Biography

London-based, Canadian-born Patricia Hammond has made a full-time living as a singer since 2003. The Telegraph has described her voice as “soft” “cushioned” and “caressing”, while the Times once called her “a leading lady of the vintage party scene.” She has a passion for reviving neglected works and bringing song into unusual spaces.
Her recordings have been played on BBC Radio 2, 3 and 4, RTE Lyric FM and Brasil Cultura FM and she has appeared on BBC Four TV many times, and is also seen and heard singing in the Fox Searchlight film “Tolkien”. While Patricia performs everything from Renaissance music (CD: “In Mirth and Mourning“) to modern premieres, the specialism she is known for is the research and authentic performance of late Victorian to 1930s popular song. She has sung with Dame Emma Kirkby for Voces8’s “Live from London” series highlighting women, and Patricia’s book and accompanying CD on female parlour-song composers, “She Wrote the Songs” has been featured on Women’s Hour and BBC Music Magazine.
In opera she has performed at the Wexford Festival, Herodes Atticus Theatre in Athens, oratorio solos with the OAE in the Royal Festival Hall and concert halls throughout Europe, but her primary love is recitals, which she has preformed internationally: the Beauharnais mansion in Paris, the Bundestag and Kaisertag in Berlin, the Houses of Parliament in London, and a host of stately homes, festivals and museums. She believes that singing should have no genre barriers and has also performed jazz-adjacent gigs at Hugh’s Room and the Glenn Gould Studios in Toronto, Crazy Coqs in London, and other cabarets.
On Sundays she plays the organ and leads singing at St Thomas More Catholic church. Patricia is sought-after for private commemorations as well as public ceremonies for those killed in war, which work has taken her to Belgium, Germany and France for the VDK and CWGC. With multi-instrumentalist Matt Redman she has a series on YouTube which has involved almost a thousand song requests across dozens of genres, and their duo also performs regularly as Artists in Residence at Chelsea and Westminster hospitals as part of the CW+ Arts for All Programme.

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Partial list of venues performed at

Heritage: Berlin Bundestag, Parliamentarische Gesellschaft, Hampton Court Palace, Houses of Parliament, The British Library, National Portrait Gallery, London Transport Museum, Buxton Pavilion, Valence House, Grange Park Opera, Burgh House, Royal Star & Garter Ballroom, Bloomsbury Ballroom, Brooklands Museum, Musical Museum, Horniman Museum, Manchester Central Library, Handel House Museum, Warwick University.

Clubs: Gilbert Scott, St Pancras Renaissance, Nightjar, Vauxhall Teahouse Theatre, Camden Forge, Experimental Cocktail Club, Principe Leopoldo, Wigmore Hall, Jamboree, Liberal Club, Turf Club, Arts Club, Reform Club, The Travellers’ Club, The Zetter Clerkenwell, Hugh’s Room (Toronto), Passing Clouds, the Idler, the Ritzy, Canada House, Showstudio, Pewterers’ Hall, Armourers’ Hall, Stationers’ Hall, Ironmongers’ Hall, Mercers’ Hall.

Concert: Freemasons Hall Covent Garden, Glenn Gould Studio (Toronto), Lingotto Theatre (Turin), Théâtre des Champs-Elysées (Paris), Bruges Concertgebeouw, Herodes Atticus Theatre (Athens), Royal Festival Hall, 20th Century Theatre, Lumen, The Scoop at London City Hall, The Mill at Sonning, Linbury Theatre, Sadler’s Wells, Queen Elizabeth Hall, Victoria Hall (Geneva), St George’s Hall (Liverpool), Leeds Town Hall, Müvészetek Palotája (Budapest),  The Orpheum (Vancouver),, St Martin-in-the-Fields, various Cathedrals, Symphony Hall Birmingham, St John’s, Smith Square

Commemorative: RAF Coningsby; Courcelette Cemetery, the Somme; Fricourt German Cemetery, the Somme; Romagne-sous-Montfaucon, Verdun; Lilienthalstrasse, Berlin; Soldatenfriedhof Menen

Classical Gigs

See Patricia Hammond’s full classical repertoire and Biography for use in Classical Programmes.

Solo Concert work – Oratorio:

2016: Vivaldi: Gloria  Beethoven: Mass in C

2015: J.S. Bach B Minor Mass; Christmas Oratorio;  Handel Messiah;

2014: J.S. Bach St. John Passion; Cantatas 94, 103;

2013: J.S. Bach Cantata 80, 93, 132, 140, 168; Coatman The Witch of Slatterdale (world premiere); Walton Facade Handel Messiah

2012: J.S. Bach Cantata 21, 172; Buxtehude Klag-Lied; Mit Fried und Freud Handel Jephtha Mozart Requiem Schütz Was hast du verwirket

2011: J.S. Bach Cantata 20, 39, 79, 93, 96, 108, 140, 181; B Minor Mass Buxtehude Missa Brevis; Haydn St. Nicholas Mass; Rossini Petite Messe Solennelle; Schütz “Vater Abraham”, SWV 477

