First UK performance of Rameau's Dardanus features barihunk trio

Timothy Nelson, Grant Doyle and Frederick Long

The English Touring Opera will present the first U.K. performance of the 1744 version of Rameau's Dardanus. Considered one of the composer's best operas, the story surrounds Jupiter’s son Dardanus who is in love with Iphise, the daughter of his enemy Teucer – a love that, though reciprocated, is forbidden.

The production will feature the bass-barihunk trio of Grant Doyle as Teucer, Timothy Nelson as Anténor and Frederick Long as Isménor. The cast also includes Galina Averina as Iphise and Anthony Gregory in the title role. The opera runs from October 6-November 7 at various locations.

Rameau and his librettist Charles-Antoine Leclerc de La Bruère revised the opera after an unsuccessful premiere at the Paris Opéra in 1739. Much of the operas unfavorable reception can be traced to the so-called lullistes - conservatives who accused him of destroying the French operatic tradition established by rival composer Jean-Baptiste Lully under King Louis XIV in the late 17th century. The revised version has a simpler plot, fewer supernatural features and a greater focus on the emotional conflicts of the main characters.

Mathias Vidal sings "Lieux funestes" the most famous piece from Dardanus:

Timothy Nelson earned a degree in Physiology from Cardiff University before studying with voice at the Royal College of Music International Opera School, where he was awarded the McCulloch Prize for Opera and was a Jerwood Young Artist at the Glyndebourne Festival. He has sung numerous roles at the London Handel Festival, as well as the title role in Mozart's Le nozze di Figaro, Papageno in Die Zauberflöte, Ramiro in Ravel’s L’Heure Espagnole and Don Pomponio in Rossini’s La Gazzetta at the Royal College of Music International Opera School.

Frederick Long received his degree in music from the University of Bristol, a Recital Diploma from the Royal Academy of Music, before continuing his training at the National Opera Studio.
He has recently performed Zebul in Handel's Jephtha ​and Schaunard in Puccini's La bohème ​for Iford Arts, as well as Papageno in Mozart's The Magic Flute for Mid-Wales Opera.

Grant Doyle has performed numerous roles with the English Touring Opera, including the title role in Rossini's The Barber of Seville, Orestes in Gluck's Iphigénie en Tauride, Marcello La bohème, Hector in Tippett's King Priam, Eduardo in Rossini's L'assedio di Calais, Paolo in Verdi's Simon Boccanegra, Emireno Ottone and Nello in Donizetti's Pia de' Tolomei.

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