Thanks to prolific careers both as pianist and award-winning broadcaster, Iain is one of the UK’s best-known musicians. 

Iain has worked with a huge number of international singers, notably Dame Margaret Price, Rosa Feola, Ailish Tynan, Joyce DiDonato, Laurence Brownlee, Roderick Williams, and Bryn Terfel, among many others. He has recorded more than 60 CDs, often created around neglected composers, where his curatorial skills are displayed to the full. He is a great champion of young singers, playing a crucial role in introducing them to a wider audience. This year he has taken on an additional role, as founding member of Trio Balthasar, alongside violinist Michael Foyle and cellist Tim Hugh.  

Innovative programme planning has led Iain to expand his concert work into a hybrid form of music theatre, creating staged work around Brahms (Shining Armour), Wagner (The View from the Villa) and Gurney (A Soldier and a Maker). He has broadcast extensively on both radio and TV, notably as host of BBC R3’s acclaimed Voices series. In addition to a long association with London’s Guildhall School, Iain is Visiting International Artist at the Royal Irish Academy of Music, Dublin. He is Artistic Director of the Ludlow English Song Weekend and Artistic Consultant to Grange Park Opera, Surrey.

Future projects include a Rachmaninov Song Series at Wigmore Hall, a Wigmore recital with Roderick Williams which will be broadcast live as part of BBC Radio 3’s Lunchtime Concert Series, a recital in Zurich with Rosa Feola and concerts with Trio Balthasar in Italy and Belgium
 

Bernarda Fink, daughter of Slovenian parents, was born in Buenos Aires and received her vocal and musical education at the Instituto Superior de Arte del Teatro Colón where she performed frequently.

Bernarda Fink is one of the most sought-after singers in concerts and recitals. She has been acclaimed for her musical versatility and invited by the leading orchestras and conductors in Europe and America. Her repertoire ranges from ancient music up to music of the 20th century. She frequently appeared with such well-known orchestras as the Vienna and Berlin Philharmonic Orchestras, Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, Staatskapelle Berlin and Dresden, Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra, the Cleveland Orchestra, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, as well as with the best-known Baroque orchestras under such famous conductors as Daniel Barenboim, Herbert Blomstedt, Semyon Bychkov, Riccardo Chailly, Sir John Eliot Gardiner, Valery Gergiev, Bernard Haitink, René Jacobs, Mariss Jansons, Riccardo Muti, Sir Roger Norrington, Trevor Pinnock, Georges Prêtre, Sir Simon Rattle and Franz Welser-Möst. She had a close artistic cooperation with Nikolaus Harnoncourt which is testified by numerous TV and CD recordings.

Bernarda Fink has appeared to widespread critical acclaim in Argentina and at the most important opera houses in Europe. Recent highlights were the roles of Cecilio (Lucio Silla) led by Nikolaus Harnoncourt at the Theater an der Wien, Idamante (Idomeneo) in a production of Luc Bondy and Jesus Lopez Cobos at the Teatro Real in Madrid, and Irene (Theodora) under Ivor Bolton at the Salzburg Festival. She also sang Sesto (La clemenza di Tito) and Idamante in concert versions under the baton of René Jacobs, both of which were recorded and highly praised. In June 2017, Bernarda Fink made her debut in Debussy´s Pelléas et Mélisande at the Vienna State Opera.

Bernarda Fink regularly appeared in recital at the Wiener Musikverein and Konzerthaus, Schubertiade Schwarzenberg, Berlin Philharmonie, Théâtre Royal de la Monnaie in Brussels, Edinburgh Festival, Carnegie and Alice Tully Hall in New York. Furthermore, Bernarda Fink performed Dvořák and Janacek songs together with the Pavel Haas Quartett at London´s Wigmore Hall, at the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam, in Den Haag and in Madrid.

Bernarda Fink regularly holds master classes at the Wiener Meisterkurse, the Young Singers Project (YSP) in Salzburg, the Academy of the Festival in Aix-en-Provence, the Schubert-Institute in Baden (near Vienna), at the Aldeburgh Festival and the Fondation Royaumont. She was also on the jury of the International Song Competition of London Wigmore Hall, the Bach Wettbewerb Leipzig, BBC Cardiff Singers of the World, DAS LIED International Song Competition as well as the ARD Music Competition. In the fall of 2019 Bernarda Fink has been teaching at the Yale School of Music and Institute of Sacred Music for three months.

