Elizabeth Llewellyn

Since making her operatic debut as Mimi La bohéme at English National Opera, Elizabeth has established herself internationally as an artist of distinction. She has been praised for her “rich, opulent voice” (The Times) as well as for her “beautiful depth of expression and emotional intelligence” (Telegraph). Elizabeth was awarded an MBE in The Queen’s Birthday Honours 2022, marking her extraordinary contributions and services to music across the UK.

Elizabeth’s 22-23 season is punctuated by three recitals with pianist Simon Lepper which she has curated especially for London’s Wigmore Hall, celebrating the significant song-output of British composer Samuel Coleridge-Taylor. Spring 2023 will see Elizabeth make her US recital debut with performances at Vocal Arts DC in the Kennedy Center, Washington, D.C. and Capital Region Classical in Schenectady, New York. Last year, Elizabeth released her debut solo album 'Heart & Hereafter' - a collection of twenty-five songs by Samuel Coleridge-Taylor, fifteen of which were world-premieres – which reached the Top 5 in the iTunes classical album charts, was named “Album of the Week” in the Sunday Times, and won “World Premiere Recording of the Year” in the Presto Music Awards 2021.

Further highlights this season include her role and house debut in the title-role in Ariadne auf Naxos at Opera North, Strauss’ Four Last Songs with the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, and her debut concert with the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra.

Elizabeth’s recent operatic appearances have included landmark role and company debuts as Jenůfa at Welsh National Opera, Desdemona Otello for Grange Park Opera, directed by David Alden, and Alice Ford in a new co-production of Falstaff by Sir David McVicar for Scottish Opera, which was also performed at the Edinburgh International Festival.

In 2014 Elizabeth made her house and role debut at the Royal Danish Opera as Bess in Gershwin’s Porgy and Bess, a role with which she made her US debut at Seattle Opera, and most notably her house debut at the Metropolitan Opera, New York. Elizabeth also returned to the Royal Danish Opera to sing the title role of Suor Angelica and Giorgetta Il Tabarro, as well as making her acclaimed debut in the title role of Madama Butterfly.

In more recent years, Elizabeth has established herself as a notable lyrico spinto soprano, singing title roles across the UK and Germany - Verdi’s Aida and Luisa Miller; Puccini’s Manon Lescaut and Tosca, and the role of Elsa in Wagner’s Lohengrin. Elizabeth was also nominated for “Singer of the Year 2013” in OpernWelt magazine for her portrayal of Amelia Grimaldi in Simon Boccangera, a role she later performed under the baton of Sir Mark Elder. Other roles include Margherita/Elena in Boito’s Mefistofele, Magda de Civry La Rondine, Donna Elvira Don Giovanni, Fiordiligi Così fan tutte, Contessa Le Nozze di Figaro, Governess The Turn of the Screw, and the title role in The Merry Widow.

Recent concert highlights have included the world premiere of James MacMillan’s When Soft Voices Die at the First Night of the BBC Proms 2021, Beethoven’s Missa Solemnis with the BBC Symphony Orchestra and a live performance of Strauss Vier Letzte Lieder on BBC Radio 3 with BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, both under the baton of Donald Runnicles, Mahler’s Symphony No. 8 with Esa-Pekka Salonen, Verdi’s Requiem, Britten’s War Requiem, and Tippett’s A Child of Our Time. Elizabeth’s recordings include Vaughan Williams’ A Sea Symphony with BBC Symphony Orchestra, and the role of Eigen in Elgar’s Caractacus for Hyperion, both under the baton of Martyn Brabbins.