Name Rodney Clarke Role Bass | Education Royal Academy of Music Movies The Magic Flute | |
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Similar People Jaz Coleman, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, John Wilson Orchestra | ||
Rodney clarke ol man river bbc proms 2012
Rodney Earl Clarke (born 1978) is a British bass-baritone, soloist and member of the newest Classical Crossover group Vox Fortura
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Early life
Clarke was born in Greenwich, London and is one of five children. He sang as a boy treble in the choir of St George's Cathedral, Southwark and attended Dulwich College between 1989 and 1996.
Training
Rodney studied singing with Professor Mark Wildman at the Royal Academy of Music where he was awarded the Richard Lewis/Jean Shanks Award 2001 and generously supported by the Sir Peter Moores Foundation. In May 2014, he was made an Associate of the Royal Academy of Music for his services and contributions to the music industry.
Career
Hailed by Gramophone as a “singer to be watched”, Rodney Earl Clarke is recognised for his versatility in performance. At home with the music of 1940-1960 Broadway, Rodney has appeared in many shows including Carmen Jones at the Royal Festival Hall, London, Kismet at the English National Opera, Jude Kelly's award-winning production of Bernstein's On the Town, Kenneth Branagh's epic film version of Mozart's The Magic Flute, Sondheim’s 80th Birthday Celebration Prom, The Broadway Sound BBC Prom with the John Wilson Orchestra, Jake in Gershwin’s Porgy & Bess under the baton of Sir Simon Rattle and Crown in Porgy & Bess under the direction of John Doyle with the Royal Danish Opera in Copenhagen. He also starred in Raymond Gubbay's popular show Crazy for Gershwin which regularly tours the UK. Rodney was delighted to join the BBC’s team of TV presenters in the 2014 Proms at the Royal Albert Hall, London.
Rodney travelled to Australia in 2014 where he performed songs from the Gershwin Songbook alongside Australian soprano Julie Lea Goodwin and the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Boston Pops Orchestra conductor Keith Lockhart. He recently performed the bass solos in Handel's Messiah at the Sydney Opera House with the Sydney Philharmonia under the baton of Brett Weymark and started 2016 with an arena tour of Best of Broadway hits concert with the Czech Philharmonic under the baton of Keith Lockhart.
In 2016 he became a member of the newest Classical crossover group Vox Fortura. They reached the semi finalists of Britain's Got Talent and were touted as the next Il Divo described by judge Alesha Dixon as "four sexy, chocolate men...polished to perfection" Albums include 'Heroes' and a new single 'Lament' which featured in the 2016 Silence in the Square, Royal British Legion commemorations of Armistice Day, Trafalgar Square.
Rodney performs regularly with major orchestras and conductors in concert with repertoire including Bernstein's Mass with London Symphony Orchestra under Marin Alsop, title role in Porgy and Bess with the Orchestra of Accademia di Santa Cecilia Rome under Wayne Marshall, Vaughan Williams Seranade to Music at Queen Elizabeth Hall under the baton of John Wilson and Bass soloist in Handel’s Messiah alongside Dame Emma Kirkby in Trondheim.
Other highlights include the roles of the Ferryman, Elder Son and Azarias in a UK/Russia tour of Britten's Church Parables under the direction of Frederic Wake-Walker and Roger Vignoles, Polyphemus in Acis & Galatea in the BBC's documentary of The Birth of British Music: Handel and Purcell series, a Wigmore Hall debut with a recital of songs from Music To a Distant Drum by Kenneth Hesketh with Ensemble 10/10 and soloist in Max Richter's unique new chamber opera SUM at the Royal Opera House Covent Garden directed by Wayne McGregor.
Rodney remains grateful for the guidance and support shown from the Royal Academy of Music where he was awarded the Richard Lewis/Jean Shanks Award 2001 and generously supported by the Sir Peter Moores Foundation. Rodney was elected an Associate of the Royal Academy of Music for his services and contributions to the music industry.