Bernarda Fink has made numerous highly acclaimed recordings. Her discography comprises more than 60 releases, ranging from Monteverdi and Rameau to Schubert and Bruckner and Schumann. Many of them have been awarded coveted prizes such as the Diapason d’Or or the Grammy. Bernarda Fink has a close collaboration with Harmonia Mundi. Recent recordings include Bach Cantatas with the Freiburger Barockorchester, and Lieder by Schumann with accompanist Anthony Spiri, Pergolesi’s Stabat Mater with the Akademie für Alte Musik Berlin and programs with Lieder by Slovenian as well as Argentinian composers together with her brother, the baritone Marcos Fink (Grammy nomination). In 2012, albums of Dvořák Lieder, and with Spanish Songs (de Falla, Granados, Rodrigo and others) again with Anthony Spiri at the piano, were released. Her latest album included Mahler Lieder accompanied by the Niederösterreichische Tonkünstlerorchester and Andrés Orozco-Estrada and by the pianist Anthony Spiri.

In February 2006, Bernarda Fink was awarded the Austrian Honorary Medal for Art and Science by the Austrian Chancellor and in February 2013, together with her brother Marcos Fink, the most prestigious cultural award of Slovenia sponsored by the Prešeren-foundation for their recording Slovenija! and the related concerts. In September 2014 she received the title of Österreichische Kammersängerin.

After graduating with honours in church music, organ and choral conducting under the guidance of Maestro Sergio Marcianò, Alessandro Galoppini continued his studies in composition with Maestro Carlo Mosso. Since then he has performed extensively both as conductor and accompanist in numerous Italian opera houses.

For almost thirty years he has worked with the Teatro Regio of Turin where he held numerous positions and responsibilities, working as vocal coach, prompter and head of music, before being appointed artistic director of the theatre in 2018. During this period he also conducted productions of Il matrimonio segreto, Il barbiere di Siviglia and La bohème.

In 2000 he joined the teaching staff of the Turin Conservatory.

In 2019 he was appointed casting director of the Teatro alla Scala in Milan

Renowned for her compelling presence on stage, Maria Guleghina is recognized as the leading dramatic soprano of our time. She has been praised by critics like Andrew Porter in the Times Literary Supplement, who have called her "the tops" and "the reigning diva."

Guleghina's repertoire demonstrates her exceptional versatility, encompassing iconic roles such as Tosca, Turandot, Aida, Manon Lescaut, Norma, Fedora, and Adriana Lecouvreur. Her commanding voice, characterized by power, warmth, and dramatic intensity, has graced prestigious opera houses worldwide.

Starting her career at the State Opera in Minsk, Guleghina made a memorable debut at La Scala as Amelia in Un Ballo in Maschera opposite Luciano Pavarotti. Her association with La Scala includes performances in 15 new productions, tours in Japan, and solo recitals. She also made her debut at the Metropolitan Opera in 1991, where she has performed over 150 times in various roles ranging from Tosca and Aida to Norma and Lady Macbeth.

Following her Vienna State Opera debut in 1991, Guleghina has performed at Covent Garden, the Royal Opera House, where she has taken on roles such as Fedora. Her debut at Arena di Verona in 1996 as Abigaille in Nabucco earned her the 'Prize of Giovanni Zanatello,' and she has since become a regular performer at this renowned venue.

In addition to her operatic accomplishments, Guleghina is actively involved in humanitarian causes. She collaborates with UNICEF to advocate for children affected by poverty and conflict, emphasizing the importance of global unity.

Throughout her illustrious career, Guleghina has given solo recitals around the world, with many productions broadcast on radio and television. Collaborating with esteemed singers and conductors, including Luciano Pavarotti, Placido Domingo, and Riccardo Muti, she has received prestigious awards such as the Puccini Prize, Bellini Prize, and Giovanni Zanatello Prize.

Maria Guleghina has been honored with various awards, including the Puccini Prize for Best Puccini Performer, the Bellini Prize in 2001, the Giovanni Zanatello Prize for her debut at the Arena di Verona, and many others. She has also been recognized for her social activism and received the Order of St Olga from the Russian Orthodox Church and the title of 'People's Artist' of North Ossetia and Alania. As a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador since 2008, Maria continues to make a significant impact beyond the opera stage.
 

Sophie Joyce is Directrice du Casting at the Opéra national de Paris. Prior to that she was the Executive Director of the Lindemann Young Artist Development Program, at the Metropolitan Opera, New York. Ms. Joyce is also a member of the pre-selection panel worldwide for the Neue Stimmen International Singing Competition.

