Helen Withers

Soprano

“In voice and looks, this impressive singer seems to have been born to sing Debussy’s Melisande, a judgment I formed after her exquisite performance”

Sunday Telegraph

A prizewinner at the 2006 Handel Singing Competition, Helen Withers has established herself as a most engaging and imaginative performer. A graduate of the Guildhall School of Music and Drama Opera Course, she has won a Great Elm Vocal Award, a Thelma King Award, the Concordia Foundation of English Singers and Speakers, as well as ‘Most Promising Young Singer’ in the Royal Over-Seas League Music Competition.

Her operatic career began at Glyndebourne where she covered the role of Idamante in Peter Sellars’ highly acclaimed production of Idomeneo. She recently appeared at the Royal Opera House as one of the ‘keres’ in the world premiere of Birtwistle’s The Minotaur. Other work includes the role of Clizia in Handel’s Teseo for English Touring Opera, Zerlina (Don Giovanni) at the Palácio Nacional da Ajuda in Lisbon with the conductor Jean Bernard Pommier, Gretel (Hansel and Gretel) at the Opera! Festival in Holland, in addition to creating the roles of Nimmy and Mary in Push! for Tête-à-tête at Riverside Studios (London). Her repertoire also includes Dorabella (Così fan Tutte), Brigitte (Iolanta), and Sandrina (Country Matters).

On the concert platform Helen has appeared at the London Handel Festival with Laurence Cummings in Bach’s St. Matthew Passion, the Aldeburgh Festival with Harry Bicket, the Linbury Studio ROH2 for English Bach Festival, and at the Edinburgh Fringe. Her extensive repertoire includes Mozart’s Requiem and Mass in C minor, Haydn’s Creation, Bach’s B Minor Mass, Rossini’s Petite Messe Solennelle, Mendelssohn’s Lobgesang, and Handel’s Acis and Galatea. In recital she has performed at the Three Choirs Festival, Barbican Hall, Purcell Room, St. James’ Piccadilly, Fairfield Halls, and at the Ravinia Festival in Chicago.

While maintaining a busy schedule Helen continues her studies with Iris Dell’Aqua. Upcoming engagements will include performances of Vivaldi’s Gloria, and Poulenc’s Gloria. In 2009 Helen will sing the role of Sophia in Edward German’s Tom Jones at the Whitchurch Festival.

Last Updated: 01 May 08