Lucas de Jong Curriculum vitae

Biography 1992/3 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007

Born in Melbourne in 1962, Lucas made his professional debut at the age of 12 with the Australian Opera as the 'Shepherd Boy' in Tosca in 1974.

He began classical singing training with Bettine McCaughan in 1983 while studying for a Diploma of Music at the Melba Conservatorium, Melbourne. In 1984 he was accepted into the Victoria State Opera (now Opera Australia) and performed in virtually every opera mounted by them between 1984 and 1991.

In 1989 Lucas began a three year part-time Diploma course at the Victorian College of the Arts studying at the Opera Studio. He performed there as Marcello in "La Bohème" and Count Almaviva in "The Marriage of Figaro".

In February 1990 he became one of eight young artists with the Victoria State Opera. During this time he was trained for solo roles in upcoming seasons including Dancairo in "Carmen". After that he travelled to London for three months to train with Audrey Langford before returning to understudy and perform Dr Malatesta in "Don Pasquale" in September 1990.

His engagements as a soloist for the Victoria State Opera have included many other understudies such as Figaro in "The Barber of Seville" in 1990, Count Almaviva in "The Marriage of Figaro" and Prince Yamadori in "Madama Butterfly" in 1991. He also performed the role of The Imperial Commissioner in "Madama Butterfly" in 1991.

Lucas enjoyed considerable success in Australian singing competitions, winning the Australian Singing Competition in 1989. He competed as one of six finalists for the 1991 Royal Opera House, Covent Garden Scholarship and was placed second in the 1991 Metropolitan Opera Auditions.

In February 1992 he moved to London to further his career, taking lessons from Margaret Lobo. He is currently studying with Jeffrey Nielson-Taylor and Ludmilla Andrew.

In August '92 and July '93 he participated in the Brereton International Music Symposium summer school for singers, working extensively with Thomas Hampson.

Roles performed in 1992 were Coppelius and Dapertutto in "The Tales of Hoffmann" for Chelmsford Opera, Dr Falke in "Die Fledermaus" for Surrey Opera, Marcello in "La Bohème" for Welwyn Opera and Schaunard in "La Bohème" for Regency Opera. In 1993 he performed Ping in "Turandot" for the Anglia Polytechnic University, Cambridge, Figaro in "The Barber of Seville" for Court Opera in Holland Park, London, Guglielmo in "Cosi fan tutte" for Court Opera and Escamillo in "Carmen" for Opera South. He also began studying at the National Opera Studio in London, sponsored by the Friends of Covent Garden, which he completed in May 1994.

He made his Glyndebourne debut in June 1994 as Count Almaviva in "The Marriage of Figaro" when Andreas Schmidt fell ill. Other engagements for 1994 included Rossini's Figaro (Court Opera), roles in the Wexford Festival and the Brahms Requiem for Leicester University.

In 1995 he understudied Count Almaviva for Welsh National Opera, performed Morales and understudied Escamillo for the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, and performed Zurga in "The Pearl Fishers" for the Victoria State Opera in Australia. In 1996 he has performed Don Giovanni for the Athens Concert Hall, directed by Ruggero Raimondi, Frédéric in "Lakmé" for the Victoria State Opera and Don Giovanni for Opera Atelier in Toronto.

In January 1997 he was understudy for Thomas Allen as Le Baron in "Chérubin" for the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, and in February and October he understudied Escamillo for Welsh National Opera. He also performed in the Brahms German Requiem for the London Oriana Choir. Then in May he was understudy for Harlequin in "Ariadne on Naxos" for the English National Opera. In June he performed Don Giovanni again for Opera Atelier , on this occasion at the NAC in Ottawa. Following on from this he was Marcello in "La Bohème" in a tour for European Chamber Opera at the Cheltenham Music Festival. In August he made his debut in the role of Eugene Onegin at Holland Park, Central London, a role he then understudied for the English National Opera.