Known for her ability to scout and nurture extraordinary talent, Ms. Joyce worked for 10 years, until 2016, at English National Opera, where she was Head of Casting and Director of the ENO Harewood Artist Program. She was previously Casting Administrator and Manager of the company’s Young Singers Program, as well as Assistant Company Manager. From 2016 - 2018, Ms. Joyce worked as an opera consultant, advising young artists at the Royal College of Music London, and establishing a new Vocal Department for Keynote Artist Management.

After graduating from Birmingham University as a Bachelor of Music, Ms. Joyce began her career at IMG Artists in 2004, working with some of the highest profile singers in the world today.

Peter Katona, after having worked in similar positions in German, was appointed Director of Casting of The Royal Opera in 1983, and has since been responsible for the planning and casting of all performances by The Royal Opera, in close collaboration with the Music Directors of the company – first Sir Colin Davis, from 1987 with Bernard Haitink and from the start of the 2002/03 season with Antonio Pappano.

Artistic Director of the Teatro Real de Madrid since the 2013-2014 season. Artistic Director of the Gran Teatre del Liceu de Barcelona from 1997 to 2013. He was previously Assistant Artistic Director and director of the Dramatugy department of the same theater and he has also worked as a journalist, and opera, theater, music and dance critic in various publications. He studied, among others, Piano, Singing and Harmony at the Liceu Conservatory of Barcelona and Information Sciences at the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. He has been the founder and president of Opera Europa and he is part of juries of prestigious international, musical and lyrical competitions.

Christoph Seuferle, born in Stuttgart, studied music theatre directing at the University of Music in Vienna, where he graduated with distinction and a Master of Arts degree in 1989. His first engagements took him to the Bavarian State Opera in Munich and the Grand Théâtre in Geneva as assistant director and stage manager.

Between 1994 and 2001, he held the position of "Directeur du planning et de la scène" at the Opéra National de Paris. He then moved to the Opéra National de Montpellier as "Directeur délégué". There he was responsible for the overall budget, 140 employees and, last but not least, the programme with a large number of premieres. He succeeded in initiating numerous co-productions with other European, and in particular German, theatres. The opera in Montpellier produced Luigi Cherubini's MEDEE with the Deutsche Oper Berlin and RINALDO and DIDO AND AENEAS with the Staatsoper Unter den Linden.

Christoph Seuferle has been Opera Director of the Deutsche Oper Berlin since the 2007/2008 season. He also worked here as acting artistic director during the 2011/2012 interim season.

In 2001, Christoph Seuferle was appointed "Chevalier des Arts et des Lettres" for his services to France.

Brian Speck is Artistic Administrator for The Metropolitan Opera, where he hears hundreds of singers each year in consideration for Met productions and is responsible for casting many roles in the company’s repertoire each season.

Prior to joining the Met, he served as Director of the Sarah and Ernest Butler Studio at Houston Grand Opera for eight years, recruiting singers and pianists and supporting the artistic and career development of the program’s artists. He is a regular adjudicator of competitions, including the Met’s Laffont Competition, Houston Grand Opera’s Eleanor McCollum Competition, the Jensen Foundation Vocal Competition, Opera Index, and others. During his time at HGO, he spearheaded an effort to provide online auditions for artists, increasing access for singers across the opera industry, and was a leader in OPERA America’s Performer Development Network.

Prior to his appointment with the Butler Studio, he served as HGO’s Company Manager and Artist Liaison, supporting the company’s guest artists and managing rehearsal planning and scheduling. He began his career in administrative positions with Aspen Opera Theater. Also trained as a baritone, he holds music degrees from Rice University and Pepperdine University.
 

Carolin Wielpütz studied applied theatre and media studies along with English at the University of Erlangen-Nuremberg (Friedrich-Alexander-Universität), including study visits to Spain, USA and Ireland. Parallel to her studies the passionate chorus singer took part in chorus activities as well as vocal and musical training at the Institute of Sacred Music. After graduation Carolin Wielpütz moved to Dublin, Ireland, to work in the field of international exchange for a leading business confederation. Following her return to Germany, she started her career in opera as assistant director at Theater Bonn, followed by her work as personal advisor to the artistic director of the same theatre.

Carolin Wielpütz spent several years as project manager and advisor to the casting director of the Bregenzer Festspiele under David Pountney, before returning to Theater Bonn as director of artistic planning in opera. Since 2020 Carolin Wielpütz has been director of artistic planning and part of the management team at the MusikTheater an der Wien under artistic director Stefan Herheim. She is also frequently invited as jury member to singing competitions, such as OPERALIA, LAS VIŇAS and CLIP