Ana Silvera
Encyclopedia
Ana Silvera is a contemporary alternative London born singer-songwriter, known for the intense poeticism of her lyrics, her classical piano style and her work with choirs.
She is operatically trained, and appeared with the English National Opera
and also at the Royal Opera House
when she was a teenager, and studied at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama
.
Ana Silvera premiered her 7 part songcycle, "Oracles", at the Roundhouse Studios in February 2011 written for solo voice and choir. This was a collaboration with the Roundhouse Experimental Choir.
A film was made about the process by director Kate Church (South Bank Show), entitled "Ana Silvera: Oracles". The short edit of the film had it's online debut on PORT Magazine
Currently, Ana Silvera is working on a new piece to be performed in the Roundhouse Main Space, alongside the Estonian Television Girls Choir in February 2012.
Ana Silvera has performed and/or been played on radio stations including BBC Radio 3
, (The Verb , Late Junction), BBC Radio 6, BBC Wales
, XFM
and Resonance FM
.
, Teddy Thompson
), renowned London-based producer Ray Singer
, violinist/arranger Maxim Moston (Antony & the Johnsons, Rufus Wainwright
), and Jeff Langston (Antony and the Johnsons, Hercules and Love Affair
)
Previously, Ana Silvera has worked with producer Tony Platt
who has produced artists such as Bob Marley
, AC/DC
and more recently jazzers Clare Teal
and Soweto Kinch
.
She has also played keyboard and sang backing vocals with alt-folk singer, Yo Zushi
.
descent. She grew up in North London, the daughter of a writer and a psychologist. She has spoken about her unorthodox childhood in an interview with the Camden New Journal
She is operatically trained, and has performed solo roles with the English National Opera
including Königskinder
by Engelbert Humperdinck
, (broadcast live on BBC Radio 3
) as well as appearing at the Royal Opera House
when she was a teenager. She is related to the actress Carmen Silvera
.
Ana Silvera has performed at major venues in London including the Purcell Room
, Union Chapel
and The Roundhouse
.
, Heloise (of Heloise and Abelard fame) or Nadezhda Mandelstam
, wife of Osip Mandelstam. Her recent song cycle, "Oracles", was based on the 'traditional arc of a fairytale'. Accordingly, her lyrics are quite literary in style, and she is therefore included in the new clutch of singers who cite literary sources and classical styles of playing as their primary reference points. She also plays piano and guitar.
In performance, she has played covers of Jacques Brel
's "Ne Me Quitte Pas
" and Britney Spears
's "Womanizer
". She has also written a song inspired by the life of Coco Chanel
called 'Notes from an Opera'.
Ana Silvera has cited chanson singers such as Barbara
and Jacques Brel
as major influences.
Solo albums
Collaborations
She is operatically trained, and appeared with the English National Opera
English National Opera
English National Opera is an opera company based in London, resident at the London Coliseum in St. Martin's Lane. It is one of the two principal opera companies in London, along with the Royal Opera, Covent Garden...
and also at the Royal Opera House
Royal Opera House
The Royal Opera House is an opera house and major performing arts venue in Covent Garden, central London. The large building is often referred to as simply "Covent Garden", after a previous use of the site of the opera house's original construction in 1732. It is the home of The Royal Opera, The...
when she was a teenager, and studied at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama
Guildhall School of Music and Drama
Guildhall School of Music and Drama is an independent music and dramatic arts school which was founded in 1880 in London, England. Students can pursue courses in Music, Opera, Drama and Technical Theatre Arts.-History:...
.
Ana Silvera premiered her 7 part songcycle, "Oracles", at the Roundhouse Studios in February 2011 written for solo voice and choir. This was a collaboration with the Roundhouse Experimental Choir.
A film was made about the process by director Kate Church (South Bank Show), entitled "Ana Silvera: Oracles". The short edit of the film had it's online debut on PORT Magazine
Currently, Ana Silvera is working on a new piece to be performed in the Roundhouse Main Space, alongside the Estonian Television Girls Choir in February 2012.
Ana Silvera has performed and/or been played on radio stations including BBC Radio 3
BBC Radio 3
BBC Radio 3 is a national radio station operated by the BBC within the United Kingdom. Its output centres on classical music and opera, but jazz, world music, drama, culture and the arts also feature. The station is the world’s most significant commissioner of new music, and its New Generation...
, (The Verb , Late Junction), BBC Radio 6, BBC Wales
BBC Wales
BBC Cymru Wales is a division of the British Broadcasting Corporation for Wales. Based at Broadcasting House in the Llandaff area of Cardiff, it directly employs over 1200 people, and produces a broad range of television, radio and online services in both the Welsh and English languages.Outside...
, XFM
Xfm
Xfm is a brand of two commercial radio stations focused on alternative music, primarily indie pop, and owned by Global Radio.-History:Xfm was created in London in 1992 by Sammy Jacob, who later co-founded NME Radio in 2008. Xfm subsequently expanded to a network of four stations; there are...
and Resonance FM
Resonance FM
Resonance 104.4 FM is a London based non-profit community radio station run by the London Musicians' Collective .The station is staffed by four permanent staff members, including programme controller Ed Baxter and over 300 volunteer technical and production staff.Until September 2007, ResonanceFM...