Performances for European Chamber Opera in 1998 include Marcello, Sharpless, Escamillo and Enrico (Lucia di Lamermoor). In September he toured with Mid-Wales Opera as Papageno.

Perfomances in 1999 began with Silvio in "Pagliacci" for New Sussex Opera and then his debut as Germont Pére in "La traviata" for London City Opera on a tour to France, performing in Evreux, Bourgoin and Paris. In April and May he performed for Music Theatre Kernow as Belcore in "L'Elisir d'Amore" and then in June for Opera Brava as Don Giovanni. Also in June he performed the role of Procolo in a Donizetti comic-opera "Viva la Mamma" at the Northampton Guildhall.

Performances in 2000 include Zurga (The Pearl Fishers) for Opera Australia in the Melbourne season in April, the role of Herodod in Massenet's "Herodiade" for the Anna Livia Festival in Dublin, Ireland in June, an appearance in the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra Classical Spectacular in August, a recital at the Melba Hall in Melbourne on 9th September and a performance of Carmina Burane with the Melbourne Chorale in the Melbourne Concert Hall on the 29th September.

The year 2001 included Opera in the Alps, Opera in the Vineyard, Opera in the Market, "The Pearl Fishers" in Perth for West Australian Opera, Andrea Chenier for Opera Australia, Federation concerts and a Mozart Mass with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra.

In 2002 Lucas continued with recitals and workshops for Victorian College of the Arts, Melba Conservatorium and the Canberra School of Music. His continueing association with Opera Australia included the roles of Silvio and Escamillo in the Sydney seasons.

Principle roles performed in 2003 were Sharpless (Butterfly) and Yamadori (Butterfly) for Opera Australia.

In 2004 he performed the role of Zurga in The Pearl Fishers in the Opera In The Domain in Sydney (January). He also continued to teach singing at Monash University, Victoria. Further performances included the role of Valentin in Faust for West Australian Opera (August) and the premiere performance of the new Victorian quartet 'Glisten' at the Melbourne International Music Festival (October). Following this was the role of St. Brioche in The Merry Widow for Opera Australia (November/December).

In 2005 Lucas has performed a cycle composed by Sarah de Jong titled 'Mountain Songs of New Zealand' in Christchurch and at The Hermitage at Mount Cook. At the same time he performed the premiere of a new Australian work by Sarah de Jong 'Songs of Odysseus'. Two CDs were released in 2005: 'The Music of Henry Handel Richardson' (PLC, Melbourne) and the Brahms Requiem (Royal Melbourne Philharmonic). Lucas also performed for the Queensland Music Festival in Opera In the Winery at Jimbour, Darby QLD.

In 2006 Lucas performed the role of Germont in La traviata for Opera at De Bortolis winery and toured as Don Giovanni for Melbourne Opera around Victoria.

In 2007 he performed the lead role in an Australian premiere of the opera NELSON, composed by Melbourne composer Stuart Greenbaum, at the Castlemaine Arts Festival.

Education

National Opera Studio of London: Full-time ten month course preparing many roles for performance - 1993/94

Melba Memorial Conservatorium of Music: Diploma of Music, Singing (A.C.M.M.) - 1986

Singing teachers: Jeffrey Nielson-Taylor - London (current),Margaret Lobo - London (1992 - 1994),Audrey Langford - London (1990 - 1991),Bettine McCaughan - Melbourne (1983 - 1992)

Victorian College of the Arts Opera Studio - 1989. Tutors: Robert Rosen (conductor), Brian Hansford (co-ordinator), Lindy Hume (director) and Hugh Halliday (director).

Languages: German, Italian, French, Russian.

