Olivia Ray

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. She currently studies with Robert Dean.

In the current season engagements include Emelia in Otello, directed by David Alden at Grange Park Opera, a recital with Elizabeth Mucha at the London Song Festival and Bach B Minor Mass with the London Chorus.

Highlights in recent seasons include Lady Spencer in Georgiana at the Buxton International Festival; Anna Polikovskaya in the world premiere of The Life & Death of Alexander Litvinenko; Gertrude in Roméo et Juliette, Flora La traviata, Enrichetta di Francia I puritani, and Soeur Mathilde Dialogues des carmélites for Grange Park Opera; Elgar The Apostles at Gloucester Cathedral; and Rossini Petite messe solennelle at the Three Choirs Festival.

Operatic roles include 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 and 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 and Pulcheria Riccardo Primo (Opéra de Baugé); Mother The Tales of Hoffmann and Esmeralda The Bartered Bride (Mid Wales Opera); the title role in Carmen (Pavilion Opera, Opera Brava, Mananan Arts Festival); Annina La traviata (Pavilion Opera); Smeraldina in Prokofiev’s 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).

Oratorio and concert appearances include 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. In recent seasons she performed her first Mahler Symphonies – Symphony No. 8 at the Royal Festival Hall and Symphony No.2 in Yorkshire.

Prizes include Fellowship, Aspen Music Festival and School, Colorado; Lillian Baylis Bursary, The Knack, ENO; Clare Croiza Prize for French Song, RNCM and John Cameron Special Lieder Prize, RNCM.