2010: J.S. Bach Cantata 12, 92, 173, 177, 180, 249, Oster Oratorium; Handel Messiah; Clémence de Grandval Stabat Mater; Schütz SWV 307 “Was hast du verwirket”; SWV 355 “Herzlich Lieb’ hab ich Dich, O Herr”; Kleine geistliche Konzerte Vol 1-III “Ich danke dem Herrn”

2009: J.S. Bach Cantata 39, 79, 92, 124, St. John Passion; Britten Canticle II “Abraham and Isaac” Duruflé Requiem Schütz Kleine geistliche Konzerte Vol 1: VI; SWV 354 “Verleih uns Frieden”; SWV 355 “Gib unsern Fürsten”; SWV 307 “Was hast du verwirket”; Kleine geistliche Konzerte Vol 1-III “Ich danke dem Herrn” Handel Messiah; Haydn Stabat Mater, Jugendmesse in F; Purcell Verse Anthems “Rejoice in the Lord Alway”, “Sing unto the Lord a New Song”

2008: J.S. Bach Cantatas 4, 9, 78, 105, 144, 172, St. Matthew Passion; Handel Messiah; Haydn St. Nicholas Mass; Mendelssohn Elijah; Schütz Kleine geistliche Konzerte Vol 1 , V and II and “Herzlich Lieb’ hab ich Dich, O Herr” Vivaldi Gloria

2007: J.S. Bach Cantatas 13, 18, 20, 29, 78, 80, 87, 127 & 140, St. Matthew Passion, Easter Oratorio, Christmas Oratorio; Heinrich Bach Ach, daß ich Wassers gnug hätte; C.P.E. Bach Magnificat; Buxtehude Membra Jesu Nostri; Purcell Fairy Queen; Haydn Kleine Orgelmesse; Leonardo Leo Lamentazione; Mozart Solemn Vespers of the Confessor; Schütz Symphoniae Sacrae op 6 “in lectulo per Noctes” and “Invenerunt me custodes”

2006: J.S. Bach Mass in G; Solo Cantata 170, “Vergnügte Ruh”; Cantatas 33, 62, 79, 91, 110, 123, 167, 176; St. John Passion; Magnificat; Haydn Nelson Mass; Maria Theresa Mass; Schütz Kleine geistliche Konzerte Vol 1-III “Ich danke dem Herrn” for solo alto; Kleine geistliche Konzerte Vol 1-II “Bringt her dem Herren”, for solo alto; “Sei Gegrüßet, Maria” for solo alto and soprano; Hummel Missa Brevis in C; Handel Chandos Anthem no. 36 “As Longs the Hart for Flowing Streams”; Dettingen Te Deum; Brahms Alto Rhapsody, Liebeslieder Waltzer; Mozart Missa Brevis in G ; Mass in C “Krönungsmesse”; Vesprae Solenelle di Domenica; Requiem; Couperin Troisième Leçon à Deux Voix; from Leçons de Ténèbres; Matthias Weckmann Lamentation “Wie liegt die Stadt so wüste;” Telemann Solo Cantata “Weg mit Sodoms gift’gen Früchten;” Solo Cantata “Jauchzet, frohlocket, der Himmel ist offen”; Vivaldi Stabat Mater; J.C. Bach Dies Irae.

2005: Rossini “Petite” Messe Solennelle, Bach Christmas Oratorio, Cantata no. 182; Cantata 62; Cantata 131; Cantata 132; Cantata 135; Cantata No. 71; Magnificat; B minor Mass; Rutter Feel the Spirit for solo alto and chorus, Mozart Solemn Vespers of the Confessor; Telemann cantata Auf Himmelfahrt: “Du fährest mit Jauchzen empor” for alto, organ and violin; Haydn Theresienmesse; Nelsonmesse;Kleine Orgelmesse; Durufl&eacute Requiem, Handel Messiah, Schütz Kleine geistliche Konzerte Vol 1, No. I “Eile mich, Gott zu erretten” Buxtehude Membra Jesu Nostri.

2004: Bach Cantata No. 62, Mass in G, Cantata 106 “Actus Tragicus”; Schubert Mass in A flat, Mozart Solemn Vespers of the Confessor; Requiem; Croft Te Deum; Vivaldi Gloria; Rutter Feel the Spirit; Dvorak Mass in D; Stabat Mater; Caldara “Vicino a un Rivoletto” solo cantata for alto, cello and continuo; Haydn Nelson Mass, Seven Last Words (English version, choir and soloists); Paukenmesse; Te Deum in C; Opera arias for Mezzo and choir; Schütz Herr, wie lang willst du mein so gar vergessen.

2002: Vivaldi: Gloria; Haydn: Nelson Mass; Bach: St John Passion, Cantata No. 77; Mendelssohn Lobgesang; Arias from Handel’s Silla and Rezurrezione; Messiah

2001: Bach Cantata No 39; Mozart Requiem; Handel Israel in Egypt; Pergolesi Stabat Mater; Rossini Stabat Mater.

2000: Dvorak Stabat Mater; Bach B Minor Mass; Handel Messiah.

1999: Vivaldi Stabat Mater, Bach St. Matthew Passion, Cantata No. 170 “Vergnügte Ruh”, arias from Cantatas No. 12 and 103 with Flute obbligato.

