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The English lyric mezzo-soprano, Clare McCaldin, obtained her Master of Arts degree in Modern Languages and History of Art while a choral scholar at Clare College, Cambridge, but began her professional life in advertising and arts administration before becoming a professional singer.
Clare McCaldin has built a diverse career following her debut in the 2000 Salzburg Easter Festival in Simon Boccanegra (as Un’Ancella) for Claudio Abbado. At the Royal Opera she has performed Cousin in Madama Butterfly, Apprentice in Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg and La Servante in Manon. Other roles in her operatic repertoire include: Meg Page in Falstaff (Iford Arts), Fox in The Cunning Little Vixen & Örsze in Hary Janos (Ryedale Festival) and Oreste in La Belle Hélène (Diva Opera), as well as Dido, Dorabella, Second Lady, Orlovsky, Siebel, Hansel, Véronique in Le Docteur Miracle, Flora and Mrs Peacham. Her contemporary repertoire roles include the Stardust Seller in Stephen McNeff’s The Gentle Giant, the Mezzo Actor in Judith Weir’s A Night at the Chinese Opera and Mezzo Cautioner in Errollyn Wallen's Cautionary Tales, as well as works in development at Royal Opera House, Opera North, Welsh National Opera and Aldeburgh Music.
In concert Clare McCaldin has sung with the Academy of Ancient Music, Philharmonia Orchestra, Die Kölner Akademie, Northern Sinfonia, King's College Choir Cambridge, The Three Choirs Festival, Barokksolistene, Orchestra of the Golden Age and Northern Chamber Orchestra. She has sung J.S. Bach's Matthew Passion (BWV 244) (King's College Choir Cambridge/Stephen Cleobury), J.S. Bach's Mass in B minor (BWV 232) (Ensemble Cordial/Errol Girdlestone), W.A. Mozart's Requiem and C Minor Mass (Three Choirs Festival/Partington), William Walton's Facade (Music of Renown Ensemble) and J.S. Bach's St. Mark Passion (BWV 247) (Barokksolistene Norway). She made her solo debut at the 2012 BBC Proms as one of the Twins in Debussy’s Martyrdom of St Sebastian with the BBC Symphony Orchestra/Knussen, which also opened the 2014 Edinburgh International Festival.
Clare McCaldin's presence in performance marks her out as a communicator of outstanding quality on the dramatic stage and concert platform. She is a powerful creative influence, as an interpreter of existing repertoire or commissioning and premiering new music. She enjoys a busy concert schedule, working with pianists such as Libby Burgess, Iain Burnside, Andrew West and Paul Turner. Committed to chamber music collaboration of all kinds, her work in this area ranges from commissions with the Brodsky Quartet and William Walton's Facade, to Baroque works with La Réjouissance and the Le Page Ensemble.
Clare McCaldin is particularly committed to the promotion and performance of contemporary vocal music and through her company McCaldin Arts (founded in 2012) continues to commission and develop new work. With her co-collaborator in McCaldin Arts, the pianist Libby Burgess, she has premiered works by Stephen McNeff and devised new presentations of existing repertoire such as Haydn’s London Ladies.
Among her broader repertoire are movement-based projects including William Tuckett’s The Wind in the Willows and Pinocchio, The Silver Swan with the Clod Ensemble and a devised project through McCaldin Arts supported by Rambert.
Through McCaldin Arts Clare has created three solo shows. Two of these feature music by Stephen McNeff: A Voice of One Delight and Vivienne, which attracted excellent reviews for her compelling performance, including 5 stars in the Evening Standard (for reviews see here). Her narrated recital Haydn’s London Ladies has also been widely performed and well-received.
Clare McCaldin's discography includes plenty of repertoire written especially for her, notably Stephen McNeff’s Madrigali dell’Estate and Vivienne, as well as works by Hugh Wood and Ned Rorem. She has also recorded the role of Miss Tina in Michael Hurd’s The Aspern Papers.
Clare McCaldin Fundraiser and Project Manager at Haydn Society of Great Britain in London (since June 2014), and Founder Trustee at Company NameNew Notes & Noises in London (since 2016). She currently lives in London, England. |
