"The national advanced training centre for young opera singers presents its annual showcase and there is no shortage of talent on display. With strong orchestral support under versatile conductor Roy Laughlin and the experienced John Copley staging scenes from eight operas ranging from Baroque to modern, the standards attained are impressive indeed.
"All 12 of the featured singers deserve to find work with our companies but only time will tell what level they will rise to.
"Lorina Gore and Cora Burggraaf make a beguiling highlight of a duet from Mozart's 'Il re pastore'. The Donizetti extract from Anna Bolena features Lee Bisset and Lise Christensen, who make a creditable attempt at the difficult Anna/Giovanna scene and bring it off dramatically. Robert Murray engages well as Jack in The Midsummer Marriage and particularly as a mellifluous Des Grieux in Manon.
"His partner in the latter is Kate Royal, already a lyric soprano of rich timbre and dramatic command. Equalling her in maturity is Paul Carey Jones, a Welsh baritone of striking vocal achievement and an effective stage performer. Another hugely gifted artist is New Zealander Andrew Sritheran, whose bright, shiny tenor has Heldentenor potential. If all goes well we are going to hear a lot more of these three and several others in the coming years."
George Hall, The Stage, 10th May 2004
