Winner of the 2019 Bath Opera Isobel Buchanan award, Welsh counter-tenor Kieron-Connor Valentine recently completed the opera course at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London. He had previously completed his Master of Music, Vocal Performance Course at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, Cardiff and Bachelor of Music Vocal Studies course from the Royal Northern College of Music, Manchester.
Last season, Kieron made his company debut with English Touring Opera as Adalberto in Handel’s Ottone and cover Andronico in Handel’s Tamerlano and returned in the Spring to sing Nireno and cover Tolomeo in Giulio Cesare. He also covered the role of Farnace in Mozart’s Mitridate for Garsington Opera. Other recent engagements include Fate in Judith Weir's Miss Fortune and Orphee in Charpentiers Orphee descendent aux enfers at the GSMD. He has also covered the role of Mago Cristiano in Handel’s Rinaldo for Glyndebourne Touring Opera. During his time at the RNCM he performed L’humana fragilita in Monteverdi’s Il ritorno d'Ulisse in patri, conducted by Roger Hamilton, Oberon in Britten’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, conducted by Andrew Greenwood and Didymus in Handel’s Theodora, conducted by Roger Hamilton. In 2018 Kieron-Connor joined the Britten-Pears Programme at Aldeburgh Festival in the role of Didymus in Theodora. During summer 2017 Kieron recorded the soundtrack to a new Welsh opera film, commissioned by Welsh National Opera and S4C and composed by Stephen McNeff, based on the life of the 1st World War poet, Hedd Wyn.
Concert highlights include a recital of Renaissance and Baroque song at Cadogan Hall, Chelsea as part of the London Master Class Series; a UK tour with the Military Wives and his début at the BBC Proms as The Lost Boy in the world premiere of The Water Diviners Tale, conducted by David Charles Abell. He has performed Beethoven’s Mass in C Major, conducted by Ian Chesworth at St. Michael and All Saints Church, Macclesfield; Handel’s Messiah, conducted by Owen Roberts at St. Giles Parish Church, Wrexham; Jenkins’ The Armed Man, conducted by Owen Roberts at William Aston Hall, Wrexham; Orff’s Carmina Burana, conducted by Richard Lea at the Metropolitan Cathedral, Liverpool and Bernstein’s Chichester Psalms, conducted by John Powell at the Royal Northern College of Music Concert Hall. Recent competition successes include the 2018 Douglas Rees Memorial Young Opera Singer of the Year, the 2018 Morriston Orpheus Welsh Singer of the Year and the 2018 Dunraven Welsh Young Singer. Over the years, he has won the titles of Southport Singer of the Year; Liverpool Singer of the Year; The Stiwt Young Singer of the Year; Liverpool’s Most Promising Singer of the Year Award.
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Bach
Mass in B minor BWV. 232
Beethoven
Mass in C Major Op. 86
Bernstein
Chichester Psalms
Handel
Messiah HWV. 56
Handel
Saul HWV. 53
Handel
Theodora HWV. 68
Jenkins
The Armed Man
Mendelssohn
Elijah Op. 70
Mozart
Coronation Mass in C minor K. 317
Orff
Carmina Burana
Pergolesi
Stabat Mater
Weir, Judith
Miss FortuneFate
Bach
Mass in B minor BWV. 232
Beethoven
Mass in C Major Op. 86
Bernstein
Chichester Psalms
Mendelssohn
Elijah Op. 70
Mozart
Coronation Mass in C minor K. 317
Weir, Judith
Miss Fortune
Fate
Britten
A Midsummer Night's DreamOberon
Charpentier
Orphée descendant aux enfers H.471Orphée
Dove
FlightRefugee
Handel
Guilio CesareTolomeo
Handel
TheodoraDidymus
Handel
RinaldoMago Cristiano (U)
Handel
TamerlanoAndronico (U)
Handel
OttoneAdelberto
Monteverdi
Il ritorno in patri d’UlisseL'humana Fragilita
Mozart
MitridateFarnace
Britten
A Midsummer Night's Dream
Oberon
Charpentier
Orphée descendant aux enfers H.471
Orphée
Handel
Guilio Cesare
Tolomeo
Handel
Rinaldo
Mago Cristiano (U)
Handel
Tamerlano
Andronico (U)
Monteverdi
Il ritorno in patri d’Ulisse
L'humana Fragilita
Adelberto in Handel's Ottone for English Touring Opera, Hackney Empire
The Observer
This production features some terrific singers, chief among them the countertenors James Hall in the title role and Kieron-Connor Valentine as his rival Adelberto.
Handel’s Ottone opens English Touring Opera’s 2022 Autumn Tour
Adelberto in Handel's Ottone for English Touring Opera, Hackney Empire
Opera Today
Kieron-Connor Valentine’s Adelberto was a veritable nasty piece of work. Valentine sang with crisp precision, conveying the usurper’s vicious intent, and imbued his countertenor with a brightness and energy which were engaging as the villain’s schemes ensued.
Ottone Review
Adelberto in Handel's Ottone for English Touring Opera, Hackney Empire
The Stage
As the two men vying for her affections, James Hall (as Ottone) and Kieron-Connor Valentine (Adelberto) offer sturdy performances.
Emerging from the gloom: Handel's Ottone revived by ETO in Hackney
Aldeberto in Handel's Ottone for English Touring Opera, Hackney Empire
bachtrack.com
Two good artists share the opera’s countertenor spoils: Kieron-Connor Valentine was very satisfying as the snivelling mummy’s boy Aldeberto, a thoroughgoing brat of a man
Adelberto in Handel's Ottone for English Touring Opera, Hackney Empire
Planet Hugill
Kieron-Connor Valentine was wonderfully oily as Adelberto, successfully suggesting the character's dodgy nature and making Teofane's lack of trust in him completely believable. Valentine combined this weaselly element to the character with a fine approach to the music, there was much to enjoy.
Opera
Theodora
Didymus in Theodora with the Royal Northern College of Music, Manchester, March 2017
Seen and Heard International
Welsh counter tenor Kieron-Connor Valentine who sang with unusual vocal strength and evenness for his voice type, characterizing well, and acting with commitment and sincerity.
Theodora
Didymus in Theodora with the Royal Northern College of Music, Manchester, March 2017
Manchester Theatre Awards
Kieran-Connor Valentine sang Didymus, her love interest. He’s a counter-tenor and brought a formidable technique and big reserves of power to the task. The duets for the two of them were highspots of the evening.
A Midsummer Night’s Dream
Oberon in A Midsummer Night’s Dream with the Royal Northern College of Music, Manchester, March 2015
Manchester Theatre Awards
Counter-tenor Kieron-Connor Valentine is the regal McCoy as Oberon, slightly surreal and super-cool.
Concerts & Recitals
Never Forget Concert with the Rideswell Male Voice Choir, November 2014
Matlock Mercury
Counter-tenor Kieron Connor-Valentine shone in his delivery of wartime favourites such as Smile and There’ll Always Be An England, the latter leading up to an audience singalong of other classics.
