence.

For more information CLICK HERE