The Prince Consort

"I am delighted to have heard The Prince Consort. The conviction that comes across from the splendid singers makes me long to hear more, especially at the end of an evening that seems to have ended almost before it began..." Peter Katin

Founded by British pianist Alisdair Hogarth, the prince consort is fast emerging as a fresh, exciting and versatile ensemble. Their performances are characterised by wide-ranging programmes and polished presentation, which showcase different combinations of voice and piano, from solos to small groups in piano-accompanied song.

Recent performances have included Britten’s Canticles and Tippett’s song cycles, the complete Schumann song cycles as well as a number of themed recitals such as Around the world in eighty minutes and Zigeunerlieder. They have performed at venues throughout the UK, including several appearances at the Purcell Room and St. James’ Piccadilly and at many British music festivals. The group is enthusiastically supported by artistic advisors Neil Mackie CBE, renowned pianists John Blakely and Roger Vignoles, and leading EMI producer John Fraser.

The group consists of six founder members. Jacques Imbrailo won the Audience Award at last year's BBC Cardiff Singer of the World; Anna Leese is commencing principal roles at the Royal Opera, Covent Garden and has an upcoming EMI Debut release; Jennifer Johnston made her debut at the Salzburg Festival in 2006 in Mozart's La Betulia Liberata (recorded by Deutsche Grammophon); countertenor Tim Mead made his Proms debut in 2004 in Biber Missa Bruxellenis; tenor Andrew Staples won the song prizes at both the Kathleen Ferrier and Tauber Awards in 2005 and recently made his debut at Carnegie Hall. Alisdair Hogarth, piano, is the regular partner to many of his generation’s finest young artists and made his concerto debut with the London Philharmonic Orchestra at the age of 15. the prince consort also regularly draw on a core of highly-acclaimed regular guest artists including Allan Clayton, Elizabeth Watts and Anna Grevelius,

Last year they hit the musical headlines when one of their recitals was auctioned for charity for £14, 000. Their relaxed, reliable and accessible presentation has made them  a favourite with corporate events organizers and they are regularly approached by companies such as Goldman Sachs, Centrica, UBS Bank and the Bank of England for performances at high-profile functions. In October 2006 they performed at Cancer Research’s most prestigious event of the year, the Halloween Ball.

Following their highly acclaimed debut recital at the Purcell Room two years ago (in the Fresh Series), their future engagements include a wide variety of concerts for British music societies and festivals, the European premiere of Ned Rorem’s ‘Evidence of things not seen’ at Oxford Lieder Festival and a tour of New Zealand. Their debut CD and DVD of Ned Rorem songs will be released on Linn Records in 2009, following their residency at Aldeburgh last April to prepare for the recording. They make their Wigmore Hall recital debut in January 2009, where they are joined by special guest, Graham Johnson for a performance of the complete Brahms Liebeslieder Walzer.