An evening of sumptuous Italian music from three baroque masters in the beautiful setting of Chelmsford Cathedral sung by soprano, Angharad Rowlands, and countertenor, Carlo Zanetti, accompanied by a professional string orchestra conducted by Lewis Hammond.

The programme:

• Vivaldi 'Nisi Dominus'
• Porpora 'Salve Regina'
• Pergolesi 'Stabat Mater'

Angharad Rowlands is a Welsh soprano from Denbighshire, North Wales. Angharad started singing from a young age in local, national, and international Eisteddfod festivals across Wales. She recently completed an MA (Hons) in Art History at the University of St Andrews where she also held a vocal scholarship. During her time at university, Angharad was a choral scholar of St Salvator's Chapel Choir and a member of the University Madrigal Group. She also performed the role of Nancy in Byre Opera's production of Britten's Albert Herring in June 2014. In 2014 Angharad was awarded a place on the Monteverdi Choir Apprentices Programme under Sir John Eliot Gardiner after which she became a full member of the choir. In 2016 she appeared as a soloist at Palau de la Música Catalana, Barcelona, Kursaal, San Sebastian and Philharmonie de Paris in the choir's Bach St Matthew Passion European tour. Future engagements with the choir include an international tour of L'Orfeo to celebrate the 450th anniversary of Monteverdi's birth, Bach cantatas at BachFest Leipzig, La damnation de Faust at BerliozFest and performances at the BBC Proms, Royal Albert Hall. Angharad has received generous support from the Leche Trust and the Burdon Fund, for which she is very grateful. She currently receives vocal tuition from Sarah Pring in London.

Carlo Maria Zannetti is a young countertenor from Rome, currently singing as a choral scholar with the choir of Chelmsford Cathedral. Carlo started his musical training early, singing with the choir of the Academia di Santa Cecilia in Rome. At the same time, Carlo appeared in a large number of operas for Rome Opera; being the treble of choice whenever a boy was required. Consequently, Carlo has already sung with some of the greatest singers and conductors in the world. Roles have included The Shepherd Boy in Tosca, First Spirit in The Magic Flute, the young Jeanne d’Arc, in Jeanne d’Arc au bucher and the Shepherd Boy in Wagner’s Tannhäuser. Before moving to the UK, he sang in the choir of the Cappella Giulia in the Vatican. Carlo is hoping to continue his studies at King’s College London.

Lewis Hammond, from Maldon, Essex, is also at the end of his choral scholarship at Chelmsford Cathedral. Recently, Lewis has appeared as a soloist in Handel’s Messiah, Bach’s St John Passion and St Matthew Passion. Later this year he will commence his degree in Music at the University of Oxford, alongside holding a choral scholarship in the choir of New College, Oxford. Tonight, he will be conducting from the harpsichord.