Art of opera returns to Scarborough

AFTER a sell-out show at Scarborough Art Gallery last year, opera singer Nathan Jenkins returns to the venue on Friday, August 7, with a hand-picked selection of his favourite operatic arias. He will be accompanied at the piano by Susan Hartley.

Nathan started performing in musical theatre shows when he was at school. He and his family then moved to Dubai where he started having lessons with South African soprano Karen Bradfield, who inspired him to pursue a career in classical music and opera. After returning to the UK, he had singing lessons with Susan Hartley, gaining a place at the Royal Northern College of Music, where he studied with David Maxwell Anderson. He has recently performed at his first opera at the RNCM, Donizetti’s L’Elisir D’Amore. Nathan is currently studying at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland.

Halixfax-born Susan studied piano with Keith Swallow at the Huddersfield School of Music and later won a further scholarship to the Royal Academy of Music to study piano, clarinet and voice. Susan was director of music at Scarborough’s Bramcote School from 1994 to 2012. More recently, she opened the Scarborough Academy of Music, where she is the principal, based in Wykeham.

Cocktails and soft drinks will be served from 7pm, with opera from 7.30pm – places are limited and bookable from the Art Gallery. Tickets are £5 – drinks not included. For further information, or to book tickets, ring Scarborough Art Gallery on 01723 374753.

Viv Hardwick