Isolde Roxby
Soprano
Proud recipient of a 2016/17 International Opera Awards Bursary
“...lush tone...”
Yehuda Shapiro, Opera Magazine [2017]
“...The aptly named Isolde Roxby, suitably moving..."
Roderick Dunnett, Opera Now [2017]
“...beauteous tone...”
Sam Smith, MusicOHM [2017]
“…glowing substance... sweeping lines…”
Yehuda Shapiro, The Stage’ [2019]
“...Superbly Sung…Moving Performance...” Farnham Herald
"...It is my belief that she will make a significant career for herself on the operatic stage..."
Elijah Moshinsky
“…outstanding . Pleasantly rounded both vocally and in her characterisation..."
Mark Valencia, Bachtrack [2019]
“... completely mesmerising … compelling performance…”
Robert Hugill, Planet Hugill [2019]
“…Isolde Roxby proving exceptional ... lyrical yet sensitive soprano
Sam Smith, Music OMH [2019]
“…Isolde Roxby’s outstanding Aurora. Pleasantly rounded both vocally and in her characterisation..."
Mark Valencia, Bachtrack [2019]
“…admirable performance…
Plays to see [2018]
“"…Isolde Roxby has an absolutely stunning voice ...Her voice soars
TrendFEM [2018]
“…fine dramatic singing here from Isolde Roxby… consistent characterisation”
The Gizzle Review [2018]
“…deeply moving…”
Muse [2018]
"... wonderfully ‘genuine’ ... with thoughtful interpretative gestures and a beguiling sweetness of character and tone..."
Claire Seymour, Opera Today [2019]
BIOGRAPHY
I am a 29 year old soprano who finished my MMUS at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in 2015 with Distinction. I was supported in my studies by the National Opera Studio and The Ruby and Will George Trust. I am the winner of the John Kerr Award for English Song for 2016/17 and the proud recipient of an International Opera Awards Bursary for 2016/17. I sing regularly as a recitalist for concerts and weddings and, in the operatic sphere, am kept busy as both a soloist and chorus member.
In the last few years, I have performed with Bury Court Opera, Wexford Festival Opera, Clonter Opera, The Helios Collective, The Opera Company and Buxton International Opera Festival and have been heavily involved with the contemporary opera scene: being the first to sing roles in a number of new operatic works. This year, I sang the role of Cendrillon in Viardot's Opera at Wexford Festival Opera in November and understudied 'Tatiana' for Buxton International Opera Festival'. I also sang the title role in a new opera 'Aurora' at Bury Court which was performed again in August at the Arcola. In 2018, I sang my first small role in an opera house in Idomoneo at Buxton and sang a reduction of the role of Tatiana (in Russian) at the Arcola for Grimeborn Festival along with other peices in a range of languages.
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While studying at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, I performed in a number of concerts and recitals both internally and outside the school including the 'City of London Festival' and 'Song in the City'. I took the following roles in GSMD opera scenes: 'Madame Herz' in Mozart’s Schauspieldirektor, 'Clorinda' in Cenerentola by Rossini [2013] 'Magda' in Menotti’s The Consul, 'Vitellia' in Mozart’s Clemenza di Tito, 'Rosmene' in Handel’s Imeneo, 'The Governess' in Britten’s Turn of the Screw [2014], 'Elizabeth I' in Britten’s Gloriana and 'Frau Fluth' in Nikolai’s Merry Wives of Windsor [2015]. Some of these are available to listen to on my ‘Music’ Page.
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In 2016, I was also very fortunate to receive support from the International Opera Awards Foundation and won the John Kerr Award for English Song. I sang Belinda in a reconstruction of Purcell’s Dido and Aeneas [October 2016] and Eorran in a new opera 'Mad King Suibhne' by Noah Mosley. For the 2017 Formations Masterclasses, I sang the role of 'The Woman' in a new Opera 'The Yellow Wallpaper' by Grace Evangeline-Mason working with Mark Wigglesworth, Janis Kelly, Judith Weir, David Pountney and Jonathan Moore. To find out more about these performances please go to my BLOG AND PERFORMANCES page.
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I have a wide background in the performing arts having been a member of the National Youth Theatre and also a stage director for opera with young adults. I have appeared on TV on a number of occasions for the BBC and Northern Film and Media. Most recently, I was filmed by Channel 4, performing ‘Roxana’s Aria’, for a short opera video aired in autumn 2016.
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Before starting my studies at Guildhall, I graduated from King’s College London in 2011, where I was a choral scholar with the King’s Chapel Choir under the direction of David Trendell. I was soprano soloist for their performance of Bach’s St John Passion and their concert performance of the Duruflé Requiem at the Queen’s Chapel of the Savoy. At KCL I also took lead roles with KCL Opera society and G&S society including the Role of 'Dido' in Dido and Aeneas (2009), 'Ida' from Princess Ida (2011) and 'Mabel' from Pirates of Penzance (2010). In 2012 I stage directed the The Magic Flute for the KCL Opera Society as well as performing the Soprano solo for Beethoven’s 9th in the Duke’s Hall for the KCL Alumni concert.
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Originally from Newcastle, I performed on a regular basis at local weddings, funerals and functions including a number of recital performances with the Wansbeck outreach programme. Over this time I also sang in the BBC’s 2004 production of The Little Prince, which included a live production at the Royal Opera House, and was also part of several filmed projects with local production companies at this time.