Isabella Soprano
“You sing beautifully. I much enjoyed hearing you – a fine sound, very well in tune, and musicianly. You sing in a well chosen range, and your voice is admirably even. You’re clearly doing everything right. You should do well…a developing voice with solo potential, which is what you have.“
“It was a great pleasure to work with you, and so refreshing to hear beautiful, unsullied singing. Just keep doing what you do so beautifully. You are a very gifted young woman, and I am sure you will have great success.” 2004
“Congratulations…you are so incredibly talented!” 2006
Barbara Booney
“I do not know enough about opera to say whether Isabella, lead soprano in Lennox Berkeley’s A Dinner Engagement, is extraordinary or merely excellent. The voice (she has) is outstanding, combined with a welcome naturalness in her acting. Of the three stars which follow, one is for her.”The Cherwell, Oxford 2008
“Your singing in a demanding programme is always poised and musical – like your guitar playing!“
Michael Lewin FRAM , Head of Guitar at the Royal Academy of Music 2005
“I very much enjoyed listening to you.”
Kate Andrew, Music Manager, Royal Shakespeare Company 2007
“Indeed a lovely voice with certain potential for the future.”
Michael Garvey of Classical FM Radio. London . 9th December 2002
“Stunning voice. What a talent!”
BBC Radio Kent (on Isabella singing live) 22nd December 2002
“Isabella gave an impressive performance of Handel’s ‘Let the Bright Seraphim’, with some beautifully controlled trill.”
Maidstone Express (on Isabella singing live in Rochester Cathedral) April 2004
“Isabella has a fine voice and a great sensitivity in her singing. She is quite remarkable. Her voice is mature and polished and her interpretations are not superficial. It shows the security of her velvet low notes. Her phrasing is a joy, there are no flaws here. What I like most is the effortlessness in her performance. It is sung without cloying sentiment, but still with that beautiful and very earthy voice. Quite delightful! What I like about her singing is the total lack of excess and effect. The music speaks for itself and so it should. There are no glissandi or portamenti, no playing to the gallery, no tear-jerkers, no nonsense – just music sung for music’s sake and sung well. She should have a worthy career which I will watch with interest.”
Dr.David Wright B.Music, M.A., Ph.D July 2003
“I was impressed with the purity of her voice and her secure intonation. I have recently heard her sing Mozart and the quality of voice and communication skill is admirable. She is certainly worth your attention (and everybody else’s) and will not disappoint you. I rarely make any such recommendation but this one I am more than happy to give.”
Dr.David Wright B.Music, M.A., Ph.D September 2006
Concerts and Recitals; Performed to great acclaim in the United Kingdom and France. Venues include the Royal Academy of Music, Strasbourg Cathedral, Bath International Guitar Festival, Girton College Cambridge, Queen’s College and University Church Oxford and the Holywell Music Room, Oxford.
Scholarships: Scholarship to the Royal Academy of Music (Junior)
Choral scholarship, Queen’s College, Oxford University
Academic and music scholarships, Kings School Rochester
Operatic Roles: Bastienne, Bastien und Bastienne (Mozart) Magdalen Opera, 2006
Dido, Dido and Aeneas (Purcell) The Queen’s Opera Group, 2007
Susan, A Dinner Engagement (Lennox Berkeley), Moser Theatre Oxford 2008
CD: ‘As Long as a Tear’ has been featured on BBC Radio Kent.
Musical levels:
dip.ABRSM in piano performance
Grade 8 distinction guitar
Awards in competitions: Won many singing and classical guitar competitions, including: CD ‘As Long as a Tear’ nominated for ‘Opera/Classical Vocal Album of the Year’; St. Stephen’s cup 1st Prize for Opera; Gold Medal for Dramatic Achievement
