|
Tom Raskin is a British tenor of English, Russian and Swedish descent, who studied at Clifton College and Napier University. He then read music at New College, University of Oxford (1992-1995) as an academical clerk (choral scholar), and the Royal Northern College of Music (RNCM) in Manchester (1999-2001), before going on to become a Britten-Pears Young Artist, studying with both Andreas Scholl and Richard Egarr during his time at Aldeburgh. In 2000 he was awarded the Anne Ziegler Prize, followed by the Freckleton Prize in 2001, and was the recipient of a major Scholarship from the Peter Moores Foundation since 2000 which funded study both in Italy and London.
Tom Raskin was tenor lay vicar in Westminster Abbey Choir (January 1996-August 1999); tenor in Glyndebourne (March 2002-August 2003); tenor in Opera East (2006); tenor in opera, oratorio and consort (since August 2001); singing teacher at Felsted School (since April 2012); tenor in Amaryllis Consort (since 2013); singing teacher at London Oratory School (since 2014); Director at Felsted Opera (since 2014).
Highlights of Tom Raskin's operatic career so far have included L'Athelète in Castor et Pollux, conducted by Sir John Eliot Gardiner at the Salle Pleyel, Conte in Conte d’Ory and Appolonia in Haydn's La Canterina for New Chamber Opera, Fenton in Falstaff at the Belle-Ile Festival, Bullfighter in Golitsov's Ainadamar with the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, Truffaldino in L'Amour des trois oranges, Roderick in Philip Glass' The Fall of the House of Usher in Oxford, and Patacha in Chabrier's L’Etoile for Opéra de Nimes, Don Ramiro in Cenerentola for the Mananan International Festival, Ralph Rackstraw in Gilbert and Sullivan's HMS Pinafore for Opera della Luna and Lionel in Flotow's Martha for Opera South.
Other roles include Almaviva in Barbiere di Siviglia, Oebalus in W.A. Mozart’s Apollo e Hyacinth, and Silango in Gluck's Le Cinesi at the Wigmore Hall and Cheltenham Festival in 2009. Tom Raskin sang Kaherdin in Le Vin Herbé by Frank Martin for OT Theatre, Rotterdam, and Weinberg's Lady Magnesia with the Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra and Ensemble 10/10, and returned to Liverpool and Huddersfield for Gary Carpenter's Closing Time in 2010; highlights of his engagements in 2011 included Postillon in Postillon de Longjumeau for Opera de Baugé in July, Marquis De Chat in Zar und Zimmermann for Opera South and Amalekite in Saul conducted by Harry Christophers with The Sixteen in the Barbican November 2011, which he then he recorded in January 2012. In 2012 he returned to Opera de Baugé for Almaviva in Barbiere di Siviglia, and sang Agenore in W.A. Mozart’s Il Re Pastore for New Chamber Opera, a role he repeated in January 2013.
Tom Raskin's international concert appearances have included St Mark’s Basilica, Venice for Monteverdi's Vespers, Lille for J.S. Bach's B Minor Mass (BWV 232), and Siberia for George Frideric Handel's Messiah in the Novisibirsk Festival, in addition to Malta for an Opera Gala. In the UK he has sung regularly for the London Handel Festival at St George's, Hanover Square, W.A. Mozart's Requiem, Rossini’s Petite Messe Solenelle, G.F. Handel's L'Allegro in Cambridge and Monteverdi's Vespers, Bath Abbey April 2010 and Chichester Cathedral July 2010. In 2012 concerts include Dee Palmer's Nuremberg Cantata in Hove, J.S. Bach's Christmas Oratorio (BWV 248) in Harwich and Rossini's Stabat Mater and Puccini's Messa di Gloria in Colchester. He has also sung regularly for world-renowned vocal groups The Sixteen (Director: Harry Christophers) and the Monteverdi Choir (Director: John Eliot Gardiner). |
