The Magic Flute

STAGE / MUSIC DIRECTOR, CONDUCTOR

Brazilian stage director and conductor Marcio da Silva trained at the Conservatoire de Toulouse, the Musikhochschule Freiburg and the Royal College of Music in London. He has directed and conducted more than thirty staged operas, with repertoire spanning Cavalli, Lully and Handel to Mozart and Puccini. His productions at the Arcola Theatre and other London fringe venues have received critical acclaim, including OFFIE nominations, and in 2025 his work with Ensemble OrQuesta won the Fringe Theatre Award for Best Music for Don Giovanni at Grimeborn.

As a conductor, Marcio da Silva has led a wide-ranging repertoire spanning Baroque opera to major symphonic and choral works. He is Artistic Director of the Hastings Philharmonic Orchestra, Hastings Philharmonic Choir, Billingshurst Choral Society and Opera South East.

CONDUCTOR

The Northern Irish-German conductor Kieran Staub is currently a répétiteur with conducting duties at the Landestheater Coburg. Previous engagements include Landestheater Linz, Theater Freiburg and the Festival Internacional de Música de Canarias. In 2025, he was a Richard Wagner Scholarship Foundation scholar at the Bayreuth Festival. Since 2019, he has worked regularly with Ensemble OrQuesta and Hastings Philharmonic Orchestra in the United Kingdom. His conducting repertoire includes La bohème, Hänsel und Gretel, La traviata, Lucia di Lammermoor, Don Giovanni and Le nozze di Figaro, alongside world premieres. He studied orchestral conducting in Freiburg, graduating with highest honours.

With EO: Hyppolyte et Aricie 2019, Dido & Aeneas 2021, L’Incoronazione di Poppea 2022, Le Nozze di Figaro 2024

STAGE MANAGER / STAGE ACTRESS

Marjorie Lemos studied acting in Brazil, where she was also an active choral singer from a young age. In the UK, she is Production Manager of the Hastings Philharmonic Orchestra and works regularly as a Stage Manager and stage actress with both the Hastings Philharmonic Orchestra and Ensemble OrQuesta.

With EO: Semele 2024, Don Giovanni 2025, Cosi fan Tutte 2026, Il Ritorno d’Ulisse in Paria 2026, Rinaldo 2026, Dido & Aeneas 2026

TAMINO

John Twitchen is an operatic tenor who is known to have “a confident, bright, clean sound, effortless in his control and colouring” - Philip Rham.

His extensive experience in opera and oratorio has led him to work with companies such as Longborough Opera, Dorset Opera and Opera South East, and is a regular soloist with Sloane Square Choral Society, Billingshurst Choral Society, Hastings Philharmonic Orchestra, and Mosaic Voices at the New West End Synagogue, whom have currently performed in synagogues across London, Germany and Australia. John is looking forward to performing his fifth role with Marcio Da Silva and Ensemble OrQuesta.

With EO: La Rage (Céphale et Procris 2023), Don Ottavio (Don Giovanni 2025), Ferrando (Cosi fan Tutte 2026)

PAMINA

Helen May holds an MA with Distinction from the Royal Academy of Music with a DipRAM for outstanding final recital. She was immensely grateful for the support of the Josephine Baker Trust and the William Gibbs Trust. Praised for her ‘vivid, velvety-rich’ voice and for displaying ‘the flexibility of tone and dramatic power that holds an audience rapt,’ Helen’s opera credits include: Poppea In EO’s OFFIE nominated production of Monteverdi’s L’Incoronazione di Poppea; Mozart’s Countess (Le Nozze di Figaro); Despina (Cosi fan tutte); Pamina (Die Zauberflöte); and First Lady (The Magic Flute); Alcina (Alcina, Handel); Galatea (Acis and Galatea, Handel); Nerone (L'incoronazione di Poppea); Climene, (L’Egisto, Cavalli); Amastre (Xerse, Cavalli); OFFIE nomination Calisto (La Calisto, Cavalli); Diane (Hippolyte et Aricie, Rameau); Emilie (Les Indes Galantes, Rameau); Aurore, (Cephale et Procris); Giannetta (L’elisir d’amore, Donizetti); Mimi (La bohème), and cover Jenůfa (Jenůfa, Janáček). 2024 roles include Adina (L’elisir d’amore, Opera South East), Susanna (Le nozze di Figaro, Cockpit Theatre). Helen is an experienced oratorio soloist and recitalist. Recent highlights include Verdi Requiem, Mendelssohn’s Elijah, Beethoven Missa Solemnis, Brahms Eine Deutsches Requiem, Haydn The Creation, Mozart Requiem and Bach St Matthew Passion.

