Artists
Sophie Kidwell, Mezzo-Soprano
|
Sophie is a British Mezzo-soprano and studies with Marina Sandel at the Hochschule für Musik, Theater und Medien Hannover, Germany. She graduated from Durham University in 2016 with a BA in Combined Honours in Arts (Music, English and German).
Sophie started her musical life in Fulham Prep Chamber Choir and won BBC Choir of the Year in 2006. Enthused by her teacher, current soprano Stephanie Bodsworth, Sophie developed a life-long love of opera. At University, Sophie was President of Durham Opera Ensemble, a choral scholar for The Chapel of St Hild and St Bede, and held the Chris Higgins Music Bursary. In the past two years, Sophie has been awarded the Claire Castle Memorial Scholarship (2018) and the Joyce Mostert Memorial Scholarship (2019) to be part of Berlin Opera Academy. Operatic roles include: Erster Herr (Juliette, Martinů) for the HMTM-Hannover, Cherubino (Le Nozze di Figaro, Mozart), Ottone (L’incoronazione di Poppea, Monteverdi) for Berlin Opera Academy, Orlofsky (Die Fledermaus, Strauss), Aunt Norris (Mansfield Park, Dove), Carmen (cover) (Carmen, Bizet), Orpheus (Orpheus & Euridice, Gluck), Dorabella (Cosi fan tutte, Mozart), and Proserpina (Orfeo, Monteverdi). Concert performances include Haydn Stabat Mater, Beethoven Choral Fantasy, Bach Cantatas BWV 109 and 161, Handel Messiah, Fauré Requiem and Duruflé Requiem. As part of Duo Palatino, Sophie was on the Flavel Arts Young Artist's Scheme for 2017. She has been a soloist at The Royal Festival Hall, The Sage Gateshead, and many cathedrals in England, including Durham and St Paul’s. She was a member of the National Youth Choir and has sung in the chorus of the St Endellion Festival for the past four seasons, recently singing Russian Nanny in Britten's Death in Venice. Sophie was a Samling Academy Scholar for 2015-16, where she worked with leaders such as Patricia MacMahon and Caroline Dowdle of the Royal Opera House. She has also performed in masterclasses with many esteemed artists, including Anna Huntley, Catherine Wyn Rogers, Dame Emma Kirkby, David Butt Philip, Rachel Nicholls, Roderick Williams and Sir Thomas Allen. Future engagements in 2020 include Lehrbube in Wagner’s Die Meisersinger von Nürnberg for Theater Osnabrück, Dorina in La diavolessa for New Chamber Opera, Ganymed in Suppé’s Die Schöne Galathée for Puchheimer Taschenoper as well as a recording of Mahler's Des Knaben Wunderhorn arranged for mezzo-soprano, guitar and chamber ensemble by Gregg Nestor. Sophie enjoys singing a total range of repertoire: from arias by Rossini and Mozart, to fiery Spanish songs and exquisite German Lieder. |
|