Chorus Work:

2007: Schumann Das Paradies und die Peri, Choir of the Enlightenment, (also solo in the duet of the Houris) Sir Simon Rattle cond, Royal Festival Hall, London, 7th Dec; Théâtre des Champs-Elysées, Paris, 8th Dec; Lingotto Concert Hall, Turin, 10th Dec; Müvészetek Palotája, Budapest, 11th Dec.

2006: Mozart Mass in C minor, Choir of the Enlightenment, Sir Charles MacKerras cond, Prom Concert, Royal Albert Hall (September).

2005: Brahms Requiem, chorus, OAE, Royal Festival Hall, London; Kölner Philharmonie; Symphony Hall, Birmingham; Sir Simon Rattle cond. (December).

2004:Mozart Idomeneo, chorus, Berlin Philharmonic, Luzern Konsertsaal, Berliner Philharmonie; Sir Simon Rattle cond. (September)

Operas

  • Storge, Handel Jephtha, Epsom College, Jonathan Rennert cond., Stephen Oliver, director, April 2012
  • Alkandre, Fauré Pénélope, Theatre Royal, Wexford Festival (Ireland) Jean-Luc Tingaud cond., Renaud Doucet/André Barbe director/designer, October/Nov. 2005
  • Ensemble, Britten Peter Grimes, Salzburger Grosse Festspielhaus and Berliner Philharmonie, European Voices, Berlin Philharmonic, Sir Simon Rattle cond., Sir Trevor Nunn dir., March/April 2005.
  • Third Woman, Second Witch, and Alto in one-voice-per-part ensemble, Purcell Dido and Aeneas, St John’s Smith Square (London), David Roblou cond., Chris Tudor dir., English Bach Festival, July 2004. (NB Della Jones was Dido, the Sorceress and the Spirit)
  • Ensemble, Mozart Idomeneo, Berlin and Lucerne, European Voices, Berlin Philharmonic, Sir Simon Rattle, cond. September 2003.
  • Nymph/Shade, Gluck Telemaco, Sadler’s Wells (London) and Herodus Atticus Theatre (Athens), Nicholas Cleobury cond., Alain Germain dir., English Bach Festival, July 2003.
  • Syrene/Miss Young , Handel Alceste, Linbury Theatre, Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, Nicholas Cleobury cond., Tom Hawkes dir., English Bach Festival, May 2002
  • Nereid (solo alto), Handel Acis and Galatea, Linbury Theatre, Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, Nicholas Cleobury cond., Chris Tudor dir., English Bach Festival, July 2001
  • Lucretia, Britten Rape of Lucretia, Scene: ‘Give him this orchid… Flowers bring to every year’ Western Front, Vancouver BC, Nov. 1999
  • Carmen, various scenes from Bizet’s Carmen, Capilano College Opera Workshop (1995)

Education

  • Honorary Fellow of University of Liverpool, School of the Arts (2011)
  • Associate Bachelor of Music, Voice Major (Capilano College, 1994)
  • Vocal studies with Alexandra Browning and Rena Sharon at CYMC (1989)
  • Grade 10 Piano, RCM, (First Class Honours,1993)
  • Grade 8 Voice, ABRSM, UK (Distinction, 1997)
  • Private voice studies with Arlene McIntyre (1991 – 96), Bruce Pullan (1998-2000), David Lowe,Valerie Masterson, (currently) Kari Lovaas (2000-present, Switzerland)
  • Flamenco Dance studies with Rosario Ancer (1997-98)
  • Acting in Opera; BYO workshop with Martin Lloyd-Evans (2002)
  • Private coaching: Harold Brown, Peter Gellhorn (Art song), Edward Evanko (Acting)

Other Musical Activities

  • Guest, with the Lovely Parlour Trio on BBC Radio London, Saturday Breakfast with Simon Lederman and Joanne Good, 17.12.11
  • Guest, Midweek, Radio 4 with Libby Purves. 14.04.10
  • Guest on BBC Radio Berkshire, Anne Diamond Show; 08.03.10
  • Guest on ManxFM, 11.03.10
  • Guest on BBC Radio Gloucester, 12.03.10
  • Guest on BBC Radio London, Saturday Breakfast with Simon Lederman and Joanne Good, 13.03.10
  • Guest on BBC Radio Bristol with Graham Torrington, 16.03.10
  • Guest on BBC Radio 4’s “You and Yours”
  • Interviewed by Kirsty Lang on BBC4 TV and BBC World
  • Organist and singer at St. Mellitus Church most Sundays and for funerals (2001 to present)

Writing

  • Music editor, Chap Magazine, June 2013 to present
  • Blogger, The Canadian Nightingale, 2012
  • “The Last Word,” The Week magazine, March 2010
  • “Awakenings,” featured article in the Saturday Telegraph Magazine, 19th March 2010
  • “Discography” column for Vancouver Opera Magazine (1998-99)
  • “Recommendations” page in Virgin Megastore magazine, North America (1998)
  • Articles in Vancouver Opera Club newsletter/magazine (1995-96)