Review: The Marriage of Figaro, Theatre Royal, Norwich

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 . . . she was replaced by the excellent and note-perfect Abigail Kelly, who normally sings Barbarina.

Click here to read the full review

Abigail receives a standing ovation at ancestral celebration service

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Soprano Abigail Kelly received a standing ovation for her beautifully delivered spiritual songs . . .

For further info read the article on 'The Voice'

The Marriage of Figaro review ★★★★★, Hackney Empire

Mozart's The Marriage of Figaro is English Touring Opera's elegant season opener

Katherine Aitken's nippy Cherubino, Abigail Kelly's Barbarina, and her gardener father, Devon Harrison's Antonio, outraged by the cavortings in the big house, and the hangers-on all turn in performances of equally balanced character and musicianship.

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Abigails stars in THE MAGIC FLUTE on NOV 11TH 7:30 PM

Following their hugely popular and critically acclaimed production of Carmen last February, Olivier award winning OperaUpClose return with their bold new take on Mozart's classic starring Abigail Kelly in a lead role.

For further information and tickets: http://www.malvern-theatres.co.uk/whats-on/the-magic-flute/http://www.malvern-theatres.co.uk/whats-on/the-magic-flute/

Abigail stars as Pamina in Mozart's 'The Magic Flute'

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Following their hugely popular and critically acclaimed re-imaginings of operas including Tosca and Don Giovanni, OperaUpClose return to Soho Theatre with this bold new take on a classic. With magic supplied by Glyn Maxwell's mischievous poetry, Alex Beetschen's witty orchestration and Valentina Ceschi's theatrical creativity, this production will re-invent The Magic Flute in fabulous new robes for the era of Trump and recessions, casting rays of light and love into the darkness.

Invited behind the velvet rope at London's most exclusive club, Tamino doesn't have time to stop for beggars, paparazzi, or even his girlfriend Pamina.

Above Abigail is in rehersal. Photo credit: Marco Borggreve

For further information and tickets see the OperaUpClose website: www.operaupclose.com/themagicflute

Abigail takes leading role in English Touring Opera new Opera 'Bessie'.

Bessie's Wings is a new opera devised with nearly 100 children from primary schools in Lambeth, including Vauxhall, Ashmole and St Mark's schools. Working with a team from ETO the opera will be performed at Morley College on the 22nd and 23rd June 2017. Bessie is played by soprano Abigail Kelly. A jazz ensemble will create the musical world of the show.

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Bessie Coleman is a figure of huge significance in African American history. Born into poverty in Texas at the end of the 19th century she became the first black woman to gain a pilot's license, having travelled to France for flying lessons when she was denied opportunities in the US because of her gender and colour. She went on to become a celebrity, thrilling crowds with her aerobatic displays. These stunts eventually led to her untimely death.

 

For further information Click here

Lead role for Abigail in 'The Girl Behind the Glass'

The presentation was as stark as it was effective, with two singers occupying centre-stage and a cellist at the rear of stage-left. Abigail Kelly took the role of the main protagonist, . . . ."

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To read the full reveiw click here

Unfinished Opera About Nanny Well Received

Praise poured down like Portland rain on three women associated with a still unfinished opera staged at the School of Music, Edna Manley College (EMC), on Friday night.

The praise came at least partly, because of the patriotism of the audience, though, ironically, none of the three women - Nanny of the Maroons, the opera's main character; the composer, Dr Shirley J. Thompson, and soprano Abigail Kelly, the work's soloist - is a "born Jamaican". Click here to read more.

Abigail stars in Sacred Mountain in Jamaica Friday 9th Sept 2016

Shirley Thompson Music in association with Edna Manley College of Visual and Performing Arts and University of Westminister present UK Soprano Abigail Kelly, in the opera 'Sacred Mountain' - Incidents in the life of Queen Nanny and the Maroons taking place at Vera Moody Concert Hall, Jamaica.

