Neil Allen
Neil Allen is a professional tenor who started his singing career here in Nottingham and is the catalyst that instigated the creation of Magdala
Neil came to singing later than most, and via an unusual route compared to most trained professional singers today. From aged 16 to 30 he worked in the building trade before starting to sing at the age of 27 as part of a singing comedy duo. After experiencing vocal problems Neil sought a singing teacher and on discovering a tenor voice of such fine quality, Neil was encouraged to train full time. Without any musical background or training, this presented a huge undertaking. Neil decided to train privately with Michelle Wegwart and it is out of this training that the concept for Magdala grew.
In addition to training with Michelle, Neil also trained with Lyndon Vanderpump of the Royal College of Music, London. He launched his professional career in 1995 with the leading role in Cavalleria Rusticana/ Turridu and has since performed with City of Birmingham Touring Opera in their production of Macbeth singing the role of Malcolm/MacDuff. For Garden Opera, Tamino and Nemorino.
With Travelling Opera, Tamino, Don Jose and Remondado. Alfred in Die Fledermaus for Carl Rosa. ECO Opera company the roles of, Alfredo in La Traviata and the Duke in Rigoletto.
He has also undertaken the roles of Count Almaviva, Alfredo, Turridu, Cavaradossi and Rodolfo for Magdala and the RPO and Rodolfo, Alfredo and Pinkerton for Opera Interludes, all of these roles in the original language. More recently he undertook the leading role in Peter Grimes for Surrey Opera.
He also did an extensive tour of the USA for Columbia Artists as Camille de Rosillon in the Merry Widow in 2002
His concert platform work is extensive and has taken him to sixteen countries in Europe to date singing with the RPO, City of London Sinfonia, Manchester Camerata and the orchestra of Opera North as a principle soloist, and has performed with artists such as Sir Willard White.
Oratorios have included The Messiah, Judas Maccabeus, Elijah, Rossini's Petite Messe, Verdi's Requiem, Mozart's C minor mass and Requiem.
Neil's workshop leader experience is extensive, including work for Birmingham Opera, Mid-Wales Theatre and Travelling Opera. He is a key leader for Street Wise Opera and has been a senior member of the leadership team for the Magdala Opera Start Education Workshop programme for 8 years.
Neil also performs with Tim Lole as The Opera Dudes reproducing his previous singing comedy duo to an extremely high level and touring all over the country with regular bookings.
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