With EO: La Gloire (Armide 2016, 2017), Amastre (Xerse 2018), Diane (Hyppolyte et Aricie 2017, 2019), Galatea (Acis & Galatea 2018), Pamina (Magic Flute 2019), Calisto (La Calisto 2017, 2020), 2nd Witch (Dido & Aeneas 2021), Alcina (Alcina 2019, 2021), Emilie (Les Indes Galantes 2022), Nerone / Poppea (L’Incoronazione di Poppea 2017, 2019, 2022), L’Aurore (Céphale et Procris 2023), Barbarina / Countess / Susanna (Le Nozze di Figaro 2016, 2021, 2024), Donna Elvira (Don Giovanni 2025), Despina (Cosi Fan Tutte 2018, 2026), Dido/Sorceress (Dido & Aeneas 2026)

PAMINA

Anna-Luise Wagner is a German soprano and linguist based in London. She holds a Ph.D. from the University of Cambridge, researching the seventeenth-century opera singer and writer Margherita Costa. As a soprano with a ‘warm and generous’ voice (Opera Magazine), onstage highlights include title role/Partenope (Festivals Malta); title role/Agrippina, Belinda/Dido and Aeneas and Susanna/Le nozze di Figaro with Hampstead Garden Opera; Gretel/Hansel & Gretel and Juliet/Juliet & Romeo with Marginalia Performance; as well as roles with Cambridge University Opera including Clorinda/La Cenerentola, Cleopatra/Giulio Cesare, Micaëla/Carmen and Adina/L’elisir d’amore. She has performed with Ensemble OrQuesta since 2021 and her recent roles, including Cherubino/Le nozze di Figaro, Zerlina/Don Giovanni and Dorabella/Così fan tutte, have earned her two nominations for the OffWestEnd Best Performance Award.

With EO: Sorceress (Dido & Aeneas 2021), Fatime (Les Indes Galantes 2022), Amore (L’Incoronazione di Poppea 2022), Dorine (Céphale et Procris 2023), Cherubino (Le Nozze di Figaro 2016, 2021, 2024), Zerlina (Don Giovanni 2025), Dorabella (Cosi fan Tutte 2026)

PAPAGENO

Brazilian bass-baritone Flávio Lauria graduated from the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro with a Bachelor degree in singing. His most recent performances in the UK include Bellone in Rameau's Les Indes Galantes (2022), Pan and Erictee in Elisabeth Jaquet de la Guerre’s opera Cephale et Procris (2023, UK premier), Bartolo and Figaro in Le nozze di Figaro (2024), Leporello (2025), Don Alfonso and Schaunard (2026). Last month, Flávio played the role of Pope Adrian V in the show “A Divina Comédia Ritrovai-Rivedere” based on Dante Alighieri's masterpiece, in Rio de Janeiro.

With EO: Seneca (L’Incoronazione di Poppea 2015), Aeneas (Dido & Aeneas 2016), Giove (La Calisto 2017), Melisso (Alcina 2019), Papageno (Magic Flute 2019), Bellone (Les Indes Galantes 2022), Pan (Céphale et Procris 2023), Bartolo / Figaro (Le Nozze di Figaro 2016, 2021, 2024), Leporello (Don Giovanni 2017, 2025), Don Alfonso (Cosi Fan Tutte 2018, 2026)

SARASTRO

Bass Vedat Dalgiran studied at Ankara State Conservatory in Turkey and at Welsh International Academy of Voice in Cardiff. He studied singing with Murat Goksu, Robert Lloyd, Graeme Broadbent and Dennis O’Neill. His operatic roles include Sarastro in Die Zauberflöte (Woodhouse Opera Festival in 2014), Bartolo in Le Nozze di Figaro (Ensemble OrQuesta Hastings in 2016), Commendatore in Don Giovanni (Ensemble OrQuesta Hastings in 2017, Opera Holland Park London in 2017, Teatro Francesco Cilea Italy in 2018), Ramfis in Aida (Aspendos Opera Festival Turkey in 2018, Istanbul State Opera in 2021), Sparafucile in Rigoletto (Oper im Berg Festival Salzburg in 2019), Osmin in Entfuehrung aus dem Serail (Ankara State Opera in 2021), Tom in Un Ballo in Maschera (Ankara State Opera in 2022). Vedat was awarded an Extraordinary Prize at the 54th Tenor Vinas International Opera Competition in Barcelona 2017. He continues his singing at Ankara State Opera in Turkey.

