East Surrey Choral Society

DELLA JONES

The Society is delighted to have Della Jones as their president.

Miss Jones, one of Great Britain’s leading mezzo-sopranos, was born in Neath and studied at the Royal College of Music where she won many prizes including the Kathleen Ferrier Memorial Scholarship. Her wide repertoire ranges from early through to contemporary music.

Della Jones has appeared with all the major British opera companies, and foreign engagements have included performances in the U.S.A., Russia, Japan, Canada and throughout Europe with repertoire including title-role ARIODANTE, Rosina IL BARBIERE DI SIVIGLIA, title-role LA CENERENTOLA, Messenger ORFEO, title-role CARMEN, Adalgisa NORMA, Dido LES TROYENS, Donna Elvira DON GIOVANNI, Herodias SALOME, Brangäne TRISTAN UND ISOLDE, Jocasta OEDIPUS REX, Baba the Turk THE RAKE’S PROGRESS, Hermia A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM, Dido and the Sorceress DIDO AND AENEAS, Marcellina LE NOZZE DI FIGARO, Juno SEMELE, Aunt Hermance in the world premiere of Gavin Bryars’ DR. OX’S EXPERIMENT, Hostess BORIS GODUNOV and Ludmila THE BARTERED BRIDE.She is a regular broadcaster on radio and television both in this country and abroad. In 1993 she made an acclaimed appearance at the Last Night of the Proms, at the Royal Albert Hall and in 1997 took part in the Gala Concerts as part of the "Hand-over" Ceremony in Hong Kong. She has recorded prolifically for all the major record companies, including L’INCONTRO IMPROVVISO and IL RITORNO DI TOBIAS with Dorati, ALCINA, L’INCORONAZIONE DI POPPEA, A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM, MESSIAH, and STABAT MATER with Hickox, DIDO AND AENEAS with Bolton, Donna Elvira DON GIOVANNI with Ostman, TESEO with Minkowski, Vitellia LA CLEMENZA DI TITO with Hogwood, Rosina IL BARBIERE DI SIVIGLIA, SEA PICTURES with Mackerras, Rossini, French and Spanish Song Recitals, Peter Maxwell Davies’s BLACK PENTECOST, THE STONE LITANY and RESURRECTION conducted by the composer and Monique DIE KATHRIN conducted by Martyn Brabbins.

Concert appearances include Hindemith SANCTA SUSANNA for the Prague Symphony Orchestra in Prague. Other engagements in 1999 included SONGS OF THE AUVERGNE for the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, Verdi REQUIEM with Arnhem Philharmonic Orchestra in Holland, Marcellina and Mrs Sedley in a new production of PETER GRIMES for the Opéra National de Paris, Auntie in the new production of PETER GRIMES for Netherlands Opera and numerous concerts, recordings and broadcasts on radio and television.