Professional singing engagements

Opera Live -Nelson - Nelson - Castlemaine Arts Festival - April 2007

Melbourne Opera -Don Giovanni - Don Giovanni - Melbourne & Victoria region - April/August 2006

Grand Opera Australia - Germont - La Traviata - De Bortolis Winery, Victoria - Jan 2006

Opera Australia - St. Brioche - The Merry Widow - Melbourne - Nov/Dec 2005

Opera Australia - Zurga - The Pearl Fishers - Sydney Domain 2004

Opera Australia - Yamadori - Madama Butterfly - Sydney July/August 2003

Opera Australia - Sharpless - Madama Butterfly - Melbourne May 2003

Australian Musical Events - Opera in the Market - Feb 2003

Opera Australia - Escamillo - Carmen - Sydney October 2002

Opera Australia - Silvio - I Pagliacci - Sydney July 2002

Royal Philharmonic Society, Melbourne - Handel's "Messiah" - Melbourne Town Hall, December 2001

Royal Philharmonic Society, Melbourne - Brahms German Requiem - Melbourne Town Hall, August 2001

Melbourne Symphony Orchestra - Mozart Mass - Melbourne Concert Hall, Sep 2001

Federation Concerts - Melbourne 20 - 26 May 2001

Opera Australia - Fleville & Roucher - Andrea Chenier - Sydney July 2001

Melbourne Symphony Orchestra - Mozart Mass - Melbourne Concert Hall, Sep 2001

West Australian Opera - Zurga - The Pearl Fishers - Perth - May 2001

Australian Musical Events - Opera in the Alps, Opera in the Vineyard, Opera in the Market - Jan/Feb 2001

Melbourne Symphony Orchestra - Clasical Spectacular - Melbourne Park - August 2000

Recital - Melba Hall, Melbourne University - September 2000

Melbourne Chorale - Carmina Burana - Melbourne Concert Hall - September 2000

Anna Livia Festival - Herod - Herodiade - June 2000

Opera Australia - Zurga - The Pearl Fishers - April 2000

Music Theatre Kernow - Belcore - Elixir of Love - May 1999

London City Opera - Germont - La traviata - April 1999

New Sussex Opera - Silvio - Pagliacci - March 1999

Mid-Wales Opera - Papageno - The Magic Flute - September 1998

European Chamber Opera - Enrico - Lucia di Lammermoor - July 1998

European Chamber Opera - Escamillo - Carmen - 1998

European Chamber Opera - Sharpless - Madam Butterfly - 1998

English National Opera - Eugene Onegin (Understudy) - Eugene Onegein - December 97/January 98

Welsh National Opera - Escamillo - Carmen - Oct/Nov 97 (understudy)

Holland Park Opera - Eugene Onegin - Eugene Onegein - August 97

Opera Atelier, Toronto - Don Giovanni - Don Giovanni - NAC Ottawa June 1997

European Chamber Opera - Marcello - La Bohème - June/July 97, Jan/April 98

English National Opera - Harlequin - Ariadne auf Naxos - April-May 97 (understudy)

Welsh National Opera - Escamillo - Carmen - Feb-Mar 97 (understudy)

Royal Opera House, Covent Garden - Le Baron - Chérubin - Jan 97 (understudy)

Opera Atelier, Toronto - Don Giovanni - Don Giovanni - October 1996

Victoria State Opera - Frédéric - Lakmé - July 1996

Athens Megaron - Don Giovanni - Don Giovanni - March 1996

Victoria State Opera - Zurga - The Pearl Fishers - August 1995

Royal Opera House - Morales - Carmen - June, 1995 (Tour to Israel),

Escamillo (Understudy) - Carmen - June, 1995 (Tour to Israel),

Le Baron (Understudy) - Chérubin - January 1997

Welsh National Opera - Count Almaviva - The Marriage of Figaro - Feb. 1995

Wexford Opera Festival - Chorus and scenes - Oct/Nov 1994

Glyndebourne Festival Opera - Count Almaviva - The Marriage of Figaro - 1994

Court Opera - Figaro - The Barber of Seville - June 1993 & June 1994

Opera South - Escamillo - Carmen - October 1993

Court Opera - Guglielmo - Cosi fan tutte - August 1993

Anglia Polytechnic University - Ping - Turandot - February 1993

Regency Opera - Schaunard - La Bohème - December 1992

Welwyn Opera - Marcello - La Bohème - November 1992

Surrey Opera - Dr Falke - Die Fledermaus - June 1992

Chelmsford Opera - Coppelius, Dappertutto - The Tales of Hoffmann - June 1992

Victoria State Opera (Melbourne, Australia)

