See biography (2012)

See biography

Voice type: Jonathan Story is a basso profundo with a range from lower C to top F. He began singing in 2001,at the age of 61, having won the singing prize at Eton College in 1956. He chose to follow an academic career.

Repertoire: classical and romantic composers, ranging from Händel, Lully, Bach, Mozart, Rossini and Halevy to Verdi and Puccini. He is at ease with the Russian repertorie, including folk music, with Nicholas Kedroff on the balalaika. He is presently preparing a Russian lieder abend. He also sings the repertoire of Paul Robeson, the mid-century leader of the American civil rights movement.

Performing experience: Though starting at the age of 61, he has now sung the major mature bass roles with orchestra in 20 or more operas,: Polyphemus, Ramfis, Zacharia, Bartolo, Sarastro, Giorgio, Commendatore, Zaccharia, Frère Lawrence, Ferrando, Sparafucile, Monteron, Raimondo, Dr Grenvil, Gremin, the Inquisitor, Alvise, Oroveso, Lodovico, Timur, Osmin, and the most recent is the Marquese de Calatrava. He sings oratorio, notably at the Franziskanerkirche in Salzburg.

Critics: The opera critic of the Neue Merkur, Vienna’s leading opera journal, described him as an “ ideal Raimondo, a melodious, heart warming voice, with “Sarastro” depths, expressive phrasing, powerful accentuation and impressive presence”. Kurt Widmer commented : “ it would be hard indeed to find anyone to interpret Sarastro or Phillip in such a unique way. A wonder.”

Training: Jonathan Story attended evening classes at Morley College Opera Course (2011-2012) and Associated Studios Opera Course 2014-15. He has studied voice with Robert Lloyd in London, and with Conny Prestl and Ingo Kolonerics in Salzburg, where he has attended master classes led by Horiana Branisteanu, Ruggiero Raimondi, and by Maya Pushkina in Moscow. He was invited twice by Grace Bumbry to sing Alvise (2020), and Oroveso (2022) in her Master Classes in Vienna. His is regularly coached by Alex Ingram in London and by Adrian Suciu in Salzburg.

Prizes: In May 2011, he received a “Premier Prix pour Chant Lyrique”, at the Léopold-Béllan Concours in Paris, and earned a Rossini Special Mention at the IBLA Grand Prize Competition in Sicily in July 2011. His musical blog is: http://www:jonathanstorybass.co.uk.

Personal information: Besides English, he speaks French, German, Italian, Spanish, and reads Portuguese and Russian. He is Emeritus Professor for International Political Economy at INSEAD business school. Recent publications are about Brexit, culture wars, energy, the Euro, international trade, and China . See http://storybookreview.wordpress.com.

Contact : 00436769606106, email:[email protected]

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