With EO: Don Bartolo (Le Nozze di Figaro 2016), Sarastro (Magic Flute 2019), Il Commendatore (Don Giovanni 2017, 2025)

1st LADY

Rosemary Carlton-Willis is a British soprano, voice actor, director and editor, specialised in baroque opera. As a member of Ensemble OrQuesta she has performed the roles of Penelope (Il Ritorno d;Ulisse in Patria), Fiordiligi (Cosi fan Tutte), Donna Anna (Don Giovanni), Marcellina (Le nozze di Figaro), Alcina (Alcina), Giunone/Il Destino (La Calisto) and Armide (Armide). Since 2025 Rosemary has assisted as company coach for EOrQ’s baroque opera academies (Teseo; Rinaldo). She is a returning guest director and producer with Nymphes et Monstres. Personal highlights include directing Into Darkness, Into Light, a multidisciplinary installation commemorating pandemic victims; co-editing the book Balanced Singing by Xenia Meijer; recording the first complete recording of Ivan Lukačić’s Sacrae Cantiones, with Musica Adriatica; and attaining the Richard Strauss Prize at the Elbe Internationaler Gesangswettbewerb. Other operatic roles include Donna Elvira (Don Giovanni), Phedre (Hippolyte et Aricie), Papagena (Der Zauberflöte), Micaëla (Carmen), Lauretta (Gianni Schicchi), Sophie (Werther), and Barbarina (Le nozze di Figaro). Her next project is producing new musical Nun the Wiser for Cauldron Performing Arts.

With EO: Dido (Dido & Aeneas 2016), Armide (Armide 2017), Phèdre (Hyppolyte et Aricie 2017), Giuno (La Calisto 2017, 2020), Alcina (Alcina 2021), Marcellina (Le Nozze di Figaro 2024), Donna Elvira / Donna Anna (Don Giovanni 2017, 2025), Fiordiligi (Cosi fan Tutte 2026), Penelope (Il Ritorno d’Ulisse in Patria 2026), Dido / Sorceress (Dido & Aeneas 2026)

SPEAKER / 2nd ARMOURED MAN

This is Jay’s eleventh production with Ensemble OrQuesta. Recent highlights include Antinoo and Tempo (Il ritorno d’Ulisse in Patria) and Colline (La bohème). Previously at the Grimeborne Festival, Jay has performed Masetto (Don Giovanni) and Antonio (Le nozze di Figaro), also with Ensemble OrQuesta. Jay holds a Master’s of Music in vocal performance and a Master’s of Arts Management, both from Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama.

With EO: With EO: Melisso (Alcina 2023), La Jalousie (Céphale et Procris 2023), Giove (La Calisto - 2024), Antonio (Le Nozze di Figaro 2021, 2024), Masetto (Don Giovanni 2022, 2025), Il Tempo / Alfinomo (Il Ritorno d’Ulisse in Patria 2026)

QUEEN OF THE NIGHT

American-Italian coloratura soprano Juliet Petrus recently appeared with the Philadelphia Orchestra under Marin Alsop at Lincoln Center (2023) and the National Centre for the Performing Arts, Beijing (2025). She has performed the Queen of the Night for over 20 years with Austin Lyric Opera, Hamburger Kammeroper, Lyric Opera of Chicago Tour, and Tianjin Juilliard, where she became the first Western singer to perform the role in Mandarin (2025). Other engagements include Carnegie Hall, Walt Disney Hall, Shanghai Symphony, St Louis Symphony, Bühne Baden, Detroit Opera, and Glimmerglass Opera. She is an author, researcher specialising in singing in Mandarin, and librettist. julietpetrus.com

With EO: Aricie (Hippolyte et Aricie 2019)

2nd LADY
Praised by New York Concert Review for her “captivating solo work,” American mezzo-soprano Jordan Seguin-Gascoigne has performed with Portland Opera, Nashville Opera, Seattle Symphony, Teatro Grattacielo, Tacoma Opera, and Pacific Northwest Opera. Recent highlights include her Carnegie Hall debut as a soloist in Vivaldi’s Gloria and performances with the Art Song Preservation Society of New York. Her roles include Dorabella, Cherubino, Rosina, Adalgisa, Hänsel, Suzuki, and Zerlina. An avid interpreter of Baroque repertoire, she has appeared at the Amherst Early Music Festival and Cambridge Early Music Festival and was selected as a Charlotte Bach Vocal Fellow.