.
Career history
She has collaborated with New York based producer Brad Albetta (Martha WainwrightMartha Wainwright
Martha Wainwright is a Canadian-American folk-rock singer-songwriter. She is the daughter of American folk singer and actor Loudon Wainwright III and Canadian folk singer-songwriter Kate McGarrigle...
, Teddy Thompson
Teddy Thompson
Teddy Thompson is a British folk and rock musician. He is the son of folk-rock musicians Richard and Linda Thompson and brother of singer Kamila Thompson...
), renowned London-based producer Ray Singer
Ray Singer
Ray Singer is a British record producer and owner of Singer Records. Singer was instrumental in launching the careers of Peter Sarstedt, David Sylvian, Japan, and Ana Silvera.-Early Years: 1960s - 1970s:...
, violinist/arranger Maxim Moston (Antony & the Johnsons, Rufus Wainwright
Rufus Wainwright
Rufus McGarrigle Wainwright is an American-Canadian singer-songwriter. He has recorded six albums of original music, EPs, and tracks on compilations and film soundtracks.-Early years:...
), and Jeff Langston (Antony and the Johnsons, Hercules and Love Affair
Hercules and Love Affair
Hercules and Love Affair is a musical project from New York based DJ Andy Butler. Members include Andrew Butler, Kim Ann Foxman, Mark Pistel,Aerea Negrot, and Shaun Wright...
)
Previously, Ana Silvera has worked with producer Tony Platt
Tony Platt
Tony Platt is a music producer/engineer best known for his work with a diverse mix of artists including AC/DC, Cheap Trick, Bob Marley, Iron Maiden, Shy, Buddy Guy, Foreigner, Sparks, Jazz Jamaica All Stars and Motörhead. He has recently completed an album with Jazz trio The Bad Plus and is...
who has produced artists such as Bob Marley
Bob Marley
Robert Nesta "Bob" Marley, OM was a Jamaican singer-songwriter and musician. He was the rhythm guitarist and lead singer for the ska, rocksteady and reggae band Bob Marley & The Wailers...
, AC/DC
AC/DC
AC/DC are an Australian rock band, formed in 1973 by brothers Malcolm and Angus Young. Commonly classified as hard rock, they are considered pioneers of heavy metal, though they themselves have always classified their music as simply "rock and roll"...
and more recently jazzers Clare Teal
Clare Teal
Clare Teal is an English jazz singer who has become famous not only for her singing, but also for having signed the biggest ever recording contract by a British jazz singer.-Biography:...
and Soweto Kinch
Soweto Kinch
Soweto Kinch is a British jazz alto saxophonist and rapper.Born in London, England to a Barbadian father, who is a playwright, and British-Jamaican mother, who is an actress, Kinch began playing saxophone at the age of nine after learning clarinet at Allfarthing Primary School, Wandsworth, SW London...
.
She has also played keyboard and sang backing vocals with alt-folk singer, Yo Zushi
Yo Zushi
Yo Zushi is a Japanese singer-songwriter, who rose to prominence in the UK freak folk scene with two albums released on London's Pointy Records. He is also a book reviewer for the New Statesman magazine.- Career :...
.
Biography
Ana Silvera is from Syrian/IrishIrish people
The Irish people are an ethnic group who originate in Ireland, an island in northwestern Europe. Ireland has been populated for around 9,000 years , with the Irish people's earliest ancestors recorded having legends of being descended from groups such as the Nemedians, Fomorians, Fir Bolg, Tuatha...
descent. She grew up in North London, the daughter of a writer and a psychologist. She has spoken about her unorthodox childhood in an interview with the Camden New Journal
She is operatically trained, and has performed solo roles with the English National Opera
English National Opera
English National Opera is an opera company based in London, resident at the London Coliseum in St. Martin's Lane. It is one of the two principal opera companies in London, along with the Royal Opera, Covent Garden...
including Königskinder
Königskinder
Königskinder is a stage work by Engelbert Humperdinck that exists in two versions: as a melodrama and as an opera or more precisely a Märchenoper...
by Engelbert Humperdinck
Engelbert Humperdinck
Engelbert Humperdinck was a German composer, best known for his opera, Hänsel und Gretel. Humperdinck was born at Siegburg in the Rhine Province; at the age of 67 he died in Neustrelitz, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania.-Life:After receiving piano lessons, Humperdinck produced his first composition...
, (broadcast live on BBC Radio 3
BBC Radio 3
BBC Radio 3 is a national radio station operated by the BBC within the United Kingdom. Its output centres on classical music and opera, but jazz, world music, drama, culture and the arts also feature. The station is the world’s most significant commissioner of new music, and its New Generation...
