UPCOMING EVENTS
Steve Tromans and Suzie Purkis Free Improv
“Coming from broadly different musical traditions, these two musicians collide firmly within the realm of the improvised and experimental. Opera, contemporary classical, jazz, folk – theirs will doubtlessly be a performance that dissolves such simple classifications.” Tony Dudley-Evans
Suzie and Steve join forces as part of Royal Birmingham Conservatoire’s CODA Festival.
Link for festival schedule and tickets: https://linktr.ee/CODA_Festival
(Zu viel) Frauenliebe und Leben
Suzie performs her experimental work-in-progress “(Zu viel) Frauenliebe und Leben”. It’s a playful experiment exploring ways of disrupting the narrative of songs from Robert Schumann’s song cycle Frauenliebe und leben, in which the female protagonist is defined entirely through her relationship to a man.
Suzie is on the team organising this year’s CODA festival at Royal Birmingham Conservatoire which is taking place on Tues 16th and Wed 17th June, as well as some taster performances on the evening of June 5th.
Link to tickets and schedule of festival:
Viva Venezia
Suzie is alto soloist in this concert in Harborne, Birmingham. Conductor - Nicola Starkie
Golden Barney
Suzie is mezzo soloist in this exciting project with Mahogany Opera
ROLL UP! CUMBRIA
Thursday 14 & Friday 15 May 2026
Sandside Lodge Special School, Ulverston
Attendance by invite only - for more information please email marc@mahoganyopera.co.uk
Dvořák Stabat Mater
Suzie is the mezzo soloist in this performance of Dvořák’s Stabat Mater with Harrow Choral Society. Conductor - Jennifer Sterling
Worcester Philharmonic Orchestra Spring Concert
Suzie performs Elgar’s Sea Pictures with Worcester Philharmonic Orchestra as part of their Spring Concert. Dan Watson - conductor.
Handel's Messiah
Handel – Messiah
In the traditional scoring.
Abbi Temple soprano
Suzie Purkis alto
Archie Inns tenor
David Pike bass
OSJ Voices
Orchestra of St John’s
John Lubbock, conductor
Handel's Messiah
Handel – Messiah
In the traditional scoring.
Abbi Temple soprano
Suzie Purkis alto
Archie Inns tenor
David Pike bass
OSJ Voices
Orchestra of St John’s
John Lubbock, conductor
Bringing the Light
Suzie is alto soloist with CBSO in Joan Armatrading’s commission, Homeland.
“Homeland is a piece that highlights the city of Birmingham and its people, reflecting their strong sense of community, resilience and warmth. It is a tribute to a place to which I am bonded, and one I will always hold with affection and pride. Through both words and music, the piece weaves together the sounds, energy, and rhythms of the city while reaching out into its vast surrounding countryside. This is Birmingham not simply as a backdrop, but as a living, breathing presence – an often-underrated landscape where industry and nature exist side by side in quiet beauty.” - Joan Armatrading
Handel in Italy
Margaret Lingas - soprano
Imogen Russell - soprano
Suzie Purkis - mezzo-soprano
Tom Hawkey-Soar -tenor
Samuel Oram - bass
Continuo - Sam Hayes
Ludlow Camerata led by Anne Tuplin
Directed by Nicola Starkie
Handel lived and worked in Italy in the early 1700's. The main work is Handel's Dixit Dominus. The programme includes the shorter Nisi Dominus and other works from composers Handel would have met in Italy - Vivaldi, Alessandro Scarlatti and Lotti. Luton Camerata will also perfomr Corelli's Christmas Concerto.
Rough for Opera
A work in progress sharing of three new 9 minute operas commissioned by Second Movement, each adapted from a single source, Note 615 on “The Scream” by Edvard Munch, English translation by Eirill Alvilde Falck. Note 615 (1892) is Munch’s first articulation, in text, of the image which would become the paintings, drawings and lithographs of The Scream, one of the world’s most recognised motifs. The operas explore themes of alienation, anxiety, displacement, grief and loss, written for a shared cast of baritone, mezzo, soprano, bassoon, cello and violin.
Another Day
Sarah Forbes text
Elif Karlıdağ music
Maelstrom
Romanne Walker text
Vinicius Motta music
Exposure
Nicola Warner text
Zhenyan Li music
Finn Beames director
Olivia Clarke music director
Claire Shovelton creative producer
Abigail Toland creative director Second Movement
Ella Taylor soprano
Suzie Purkis mezzo
Julian Chou-Lambert baritone
Chihiro Ono violin
Ben Michaels cello
Jo Turner bassoon
Pei Hong Chew stage manager
Jonathan Goldsmith surtitles
Leonora Shovelton Front of House for Rough for Opera
Roisin Murphy archive video
Erika Gundesen workshop conductor
Chris Allan workshop cello
Craig Fuller workshop photography
Legacies in Technology
Works with electronics developed and performed by RBC’s Music Technology Department Team (with interval)
Admission - £5
With
Katharine Lam piano
Suzie Purkis voice
James Dooley, Simon Hall, Joe Wright, Edmund Hunt, Ben Markland electronics and diffusion
Over the past quarter of a century, the department has championed the development of new music through composition, research, commissioning, and supporting the technical sustainability of legacy pieces. We present some of the works from the past quarter of a century to include:
Jonathan Harvey Tombeau de Messiaen
Simon Hall GSOH
Edmund Hunt UNGELĪC IS ŪS
James Dooley Formuls
Handel Dettingen Te Deum
Autumn Concert
GF Handel: Zadok The Priest & Dettingen Te Deum.
