Polly Leech

Polly Leech is a British mezzo-soprano from Wiltshire.  She was awarded a BSc in Molecular Biology and Biochemistry at Durham University, before studying for a Masters in Vocal Performance at the Royal College of Music. In 2018, she completed a year as a Young Artist at the National Opera in London; she is currently in her second year as a member of the Dutch National Opera Studio.

Her recent engagements include Cherubino, Le Nozze di Figaro; Abra in Vivaldi’s Juditha Triumphans; Tisbe, La Cenerentola;  Romaine Brooks in the world premiere of Willem Jeth’s Ritratto Fidalma in Il Matrimonio Segreto, Pastuchyna in Jenufa (directed by Katie Mitchell) and Mezzo Soloist, Faust, all at Dutch National Opera, her French debut at the Opéra National de Montpellier as Hippolyta in Britten’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream and, in concert, Elgar’s Sea Pictures with the BBC National Orchestra of Wales at the Lichfield Festival.

Other roles include Hänsel, Hänsel und Gretel (Pop-Up Opera), Mrs Noye, Noye’s Fludde for the Lichfield Festival, Fekluša Kat’à, Kabanovà (Opera Holland Park), Pitti-Sing, The Mikado, (Charles Court) and Third Lady, The Magic Flute (Charles Court Opera), Irene Theodora (RCM) and Mrs Herring, Albert Herring (Samling Academy Opera). For the performance of the seven roles she played in Malcolm Williamson’s English Eccentrics, Polly was awarded the Basil A Turner Prize and the Dame Hilda Brackett Award from Sadler’s Wells.

Polly’s solo oratorio performances include appearances at major venues including Snape Maltings, Wigmore Hall, St John’s Smith Square, The Sage Gateshead, Durham Cathedral and York Minister, in repertoire including the Bach St Matthew Passion, Elijah (Mendelssohn), Messe de minuit pour Noel (Charpentier), Mass in D (Dvorak), Rossini’s Petite Messe Solennelle, Messiah (Handel) and the Mozart and Verdi Requiems. In recital, Polly has performed Berlioz’ Les Nuits d’été, Mahler’s Rückert Lieder, Schumann’s Frauenliebe und Leben, Britten’s Cabaret Songs and A Charm of Lullabies, and Lady Macbeth: A Scena by Joseph Horowitz.

Her current plans include Tisbe, La Cenerentola, at the Opéra National de Montpellier, a return to the DNO in Amsterdam as Alto Soloist, Missa in Tempore Belli, and Dorabella, Cosi fan Tutte, at the Garsington Festival in the UK.