Opera SINGING
About Me
Hi, I’m Maria, a British mezzo-soprano with over 20 years of experience performing opera around the world. After studying performing arts at Italia Conti Academy I then went on to study Opera at the Royal Northern College of Music.
Debut
I made my principal debut at London’s Savoy Theatre with the D’Oyly Carte Opera Company, performing roles such as Pitti-Sing (The Mikado), Phoebe (Yeomen of the Guard), and the title role of (Iolanthe). Tessa (The Gondoliers) for Carl Rosa and Opera Della Luna at the Lowry Theatre Manchester.
My work as a freelance opera singer includes appearances at The Royal Opera House, and tours to the USA, Japan, Europe and the South Pacific.
Career Highlights
- I have had the privilege of working under the baton of Sir Antonio Pappano as an Apprentice in Wagner’s Die Meistersinger and other numerous productions over the years. It’s honestly such a joy, there’s something truly magical about working with him. When he’s conducting you know something special is going to happen. He has this incredible, magnetic energy that pulls the whole orchestra and cast together. As a performer, you feel that energy ripple through your fellow musicians and it’s like being part of something far bigger than yourself, like riding this beautiful, powerful wave.
- One of my absolute favourite productions at the Royal Ballet and Opera was performing the role of second Lay Sister in Suor Angelica. This opera is an all female cast and the production was so magical and moving. Let’s just say I wasn’t the only one who shed tears most nights on stage.
- BBC Proms, King Charles lll’s Coronation concert at Windsor Castle, and internationally in Tokyo and New York.
- I’ve had the joy of performing with the Royal Ballet in Wagner’s Im Treibhaus from Wesendonck Lieder In Tokyo with the incredible Sarah Lamb and Steven McRae accompanied by the Tokyo Philharmonic, to be on stage with these world class dancers and share the stage with them is something I will never forget. At the end of the performance you could feel the breath linger in the air from them and from myself and them. It's moments like these that I will carry in my heart forever.
- I also had the privilege of covering Mahler’s song cycle Das Lied Von Der Erde at the Royal Ballet both in London and at the Lincoln Centre in New York with the illustrious dancer Carlos Acosta. Another highlight and pleasure was covering several times the role of Katharina Schratt in the Royal Ballet’s production of Mayerling.
- It was incredibly thrilling to make my debut at the Royal Festival Hall singing the role of Rossweisse in Die Walküre, broadcast live on BBC Radio 3 under the baton of Sir Andrew Davis.
- Other Wagnerian roles include covering Grimgerde in Die Walküre for Longborough Festival. I have performed the roles of Schwertleite and Siegrune (Die Walküre) Flosshilde (Das Rheingold) with The Mastersingers under the baton of Anthony Legge.
- Other roles include Madame Dangervill (Adriana Lecouvreur) and Suzy (La Rodine) for Opera Holland Park. Carmen (Carmen), Olga (Eugene Onegin), Third Lady (The Magic Flute), Tisbe (La Cenerentola). I’ve also performed with English Pocket Opera, Clonter Opera and Kentish Opera.
Oratorio Repertoire
My concert engagements have included
- Handel’s Messiah
- Judas Maccabeus
- Mozart Requiem
- Rossini’s petite Messe Solenelle
- Dream of Gerontius
- Elijah
- Sea Pictures
- Samson
- Haydn Nelson Mass
- Haydn Stabat Mater
My thoughts on music and the work I do
Being able to work with incredible artists and conductors has been and continues to be one of the greatest joys of my career. A conductor I’ve had the privilege to work with many times is Sir Antonio Pappano. The energy and musicality he creates in the orchestra pit transforms and transfers to the stage bringing everyone together. It’s like riding this enormous wave, the energy, the artistry, and connections between the chorus, the principals, and the orchestral players. That’s when the magic truly happens. For me, there’s no better feeling in life, it’s as close to heaven as you get.
Whether I’m singing opera, French Chanson, a jazz standard, or the music of Stephen Sondheim, I always find joy in storytelling through music. I had the privilege of singing the role of Countess Charlotte in A Little Night Music for Mid Wales Opera at West Green Opera and it was pure joy to bring dialogue and music together which I always relish. I’m always delighted to discover new projects, new ways to tell a story, and new ways to engage with an audience.
I have moments at the opera house where I stand on stage, take it all in and think back to myself as a little girl and reflect on my journey and how far I’ve come and to where I’m standing on stage now. I have always followed what sets me alight, what brings me joy. I feel very blessed to be doing what I love in life, singing, performing, and connecting through music.
Opera is just music, like other music. It’s how it makes you feel. Opera isn’t something to be understood with the mind, it’s something to be felt with the heart. It’s the emotional connection that matters. The way the music resonates with you, moves you, and stays with you.
Music is the soundtrack of our lives. It’s what we turn to whether we’re happy, heartbroken, reflective or celebrating. Whether I’m performing or helping people find their voice through public speaking, continuing to work through music and the arts feels like a remarkable way to connect, both to ourselves, to our breath, and to the deeper emotions that music so powerfully brings to the surface.
Maria.
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