“Startling, inventive and compelling” (The
Independent), Elizabeth Atherton is equally at home on the
opera stage or the concert platform. Her versatility as a musician
and as an actress means that she has sung roles ranging from
Monteverdi, Handel and Mozart through to Verdi, Bizet and Britten,
and she had the roles of Eurydice in Sir Harrison Birtwistle’s
opera The Corridor and Medea The Cure created for
her to considerable critical acclaim.
Having won several prestigious prizes including the Maggie Teyte
Prize, Elizabeth’s debut was as Helena in Midsummer Night’s
Dream for English Touring Opera. She subsequently became an
Associate Artist at Welsh National Opera for three years,
performing roles including Mozart’s Countess and Pamina, and has
since gone on to become a regular performer at Opera North enjoying
much success with roles including Mozart’s Fiordiligi and Britten’s
Governess.
In concert, Elizabeth has worked with such eminent conductors as
Sir Richard Hickox, Sir Andrew Davis, Sir Charles Mackerras,
Antonio Pappano, Sir Neville Mariner, Pierre Boulez, Carlo Rizzi,
Harry Christophers and Thierry Fischer. She appears frequently with
the BBC National Orchestra of Wales and other highlights include
performances with the BBC Symphony, London Symphony Orchestra,
Philharmonia, Royal Liverpool Philharmonic, Orchestra Sinfonica di
Milano, Orchestre de Paris, Hong Kong Philharmonic, The Sixteen and
Royal Scottish National Orchestra.
Recent and upcoming engagements include Thomas Adès’ new opera
The Exterminating Angel at the ROH, concerts with BBC NOW
under Pascal Rophé, LPO under Vladimir Jurowski, RSNO under
Laurence Cummings, St Paul Chamber Orchestra under Paul McCreesh,
Handel’s Saul with Harry Christophers and the Handel and
Haydn Society in Boston, song recitals with Roger Vignoles, a
recording of Stravinsky Cantata with the SCO, a reprise of the
roles of Eurydice and Medea for the Holland Festival, and her debut
as Leonore Fidelio for Longborough Festival Opera.
Full Biography