With EO: Juno (Semele 2024), Dorabella (Cosi fan Tutte 2026)

3rd LADY

Juliet has a postgraduate diploma in Voice from Trinity Laban. In the UK, the U.S.A, Holland, Japan and Italy, her roles have included Carmen, Arnalta, Orfeo, Miss Todd, Sorceress, Suzy/Lolette, Madame de La Haltière, Florence Pike, First Norn, Klytemenaestra, La Zia Principessa, Zita, Hermia, Mrs. Herring, Madame Flora, Olga, Larina, Filipyevna, Ottone, Bradamante, Endimione, Juno, Nicklausse and Hedwige. Film includes an opera-singing ghost in the award-winning short "Per Aspera".  She makes her role début as Dido in November. She enjoys playing horrible old women, suspiciously short men and ladies of questionable morals, which is just as well.

With EO: Bradamante (Alcina 2023), Ottone (L’Incoronazione di Poppea 2023), Juno (Semele 2024), Endimione (La Calisto 2024), Sorceress (Dido & Aeneas 2026)

MONOSTATOS

Serbian-born baritone Predrag Gosta specialises in Baroque and Classical repertoire. Recent appearances include Cosroe in Handel's Siroe and the Pharisee in Caldara's Maddalena ai piedi di Cristo. He is also internationally recognised as a conductor and harpsichordist, having recorded extensively with New Trinity Baroque as well as with the London Symphony Orchestra. He is also a doctoral researcher at the University of Oxford. As a harpsichordist and music director, Predrag is a valued member of Ensemble OrQuesta Baroque and joins EO as a singer for the first time.

PAPAGENA

Jázmin Kirsch-Veszeli, born in Budapest in 2005, began her musical career in the Hungarian State Opera’s children’s choir, where she sang for 11 years. Her operatic roles include the Third Child and First Lady in Mozart’s The Magic Flute, the Shepherd in Puccini’s Tosca, and Yniold in Debussy’s Pelléas et Mélisande. In 2023, she was appointed a chamber artist at the Hungarian State Opera and received the Swan Award. A prizewinner at the European Virtuoso Music Award, she has participated in several masterclasses. Since 2025, she has studied with Ildikó Raimondi at the Mozarteum in Salzburg.

CHORUS / STAGE ACTOR

Paul developed a passion for singing at school in West London and studied historical performance practice at the University of York. He has sung with the Yorkshire Bach Choir, London Bach Choir and English Baroque Choir, and regularly performs with Hastings Philharmonic Choir and Hastings Philharmonic Singers. Solo roles include First Priest in Bach’s St Matthew Passion and Apollo in Monteverdi’s L’Orfeo. In June, he made his operatic stage debut as Anfinomo in Ensemble OrQuesta’s Il ritorno d’Ulisse in patria. Paul also plays the recorder and has performed in several Ensemble OrQuesta Baroque productions as an instrumentalist.

With EO: Anfinomo (Il Ritorno d’Ulisse in Patria 2026), Sailor (Dido & Aeneas 2026)

2nd Armoured Man

After gaining a diploma from the Royal College of Music, Jonathan has been the soloist for a wide selection of choirs and choral societies, particularly around Oxfordshire where he lived for 30 years before moving down to the south coast. He has also been involved with a variety of opera groups over the years with favourite roles including Ferrando in Cosi Fan Tutte, Don José in Carmen, Arthur in William Tell and Lenski in Eugene Onegin. As one gets older, tenor roles become more limited so, having not trodden the boards for a while, he is delighted to have the opportunity to be back on stage as the First Man in Armour.

1st WISE MAN / CHORUS

John first sang in a production of the Magic Flute while still at school in 1967, as First Priest, a role he has reprised several times since. On moving to London in the early 1970s, John joined the City of London Choir, appearing in all the major London concert halls, together with the Chelsea Opera Group. As an active member of Opera South East and the Hastings Philharmonic Choir, both of which he is currently Chairman, for the last quarter century, he is looking forward to becoming more active in Ensemble Orquesta productions.

CHORUS

Robin Kuyt is at secondary school in South London, working toward a GCSE in drama. here