We are delighted to be joined by some stunning soloists for this concert;
Born in Scotland, Soprano Gillian Webster studied at the Royal Northern College of Music and has sung many roles in opera houses and concert halls throughout Europe. She has appeared regularly at the Royal Opera House in performances which include Mimi, La Boheme, Michaela, Carmen, Contessa, The Marriage of Figaro and title roles in Le Coq d’or and Katya Kabanova. A noted exponent of Baroque music she has sung under the baton of Paul McCreesh, Sir Colin Davis, Sir John Eliot Gardiner, Sir Bernard Haitink, Sir Yehudi Menuhin and Sir George Solti. Her recordings include Beethoven’s Choral Symphony.
Mezzo Heather Ireson is a young singer at the beginning her musical career. Her voice was reviewed as ‘maturing nicely’ after her recital at Aberdeen University of Schumann’s ‘Frauenliebe un Leben’.
Welsh tenor Jeffrey Lloyd-Roberts made his BBC Promenade Concert debut in 1997 and in August will appear at the Wigmore Hall in Harrison Birtwistle’s ‘Angel Fighter’ as part of the 2012 BBC Promenade Concert season. In the UK he has worked regularly for English Touring Opera, Garsington Opera, Glyndebourne Festival Opera and others. Bass Alexander Baker has also appeared at the BBC Proms and sung in concerts and operas across Europe.Last year he appeared as ‘The Huntsman’ in Glyndebourne’s spell binding production of Dvorak’s Rusalka.  The retiring collection will be in aid of the Royal British Legion.