• 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

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

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).

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

Click here to read the article in full. Page 20.

Nicky has also been named as Editor’s choice in Classical Music Magazine this month for his recent release of Turnage Premieres. Read the full review below.

Watch this space for some exciting news regarding Nicky’s upcoming Operatic appearances!

“…superb artistry…with pungent playing from Chamber Domaine…and the agile voice of tenor Nicky Spence. The song cycle A Constant Obsession…all crafted and performed lovingly, right down to Spence’s carefully rolled ‘r’ in the word ripening.”

Geoff Brown, The Times Jan 13th 2012

  ”With the underlying theme of unrequited love, it’s music to make you take notice rather than to enjoy and it receives a powerful performance. Dare I upset fans of Peter Pears by saying that I’d like to hear Nicky Spence now in preference to him in that Britten Serenade?”

Brian Wilson, Music Web Jan 2012

Available now. Click here to buy.

Don’t forget that Nicky’s most recent CD ‘A Constant Obsession’ is available now on Resonus Classics . Feel free to leave your thoughts about it in Nicky’s Guestbook. We’d love to know what you think…

Here’s to a great 2012!