) as well as appearing at the Royal Opera House
Royal Opera House
The Royal Opera House is an opera house and major performing arts venue in Covent Garden, central London. The large building is often referred to as simply "Covent Garden", after a previous use of the site of the opera house's original construction in 1732. It is the home of The Royal Opera, The...
when she was a teenager. She is related to the actress Carmen Silvera
Carmen Silvera
Carmen Blanche Silvera was a Canadian-born British comic actress of Spanish-Jewish descent who moved to Coventry with her family when she was a child...
.
Ana Silvera has performed at major venues in London including the Purcell Room
Purcell Room
The Purcell Room is a concert and performance venue which forms part of the Southbank Centre, one of central London's leading cultural complexes. It is named after the 17th century English composer Henry Purcell and has 370 seats....
, Union Chapel
Union Chapel
-United States:National Register of Historical Places*Pine Orchard Union Chapel, Branford, CT, listed on the NRHP in Connecticut*East Raymond Union Chapel, East Raymond, ME, listed on the NRHP in Maine...
and The Roundhouse
The Roundhouse
The Roundhouse is a Grade II* listed former railway engine shed in Chalk Farm, London, England, which has been converted into a performing arts and concert venue. It was originally built in 1847 as a roundhouse , a circular building containing a railway turntable, but was only used for railway...
.
Musical style
Ana Silvera's writing often relates to fairy and folklore, and/or writes through personas, sometimes historical or fictional , such as Biblical figure SalomeSalome
Salome , the Daughter of Herodias , is known from the New Testament...
, Heloise (of Heloise and Abelard fame) or Nadezhda Mandelstam
Nadezhda Mandelstam
Nadezhda Yakovlevna Mandelstam was a Russian writer and educator, and the wife of the poet Osip Mandelstam, who died in 1938 in a transit camp to the gulag of Siberia...
, wife of Osip Mandelstam. Her recent song cycle, "Oracles", was based on the 'traditional arc of a fairytale'. Accordingly, her lyrics are quite literary in style, and she is therefore included in the new clutch of singers who cite literary sources and classical styles of playing as their primary reference points. She also plays piano and guitar.
In performance, she has played covers of Jacques Brel
Jacques Brel
Jacques Brel was a Belgian singer-songwriter who composed and performed literate, thoughtful, and theatrical songs that generated a large, devoted following in France initially, and later throughout the world. He was widely considered a master of the modern chanson...
's "Ne Me Quitte Pas
Ne Me Quitte Pas
Ne Me Quitte Pas is Jacques Brel's twelfth studio album. Released in 1972 by Barclay , the album features re-recordings of many of Brel's best-known songs. The album was reissued on 23 September 2003 under the title Ne Me Quitte Pas as part of the 16-CD box set Boîte à Bonbons by Barclay...
" and Britney Spears
Britney Spears
Britney Jean Spears is an American recording artist and entertainer. Born in McComb, Mississippi, and raised in Kentwood, Louisiana, Spears began performing as a child, landing acting roles in stage productions and television shows. She signed with Jive Records in 1997 and released her debut album...
's "Womanizer
Womanizer (song)
"Womanizer" is a song by American recording artist Britney Spears from her sixth studio album, Circus. It was released on September 26, 2008 by Jive Records as the lead single of the album. Produced and co-written by Nikesha Briscoe and Rafael Akinyemi of The Outsyders, the song had to be...
". She has also written a song inspired by the life of Coco Chanel
Coco Chanel
Gabrielle Bonheur "Coco" Chanel was a pioneering French fashion designer whose modernist thought, menswear-inspired fashions, and pursuit of expensive simplicity made her an important figure in 20th-century fashion. She was the founder of one of the most famous fashion brands, Chanel...
called 'Notes from an Opera'.
Ana Silvera has cited chanson singers such as Barbara
Barbara
-People:* Barbara , people with the given name Barbara* Etienne Barbara , Maltese soccer player* Barbara , stage name of French singer Monique Andrée Serf-Places:* Barbara , ancient region in the Horn of Africa...
and Jacques Brel
Jacques Brel
Jacques Brel was a Belgian singer-songwriter who composed and performed literate, thoughtful, and theatrical songs that generated a large, devoted following in France initially, and later throughout the world. He was widely considered a master of the modern chanson...
as major influences.
Discography
Singles- 2010 Hometown as limited edition 7" vinyl and on itunes
- 2010 Hometown official video directed by Ryan Foregger
- 2010 Letter from New York available on itunes
Solo albums
- 2006 Live at West Road Concert Hall (OT Records)
Collaborations
- 2007 Notes for Holy Larceny Yo ZushiYo ZushiYo Zushi is a Japanese singer-songwriter, who rose to prominence in the UK freak folk scene with two albums released on London's Pointy Records. He is also a book reviewer for the New Statesman magazine.- Career :...
(Pointy RecordsPointy RecordsPointy Records is a London-based independent record label, founded in 1998 by Andy Macleod. Largely focusing on new music, Pointy Records have been releasing albums and singles of cult indie bands, most notably The Clientele, Flotation Toy Warning and Yo Zushi, for a period of ten years...
)