Nathan Vale - Evangelist

Winner of both First Prize and Audience prize at the 2006 London Handel Singing Competition, Nathan Vale was born in Stourbridge and studied with Ryland Davies at the Royal College of Music as one of the first recipients of the Peter Pears Scholarship. He was also awarded an Independent Opera Scholarship to the National Opera Studio where he was further supported by English National Opera, the Nicholas John Trust and the Elmley Foundation. 

Concert engagements include, Handel Messiah with the Orchestra Sinfonica di Milano and Sir Neville Marriner, Bach Weihnachts Oratorium with the Aarhus Symphony Orchestra and Harry Christophers, Mendelssohn Die Erste Walpurgisnacht and Ravel L’enfant et les Sortilèges with the Rai Orchestra Turin, Handel Messiah for the Asturias Symphony Orchestra Oviedo, Britten Serenade for Tenor Horn and Strings for the Hong Kong Festival, Bach St John Passion for Polyphony and Stephen Layton, Beethoven Choral Fantasy for the BBC Last Night of the Proms conducted by Sir Roger Norrington, Bach Magnificat with the Northern Sinfonia and Simon Halsey, Haydn Creation for King’s College Cambridge and Stephen Cleobury, and Handel Ode for St Cecilia’s Day with both the Israeli Camerata and Riga Chamber Choir conducted by Avnor Byron. Nathan has also made appearances with Les Arts Florissants, Sønderjyllands Symfoniorkester, Il Concerto Barrocco, Pro Musica Orchestra, London Symphony Orchestra, London Concert Choir, London Mozart Players, the Bach Choir, the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, the Philharmonia Orchestra, and the Odense Symphony Orchestra.

Gaining particular notice as a Bach Evangelist, he has appeared for the London Handel Society, the Northern Sinfonia, Orchestra Sinfonica di Milano, the Capella Brabant, Armonico Consort alongside Sir Willard White, the Exeter Festival Chorus, the Gloger Academy Kongsberg, and the Birmingham Bach Choir in Birmingham’s Symphony Hall.

A finalist in the Young Songmakers’ Almanac and winner of the 2005 AESS English Song Competition, Nathan is a committed recitalist. He has appeared at the Wigmore Hall, the Temple Song Series with Julias Drake, the Edinburgh Festival, the Three Choirs Festival, Lille Opera House, the Bath Festival, for the Housman, Gurney, Warlock and Ireland Societies, and a recital to celebrate the life of Eric Sams alongside Dame Felicity Lott and pianist Graham Johnson. With Paul Plummer, he has recorded Love’s Voice (songs by Finzi, Gurney, Ireland and Venables) for SOMM Records. 

At the BBIOS Nathan sang the role Nerone (L’Incoronazione di Poppea) and Alessandro (Poro, rè dell’Indie). Since graduating his engagements have included First Prisoner (Fidelio) and First Novice (Betrothal in a Monastery) for Glyndebourne Festival Opera, Lurcanio (Handel's Ariodante) for the Bolshoi Opera, Belfiore (La finta Giardiniera) for Luxembourg Opera and Opera Bauge, First Armed Man and cover Tamino (The Magic Flute) for English National Opera, Mr Buchanan (Street Scene) The Opera Group, Oronte (Alcina) and Lurcanio (Ariodante) for English Touring Opera, Emilio (Rodelinda) Iford Arts, and Emilio (Partenope) for the Les Azureal Opera.

Current engagements include recitals in the Crush Room at Royal Opera House, and the Temple Emerging Artists Series with pianist Audrey Hyland, Britten Songs from the Chinese at the Hollywell Music Room with guitarist Tina Karen Lo, Handel Judas Maccabeus at Cadogan Hall, On Wenlock Edge with the Sacconi Quartet, and Bach St Matthew Passion for the London Handel Society.