Guglielmo - Così fan tutte - 1991 (Regional Tour),

The Imperial Commissioner - Madama Butterfly - 1991,

Dr Malatesta - Don Pasquale - November 1990,

Fiorello - The Barber of Seville - 1990 (Regional Tour),

Ufficiale - The Barber of Seville - 1990 (Regional Tour),

Member (one of eight) - Young Artists Programme -1990,

Understudies:

Count Almaviva - The Marriage of Figaro - 1991,

Prince Yamadori - Madama Butterfly - 1991,

Dr Malatesta - Don Pasquale - 1990,

Figaro - The Barber of Seville - 1990 (Regional Tour),

Schaunard - La Bohème - 1987 & 1989

Canberra City Opera - Aeneas - Dido and Aeneas - 1990

Reviews

"Soprano Lisa Harper-Brown and baritone Lucas de Jong took the solo lines in the Vaughn-Williams cantata [Dona Nobis Pacem], that reaches its finest moments in the setting of Whitman's Dirge for Two Veterans, accomplished with impressive power by the combined choral and instrumental forces. De Jong worked with considerable character through the Reconciliation and The Angel of Death movements; Harper-Brown showed her sympathy with the work in a considered, stately approach and her voice's sound-colour had clear resonances with this style of British occasional music." Clive O'Connell, The Age, April 27 2004

"Lucas de Jong makes a charismatic Consul with natural vocal authority"

(Madama Butterfly, OA 2003) John Slavin, The AGE, 28 April 2003

"Baritone Lucas de Jong, with his attractively dark and dramatic timbre, set the mood with the prologue to Leoncavallo's I Pagliacci."

(Opera in the Market 2001) John Slavin, The AGE, Melbourne 14th February 2001.

"Aided considerably by the splendidly credible presence of Lucas de Jong in the role of Silvio, the testorsterone-intensive affair between the handsome young villager and Nedda unfolded as credibly in physical seduction terms as it did musically, with plenty of passion in his singing as well as that of Jennifer McGregor's Nedda"

(Pagliacci, OA 2002) David Gyger, Opera-Opera 2002

"Lucas de Jong is a highly credible Herod."

(Herodiade, Anna Livia International Opera Festival) Pat O'Kelly, Irish Independant, 17th June 2000.

"The fluently powerful Herod of Lucas de Jong."

(Herodiade, Anna Livia International Opera Festival) Michael Durvan, Irish Times, 19th June 2000.

"The Australian baritone Lucas de Jong, in the title role as the Don, gave a suitably suave performance as the seducer par excellence. With his beautifully produced voice and fine stage presence, he still managed to maintain a distinct feeling of evil about the character."

(Don Giovanni, Opera Brava) Laurence Carcas, West Sussex County Times, July 1999.

"The singing was of high quality, particularly from Lucas de Jong as the infamous Don Giovanni."

(Don Giovanni, Opera Brava) Don Cullimare, West Sussex Gazette, 17th June, 1999

"Lucas de Jong was excellent as Figaro."

(Opera Gala, Clonter Opera) Natalie Anglesey, The Stage and Television Today, December 10, 1998

"Impressive Australian baritone Lucas de Jong, as Enrico, has the potential to develope into a fine Verdian baritone."

(Lucia di Lammermoor, European Chamber Opera) Richard Fawkes, Opera Now, Nov/Dec 1998

"Lucas de Jong as Papageno gave an enjoyable, richly comic performance. His arias and his duet with Pamina are welcome highlights."

(The Magic Flute, Mid-Wales Opera tour) Kevin Berry, The Stage, 8th October 1998

"As Marcello, baritone Lucas de Jong was outstanding, anchoring the opera in strong fashion."

