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Olivia Ray studied at the Royal Northern, the English National Opera’s The Knack, and the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, receiving a fellowship to Aspen, Colorado, to study with Susanne Mentzer.
In the current season engagements include La Ciesca Gianni Schicchi (Grange Park Opera); Bach Christmas Oratorio (Bath Choral Society); and a recital with Ian Tindale (Ludlow English Song Weekend).
Among her recent highlights are Lady Spencer Georgiana (Buxton International Festival); Emilia Otello, Anna Polikovskaya in the world premiere of The Life & Death of Alexander Litvinenko (Grange Park Opera); Elgar The Apostles (Gloucester Cathedral); and Mahler Symphony No. 8 (Cheltenham Music Festival).
Her operatic roles include Gertrude Roméo et Juliette, Flora La traviata, Enrichetta di Francia I puritani, Soeur Mathilde Dialogues des carmélites (Grange Park Opera); Alisa Lucia di Lammermoor, Curra La forza del destino, Mrs Fox Fantastic Mr Fox and Suzy / Lolette La rondine (all for Opera Holland Park); Juno Orpheus in the Underworld, Olga Eugene Onegin (Scottish Opera); Mrs Noye Noyes Fludde (London Philharmonic Orchestra); Rosina The Barber of Seville (Stanley Hall Opera); the title role in Offenbach’s La Périchole (Opera South); Angelina La Cenerentola (English Pocket Opera, Minotaur Productions, London Opera Productions); Maddalena in Rigoletto (Live Action Opera); Irene Theodora, Pulcheria Riccardo Primo (Opéra de Baugé); Mother The Tales of Hoffmann, Esmeralda The Bartered Bride (Mid Wales Opera); Carmen (Pavilion Opera, Opera Brava, Mananan Arts Festival); Annina La traviata (Pavilion Opera); Smeraldina The Love for Three Oranges (English Pocket Opera); Dido Dido and Aeneas (Minotaur Productions, Cannon Scholars); Mrs Kneebone Berkeley’s A Dinner Engagement (Opera East); and Nadine, John Lunn’s workshop production of Tangier Tattoo (Glyndebourne).
As an oratorio soloist Olivia has performed Bach St. John Passion, St. Matthew Passion; Berlioz Les nuits d’ete; Britten Spring Symphony; Duruflé Requiem; Elgar Sea Pictures, The Music Makers; Handel Messiah, Theodora, Dixit Dominus; Haydn Nelson Mass, Harmoniemesse; Mozart Mass in C Minor, Coronation Mass, Requiem, Vesperes Solomnes; Scarclatti Miserere; and Vivaldi Gloria. Other engagements include Mahler Symphony No. 8 (Royal Festival Hall) and Symphony No.2 (Slaithwaite Philharmonic Orchestra).
Prizes include a Fellowship to Aspen Music Festival and School, Colorado; Lillian Baylis Bursary, The Knack (ENO); Clare Croiza Prize for French Song and John Cameron Special Lieder Prize (RNCM).
Emilia / Otello / Grange Park Opera / 2022
“A solidly supportive cast includes Olivia Ray’s tense, anxious Emilia, who comes into her own in the final desperate scene…”
(The Telegraph)
“Excellent support comes from Olivia Ray’s fretful Emilia (striking in the last scenes)…”
(Opera Today)
“…Olivia Ray stood out as a concerned and caring Emilia…”
(Seen & Heard International)
Anna Politkovskaya / The Life & Death of Alexander Litvinenko / Grange Park Opera / 2021
“Olivia Ray sang strongly as crusading journalist Anna Politkovskaya.”
(Financial Times / Richard Fairman)
“Olivia Ray’s rich and defiant voice as journalist Anna Politkovskaya.”
(Operawire / Benjamin Poore)
Lady Spencer / Georgiana / Buxton international Festival / 2019
“Olivia Ray adds a touch of class as Georgiana’s Mother.”
(The Telegraph)
“Olivia Ray makes a very effective contribution as Lady Spencer (Georgiana’s mother)”
(Manchester Classical Music)
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