© Richard Hubert Smith
Scottish mezzo soprano Lauren Young is a graduate of the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland (RCS) Alexander Gibson Opera School and an inaugural studio artist at the Mascarade Opera Studio in Florence. She is a former Britten Pears Young Artist, Independent Opera Scholar and Fellow, and was a semi-finalist in the 42nd Hans Gabor Belvedere Singing Competition.
In the current season engagements include her house debut as Emily 4.48 Psychosis (Royal Ballet & Opera); and revival performances as Mezzo Soloist The Big Opera Mystery (Opera North).
Among her recent highlights are Rosina Il barbiere di Siviglia (Longborough Festival Opera); The Duchess of Plaza-Toro The Gondoliers, Baba the Turk The Rake’s Progress, Tisbe La Cenerentola, Mathilde Ottone (English Touring Opera); Daughter 6 Akhnaten (English National Opera); Mezzo The F*ggots and Their Friends Between Revolutions (Ruhrtriennale Festival); and Vanamaka Zonnendanz Donizetti’s Viva la Diva (Buxton International Festival).
Her other operatic roles include Erste Mägde Elektra, Flosshilde Das Rheingold (Edinburgh Players Opera Group); Witch Hansel and Gretel (British Youth Opera/Silent Opera); Lucretia The Rape of Lucretia, Sorceress Dido and Aeneas, Jade Boucher Dead Man Walking (UK Staged Premiere), Cherubino Le nozze di Figaro, Madame de Croissy Dialogues des Carmélites (RCS). Roles covered include Maddalena Rigoletto, Rita The Handmaid’s Tale, Rossweisse The Valkyrie, cover Mrs Alexander Satyagraha (English National Opera); June Spoon Pass the Spoon (Opera North); and Angelina La Cenerentola (British Youth Opera).
Recent concert highlights include A Charm of Lullabies with Malcolm Martineu as part of the Britten Pears Arts Britten Song Weekend and Das Lied von der Erde with Nicholas Daniels and the Orion Orchestra. Other concert repertoire includes Verdi Requiem, Duruflé Requiem, Bach B Minor Mass, Magnificat and St. John Passion, Rossini Petite messe solennelle, Mozart Requiem, and Pergolesi Stabat Mater.
A keen interpreter of song, Lauren has a special performing relationship with Spanish pianist and répétiteur José Javier Ucendo. As a duo, they won the Elgar-Spedding Memorial Lieder Prize (RCS), were finalists in the Oxford Lieder Young Artist Platform, and appeared as young artists as Leeds Lieder. Lauren also performed as part of the Independent Opera Scholar’s Recital at Wigmore Hall and the Opera In Song series at Opera Holland Park.
Rosina / Il barbiere di Siviglia / Longborough Festival Opera / 2025
“…the vital Rosina of Lauren Young, spirited, resourceful, light on her feet, and with a coloratura that was truly impressive and a fullness of tone that could ping the highest notes above even the busiest of ensembles.”
(Opera)
“Lauren Young was an irresistible mall-queen Rosina, all sass and telenovela dramatics, backed by a plush, warm, powerful instrument. She handled Rossini’s coloratura adroitly and with taste…”
(Opera Canada)
“Lauren Young is a suitably feisty Rosina, and displays a persuasive mezzo-soprano and strong sense of mischief in ‘Una voce poco fa’.”
(MusicOMH)
Maurya / Riders to the Sea / OperaUpClose / 2025
“Lauren Young used her formidable mezzo and unrestrained sense of drama unsparingly, gathering the evening around her like a shroud.”
(Opera)
“…the standout presence of Lauren Young as the grieving mother. Young’s richly dark-toned mezzo is not only beautifully placed and produced, but she never over-emotes, which – given that the opera describes the death of all her sons – is particularly impressive.”
(The Stage)
Baba the Turk / The Rake’s Progress / English Touring Opera / 2024
“Lauren Young’s splendidly characterised Baba…”
(The Times)
“Lauren Young brings vocal glamour and bags of pizzazz to bearded lady Baba The Turk.”
(The Stage)
“Lauren Young as a luxuriantly bearded Baba the Turk, whose late scene with Fikret was both beautifully sung and touching in its shared emotions…”
(Opera)
17 – 25 October 2026
Venables: 4.48 Psychosis
Conductor: Naomi Woo
Director: Ted Huffman