(La Bomème, European Chamber Opera) Paul Thomas, Windsor and Eton Express, 22nd Jan 1998

"de Jong brings to Onegin a voice range that is excellent. He has a rich baritone voice that, at times, rendered a first rate lower register. He is also a talented actor and brought authority, insight and superb haughtiness to the role."

(Eugene Onegin for Holland Park Opera) James Hunt, The Southern Cross (London) 1997

"Lucas de Jong as Don Giovanni acted his role to perfection."

(Don Giovanni for Opera Atelier, National Arts Centre, Ottawa) Richard Todd, Ottawa Citizen June 27, 1997

"Lucas de Jong was a youthfully agreeable Giovanni."

(Don Giovanni for Opera Atelier, Toronto) Peter Dyson, OPERA, March 1997 (p300)

"Making his North American debut as the irresistible title cad, Australian baritone Lucas de Jong was a devil-may-care charm. Women who already have reason to hate horny men may find him hateful."

(Don Giovanni for Opera Atelier) Wilder Penfield lll, Toronto Sun (Canada) October 26, 1996

"This Don Giovanni ... comes to life with great vitality and presence thanks to baritone, Lucas de Jong."

(Don Giovanni for Opera Atelier) M. Dispenza, Rivista (Canada) 1 November 1996

"Lucas de Jong as Frédéric came into his own singing powerfully."

(Lakmé for Victoria State Opera) Jim Davidson, The Age (Australia) 17th July 1996

"Lucas de Jong produced a rounded, expressive sound and was at his best in high register. His relaxed confidence made him an engaging performer."

(Opera Gala Plus, Southern Ireland) Martin Adams, Irish Times 10th October 1995

Lucas de Jong is technically an excellent baritone, with a maturity of voice not always apparent in singers in their early thirties."

(Opera Gala Plus, Southern Ireland) Declan Hassett, Cork Examiner 2nd October 1995

"Lucas de Jong's impressive Zurga ... burst upon me with particular impact: strongly sung and convincingly characterised. He looks good, moves well and sings with a rock-solid baritone of exemplary quality."

(The Pearl Fishers for Victoria State Opera) David Gyger, Opera Australasia (Australia) September 1995

"Lucas de Jong gave a creditable performance as the Count"

(The Marriage of Figaro at Glyndebourne) Roger Covell, Sydney Morning Herald (Australia), 2 August 1994

"The Australian Lucas de Jong shaped a nice legato for 'Pura siccome un angelo'"

(La traviata - Opera Studio Showcase) Noël Goodwin, OPERA, August 1994

"Young Australian Lucas de Jong brought firm tone and Italianate warmth to Germont (this showing should win him a deserved leg-up)."

(La traviata - Opera Studio Showcase) Rodney Milnes, The Times, Thursday May 26 1994

"The toreador Escamillo was powerfully performed by Lucas de Jong, who sings with verve and authority."

(Carmen for Opera South) Eastliegh & South Hants Weekly News, 3 November 1993

"Lucas de Jong displayed a maturity and gravity in stage presence as Ping."

(Turandot for Anglia Polytechnic University, Cambridge) Graeme Feggetter, OPERA May 1993

"Lucas de Jong as the suave Doctor Falke maintained a high quality of both singing and acting."

(Die Fledermaus for Surrey Opera) Geoffrey Kemp, Words and Music Sep/Oct 1992

"Lucas de Jong produced some fine open toned singing as Coppelius and Dapertutto. He has a commanding personality on stage."

(The Tales of Hoffman for Chelmsford Opera) Peter Andrews, Chelmsford Weekly News, 18th June 1992

"Lucas de Jong, showing the villainous streak as Coppelius and Dapertutto, gave a first class performance with breath control such that has not always been in evidence in Covent Garden performances."

(The Tales of Hoffman for Chelmsford Opera) Eric Smart, NODA Eastern Area News Bulletin, August 1992

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