Meet the collective.
Liberata Collective is co-directed by Susanna MacRae and Olivia Doutney who produce and lead the collective staging process. Their debut production of Handel’s Orlando received its premiere at Buxton International Festival and Lichfield Festival in July 2023 in a four show sell-out run. For this project Liberata Collective partnered with leading historical expert Adrian Butterfield who led, from the violin, Ensemble Hesperi in a special chamber arrangement of the score produced by Peter Jones. The production was met with anticipation and excitement, drawing rave reviews from critics for its innovative approach and exceptional performances.
Following the triumph of their inaugural production, Liberata Collective is set to stage a revival of Orlando in 2024. For the revival Liberata Collective are thrilled to have the harpsichordist Petra Hajduchova onboard as Musical Director, directing Liberata Collective’s own ensemble of talented players.
Read more about the other cast and creatives involved in our touring production of Orlando 2023/2024 below!
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Olivia Doutney
CO-FOUNDER | SOPRANO | ANGELICA 2023/24
Olivia is a Swiss/British soprano.
Roles at Luzerner Theatre & Grand Théâtre de Genève
Mimi in La Bohème at the National Theatre of Zrenjanin, Serbia
Soloist at the Berlin Philharmonic, Cologne Philharmonic, St John’s Smith Square
Soloist with Geneva Chamber Orchestra & Sinfonieorchester Biel-Solothurn
Debuted the role of Turandot in 2023 with La Fabrique Opéra Grenoble in France
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Susanna MacRae
CO-FOUNDER | SOPRANO | DORINDA 2023/24
Susanna is a coloratura soprano specialising in baroque opera and new music.
Last season covered Damigella 1 in Caccini’s La Liberazione di Ruggiero with Longborough Festival Opera
Created the role of German Child in Noah Max’s A Child in Striped Pyjamas to critical acclaim
Toured Galatea (Acis & Galatea) and Venus (Venus & Adonis) in 40+ performances in Spanish and Italian opera houses, and in the UK
Soloist at The Utrecht Early Music Festival & Bath Festival
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Christian Joel
TENOR/COUNTER-TENOR | ORLANDO 2023/24
Christian is a high tenor originally hailing from Trinidad & Tobago.
Singing Chief Pee-Ay-Sis in the new opera Migrations with Welsh National Opera this season
Artist of the Lyon Opera Studio 2019-2020
Upcoming semifinalist in Voice of Black Opera 2022
Prince Paul in Offenbach’s La Grande Duchesse de Gérolstein at Luzerner Theater
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Joanna Harries
MEZZO-SOPRANO | MEDORO 2023/24
Joanna is a rising star on the British opera scene.
National Opera Studio 2021/22 Young Artist
Upcoming debuts with Opera Rara and London Symphony Orchestra
Former Britten Pears Young Artist and Handel House Talent artist
Has performed with Welsh National Opera, Scottish Opera, Grange Park Opera and Longborough Festival Opera
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Jolyon Loy
BARITONE | ZOROASTRO 2023/24
Jolyon is a British Baritone and Glyndebourne Associate Artist at National Opera Studio.
Figaro at Opera Holland Park
Upcoming Royal Opera House debut this year as Tarquinius in Britten’s ‘The Rape of Lucretia’
2nd Prize in the Wagner Society Singing Competition
Garsington Opera Alvarez young artist
Soloist at ENO, Verbier Festival and with the Academy of Ancient Music
Britten Pears young artist
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Petra Hajduchova
MUSICAL DIRECTOR | 2024
An experienced harpsichordist and Professor of Harpsichord at Canterbury University,
Regularly features with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, London Symphony Orchestra, London Mozart Players & English Chamber Orchestra
Has played on the soundtracks of several programmes for BBC, ITV and Netflix
Studied at Trinity Laban as a TCM Scholarship recipient and winner of the Raymond Russel Prize