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Abigail headlines Black History Month Recital in Reading UK - 10.10.15

The Caribbean Associations Group (Reading) present a Black History Month Recital featuring Abigail Kelly performing arias from operas, songs from musicals, traditional African-American spirituals and Caribbean folk songs on Saturday 10th October 2015.

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The Thieving Magpie, Midland Opera at the Crescent Theatre - Birmingham Post review, July 2015

The Thieving Magpie, Midland Opera at the Crescent Theatre - Birmingham Post , July 2015

As Ninetta, the falsely-accused servant-girl, Abigail Kelly was simply brilliant. Still young, she can boast an upper register into estremis which is mature, bright and clear, and she projects both musically and dramatically with cultured poise. Yes, she has a vibrato to her tone, but it's never intrusive.

Click here to read the full review

Abigail stars in 'Sacred Mountain' at Tete a Tete, Opera Festival

Abigail Kelly takes the spotlight as Jamaica's Queen Nanny of the Maroons in the world premier of Shirley Thompson's one woman opera The Sacred Mountain at Tete a Tete, The Opera Festival.

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Birmingham welcomes back Abigail this summer in the lead role in Rossini's 'The Thieving Magpie'.

Abigail returns to Birmingham this summer in the lead role of Ninetta for Midland Opera at the Crescent Theatre in Rossini's The Thieving Magpie.

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Abigail stars in new opera 'Sacred Mountain'

'Sacred Mountain' is an opera written and composed by British-Jamaican composer, arranger and conductor, Dr Shirley Thompson about Nanny of the Maroons in Jamaica. It will have its world premiere at this year's staging of Tete a Tete: The Opera Festival, the largest contemporary opera festival in Europe held this year in Kings Cross in the United Kingdom. The festival runs from July 21 to August 9 and Thompson's opera will be performed on July 21 and 22.

'Sacred Mountain 'features solo vocals with full orchestra and Thompson is working with Abigail Kelly, a Briton of Jamaican parents, in the signature role.

Click here to read more

Swan Song - Sunday 19 April 2015

~ memoirs of a Dudley Diva

Swan Song is an entertaining cabaret performed by soprano Abigail Kelly with pianist Nicholas Bosworth.

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Abigail stars as 'The Marriage of Figaro' comes to London on 1st Nov 2014

On Saturday 1st November, 7.30 p.m. for one night only at the Rose Theatre, Kingston, London, following rave reviews this summer in France, Abigail stars in Mozart's Opera, 'The Marriage of Figaro' presented by Opera de Bauge.

Bookings via the website www.rosetheatrekingston.org or via the booking office Tel: 020 8174 0090.

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Abigail performs in Poland

Abigail performs a recital of traditional African American spirituals during the 42nd edition of the Letnie Koncerty Organowe i Kameralne (Summer concerts of organ and chamber music) in Władysławowo, Poland. 14.08.14

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Abigail stars in one of the leading roles with Opéra de Baugé in France

Abigail plays the role of Susanna in 'Le Nozze di Figaro' on 29th and 31st July at 7pm, 2nd and 5th August at 6pm which is a major part of the Opéra de Baugé's diary for 2014.

 

"A nobleman on the cusp of wrenching social change. He would like to insist on respect and obedience from all his retainers. He would like to make free with their wives, daughters and fiancées. His father and grandfather would have done but can he? Will his wife and his underlings bring him to a more enlightened frame of mind? Mozart's trenchant views on the social order combined with his most delicious music."

 

For further information see the Opéra de Baugé website: [Click here]

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The Magic Flute - November 2013

Magic Flute in unexpected places

Friday 8 November in The Great Hall of Oakham Castle at 7.00 pm.

Sunday 10 November in Great Easton Village Hall at 7.00 pm.

Saturday 16 November in Dingley Church for Music at Dingley at 7.30 pm.

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Diabetes and the Magic of Music

Click here to read the article on Carib Direct - The on-line magazine.

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