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.

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).