Jenni Roditi

Jenni Roditi's eclectic work is unbound by stylistic convention, exploiting the voice's potential to its limits in both her writing and her singing. Amongst her output is opera, choral, chamber, orchestral and vocal music. She is also an experienced free vocal improviser. She often employs vocal techniques from other cultures and uses these to great effect, particularly in her operas. She recently had her piece 'Life' performed by the Crouch End Festival Chorus (July 2011) and appeared with her Trio at Kings Place in November 2009 performing her own works. She is currently completing an MMus at Brunel University. Her two operas, commissioned by Lontano have been performed in London. The Descent of Inanna, her first opera was also performed in Zagreb, Croatia. Her second opera Siddhartha Spirit Child was performed as an overture at St Johns, Smith Square and then as a fully staged production at the Ocean, Hackney.

Jenni has studied with Flamenco Gypsy singers, North Indian Khyal singing masters, Gamelan musicians and Balinese Temple singers.

The Composer

Jenni’s writing can be often theatrical or sacred. Among her most well-known works are her first opera Inanna, the result of a collaboration with the ensemble Lontano. This work has been frequently performed including the premiere at the ICA London, and at the Zagreb Biennale in Croatia. Jenni’s epic choral work Devotion that Moves the Heart was premiered in London in 1997 and is released on Claudio Records. Her song The Riddle featured on the recently-released Cuff Clout album by Kate Westbrook (Voiceprint VP 310 CD).

The Singer

Jenni has returned to singing in recent years. She sang the title role on the soundtrack of the film Boudicca, starring Alex Kingston, which was premiered on ITV in September 2003. She also recently appeared with the Home Made Orchestra at the Pizza Express Jazz Club singing her own arrangement of the Joni Mitchell hit All I Want. This track was also recorded on the album Inside Covers (Homemade Label HMR049) with the Home Made Orchestra and Colin Riley.

The Tutor

After having studied with Robert Saxton and Oliver Knussen at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, Jenni taught at her alma mater for four years, leading workshops in music improvisation and other educational projects. A trained voice movement therapist, she set up and taught workshops in Greece throughout the nineties and still retains a private practice in London.

The Loft

Between 2002 and 2008 Jenni organized and hosted monthly music salons in Crouch End, North London, where innovative and unusual musicians presented their work.