John Findon Q&A
We caught up with John Findon who is the cover artist for Don José in the Festival 2024 production of Carmen
We caught up with John Findon, who played Don José as a cover artist in the Festival 2024 production of Carmen.
The Cover Artists programme is supported by Riverstone and individual donors.
Related links
© Bertie Watson
Hi John, could you start by sharing a bit about your journey in opera and how you arrived at this point in your career?
Singing has always been a part of my life. My uncle, who was my head of music in school and a Royal Northern College of Music alumnus, recognised my talent early on and encouraged me to pursue it. I studied at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland and then in Opera School at the Guildhall. In my final term in 2017, I was honoured to be made a Jerwood Young Artist at Glyndebourne. Since then, I have been working as a freelance opera singer, performing throughout the UK and increasingly on international stages.
Could you talk us through what a cover artist does during the Festival? How is Glyndebourne’s cover artist programme different from other places you have performed?
A cover artist at Glyndebourne is present at the start of stage rehearsals to learn the track of their character in the opera. They will also attend music calls to ensure they fully understand the role they are covering and to receive any specific instructions from the conductor. You will then take the next couple of weeks in a rehearsal room with the rest of the cover cast learning the opera direction and discovering the role for yourself. Glyndebourne is a wonderful place to cover as they offer a supportive environment, providing time and resources for cover artists to feel as prepared and relaxed as possible. This stands in contrast to many other opera houses, where a cover artist might receive a last-minute call on the day they are needed, be given a brief rundown of the staging, and then you are on!
You recently covered a performance as Don José in Carmen – what was it like and how did you prepare?
It was fantastic. It is a role that has followed me a lot in my career, and covering it for the fourth time was an incredible opportunity. Performing it in French, at the house where my career began, surrounded by great friends in the chorus, and with [conductor] Robin Ticciati smiling up at me from the pit, it was absolutely glorious. I prepared, quite simply, as well as I could. Adam Torrence (assistant director), Jack Ridley (assistant conductor), Florence Daguerre de Hureaux (French coach), Matt Fletcher and the music staff were all exceptional. They ensured the entire cover cast was so well-prepared that any of us could have stepped in if needed. The most important thing is to feel confident and make sure the dialogue, text, and music are second nature so you can really focus on the track of your character. You need to concentrate and be incredibly precise because you would not want to throw other people off their tracks.
John Findon (left) as Officer in Festival 2017’s production of Ariadne auf Naxos.
What impact did being a Jerwood Young Artist at Glyndebourne in 2017 have on your career?
It was an incredible experience that greatly enhanced my understanding of the expectations at an international opera house. During the season I was in all but one opera, either in chorus or as a small role or cover. It was intense but taught me how to handle the pressures that are inherent in a professional opera career. Additionally, it helped me understand my own stamina and gave me confidence in my ability to perform on the biggest stages in the world.
You’ve played various roles at Glyndebourne in Hamlet, Ariadne auf Naxos, and Rigoletto. How have these past experiences prepared you for covering Don José in Carmen?
These role experiences allow you to gain confidence in your ability. If an opera house of the acclaim and quality of Glyndebourne is confident in your ability to perform, it allows you to move up the ladder to medium roles and then to major covers like Don José. The demanding workload of that first season also helped in the ability to learn roles quickly and competently and of the standard which is expected at Glyndebourne.
Where can audiences see you next?
Next I am covering Peter Grimes in Rome and then playing Bacchus in Ariadne auf Naxos in Rouen.
Jerwood Young Artists concert 2022
In association with Riverstone