JS Bach: Lutheran Mass in G Minor
Soloists
Alto - Suzie Purkis
Tenor - Ed Harrisson
Bass - Barney Stevens
El amor brujo with Orchestra of St John's
Suzie will perform Manuel de Falla’s El amor brujo with conductor John Lubbock and Orchestra of St John’s. This concert will also include Ravel’s Bolero, Sarasate’s Zigeunerweisen and Rodrigo’s Concerto for Aranjuez, with Poppy McGhee violin and Nathaniel Merkies guitar.
Pace Trio - Celebrating International Women's Day
Pace will perform a short set of music by composers including Liz Dilnot Johnson in this IWD concert.
With Chris Bowden sax and Flora McNicoll cello
Duruflé Requiem
Suzie will sing the mezzo solo in Duruflé’s Requiem in this concert with conductor Nicholas Morris and Huntingdon Philharmonic Choir.
William Walton's Façade
Suzie will be the Narrator in this performance of William Walton's Façade with the New Music Ensemble and conductor Daniele Rosina.
Theatres of Hysteria - Birmingham
A collaboration between Klaudia Wittmann and Chloe Knibbs
Taking inspiration from French visual artist Louise Bourgeois, this project is concerned with reinventing the hysterical body in its multiple dimensions: sexuality, materiality, as well as inscriptions of social violence. Theatres of hysteria is a collaboration between new music and dance theatre bringing together two dance artists, a singer and a double bassist. It experiments with the interplay of sound, image and physicality.
This research is generously supported by the RPS Drummond Lockyer Fund for Dance.
Theatres of Hysteria - London
A collaboration between Klaudia Wittmann and Chloe Knibbs
Taking inspiration from French visual artist Louise Bourgeois, this project is concerned with reinventing the hysterical body in its multiple dimensions: sexuality, materiality, as well as inscriptions of social violence. Theatres of hysteria is a collaboration between new music and dance theatre bringing together two dance artists, a singer and a double bassist. It experiments with the interplay of sound, image and physicality.
This research is generously supported by the RPS Drummond Lockyer Fund for Dance.
Pace trio
Pace trio perform a programme of new music in this lunchtime recital. Suzie Purkis mezzo, Flora McNicoll cello and Chris Bowden saxophone perform music written especially for them by Kámea Németh, Liz Dilnot Johnson, Michael Wolters, and others.
The Armed Man - A Mass for Peace
Suzie will be the alto soloist in this concert with Midlands Hospitals Choir and the Phoenix Singers, Birmingham. Conducted by James Llewelyn Jones.
Saint-Saëns’ Requiem
Suzie is the mezzo soloist in this concert with The Campden Chorus, conducted by Charles Matthews. With Eleanor Broomfield soprano, Tim Burton tenor and Jack Holton baritone.
Fizzle - Steve Tromans and Suzie Purkis free improv duo
Steve Tromans - photo by John Watson
Ex Cathedra Summer Music by Candlelight
Suzie will sing alto in this concert with Ex Cathedra consort (10 singers), conducted by Jeffrey Skidmore.
Sea Pictures | Stratford Upon Avon Symphony Orchestra
Suzie performs Elgar’s Sea Pictures alongside Stratford Orchestra at Grieg Hall.
Ex Cathedra Summer Music by Candlelight
Suzie will sing alto in this concert with Ex Cathedra choir, conducted by Jeffrey Skidmore.
Ex Cathedra Summer Music by Candlelight
Suzie will sing alto in this concert with Ex Cathedra choir, conducted by Jeffrey Skidmore. Also with special guests Una Pavlovic Aldridge, violin and Edward Harris Brown piano.
Ex Cathedra Summer Music by Candlelight
Suzie will sing alto in this concert with Ex Cathedra consort (10 singers), conducted by Jeffrey Skidmore.
Ex Cathedra Summer Music by Candlelight
Suzie will sing alto in this concert with Ex Cathedra consort (10 singers), conducted by Jeffrey Skidmore.
Roll up! Mahogany Opera
Suzie is the mezzo soloist in Jack McNeill’s opera “Roll up!”, in a weeklong project at Hadrian School, Newcastle. With Themba Mvula baritone, Jack McNeill, clarinet, Chrissy Slater viola. Directed by Katy Weir. This is a Snappy Opera for Mahogany Opera.
Liz Dilnot Johnson 60th birthday concert
Suzie performs alongside cellist, Flora McNicoll at Liz Dilnot Johnson’s 60th birthday concert.
EMPOWER
Suzie will perform two pieces for solo voice by Liz Dilnot Johnson as part of this event.