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Rival brothers who sing to win Carmen
By Louise Jury, Evening Standard 16.07.07
Love triangle: Andrew Clarke, left, with his brother Rodney and co-star Tsakane Valentine Maswanganyi
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They grew up in New Cross in a family of five and began their singing careers in a London cathedral choir.
Now Andrew and Rodney Clarke are taking the lead in a dazzling new production of Carmen Jones at the Royal Festival Hall.
They play love rivals Joe and Husky Miller in the Oscar Hammerstein version of the Bizet opera, alongside South African opera star Tsakane Valentine Maswanganyi.
For a family to have produced one opera star might be deemed unusual, given reports of a declining interest in classical music. But science teacher Earl Clarke and his wife Adassa have produced two - and then there's daughter Gina, who has worked as a model and actress, plus two more sons, one of whom is at university and another who has just left.
Rodney, 29, said: "We come from a family that just appreciates music, a family that obviously had a big church background so we were singing in church a lot."
All four brothers were members of the choir at St George's Roman Catholic Cathedral in Southwark. Rodney then trained at the Royal Academy of Music where he was joined by his older brother, Andrew, 32, who decided to follow his passion for music only after completing a Masters in Classics at University College.
Both sang with the BBC Symphony Chorus while at university and have since carved out successful careers in the competitive world of classical music. Andrew, a tenor, has worked with Opera North and the Birmingham Opera Company as well as doing concert performances. Rodney, a bass baritone, has done likewise and is already lined up for leading parts with the OpÈra National de Lyon and Glyndebourne Opera on tour next year.
Although there was a time when they both had similar voices, they are now up for very different roles. They fight on stage at the Southbank Centre but there is no jealousy in real life.
"In this we've had to be rivals, but there's no sibling rivalry at all," said Rodney. "We just aim to support each other. It's really nice to have a sounding board that you can trust."
Andrew, who has the bigger role on stage, said: "It's the fight where we really come together and it does feel right in a way. It's very easy for us to play off each other."
• Carmen Jones, directed by Jude Kelly, runs from 25 July to 2 September.
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Reader views (1)
I loved the movie which was in Cinemas when I was growing up. Is there any chance that this production would be coming to the Millennium Centre in Cardiff? I manage to get to see productions there which is only a train ride away.
- Margaret Wilkins, Treorchy Mid Glamorgan
