Clonter Opera
7 November 2026
Opera Gala
Conductor: Philip Sunderland
Director: Jeanne Pansard-Besson
© Charlie Smith
British soprano Phoebe Smith is a graduate of the Royal Academy of Music, where she completed her MA with Distinction, and in 2025 was an Opera Prelude Young Artist. She is fast establishing herself as a compelling and versatile performer across opera and the concert platform.
Recent highlights include Gianetta The Gondoliers (English Touring Opera); Violetta Saving Violetta (Rogue Opera); and Giannetta The Elixir of Love (Waterperry Opera Festival at Wilton’s). She also returned to the National Gilbert & Sullivan Opera Company as Josephine HMS Pinafore, a role she first sang with the company in 2024. She recently recorded Elgar’s King Olaf (aLUMNI Chamber Orchestra, Cambridge) and this season looks forward to recording Elgar’s Caractacus with the same orchestra, and Sullivan’s The Chieftain (BBC Concert Orchestra). She will also perform Schubert’s Mass in F major in Cambridge and sing at an Opera Gala (Clonter Opera).
Other recent engagements include the title role in Princess Ida (National Gilbert & Sullivan Opera Company); the Autumn 2024 tour of The Snowmaiden, and Milly The Wellies – an opera created for children with SEND (English Touring Opera). She also covered Adele Die Fledermaus (The Grange Festival),
During her training, roles at the Royal Academy of Music included Musetta La bohème, Erste Dame Die Zauberflöte, Despina Così fan tutte, Leïla Les pêcheurs de perles, Flora The Turn of the Screw, and Frasquita Carmen, alongside Barbarina Le nozze di Figaro (Hampstead Garden Opera), and was an Associate Artist with Nevill Holt Opera from 2022 to 2023.
As a concert soloist, Phoebe’s engagements include Dvořák Stabat Mater (Hexham Orpheus Choir), Handel Messiah (Nevill Holt Opera), Beethoven Mass in C (East Cornwall Bach Choir), and Mozart Requiem and Exsultate jubilate (London Esterhazy Orchestra).
Phoebe has participated in masterclasses with Dame Felicity Lott, James Hendry, Donald Maxwell and British Youth Opera.
Josephine / National Gilbert and Sullivan Opera Company / 2026
“For love interest we have David Webb as Ralph and Phoebe Smith as Josephine – big and accurate voices and likeable actors.”
(Theatre Reviews North)
Gianetta / The Gondoliers / English Touring Opera / 2026
“The sensationally talented Phoebe Smith is a standout here, bringing such elegant and uplifting vocals to the role of Gianetta.”
(Katmasterson.com)
“Jack Ridley’s orchestra offering fine accompaniment to what are mostly strong vocal performances. [Lauren] Young, and Phoebe Smith as Gianetta particularly show through.”
(Cultivated.org.uk)
Title role / Princess Ida / National Gilbert and Sullivan Opera Company / 2026
“Star of the show was Phoebe Smith as Ida. … Here, Phoebe was remarkable with her stage presence, purity of voice, and amazing breath control in holding a top B-flat over three bars.”
(Seen & Heard International)
7 November 2026
Opera Gala
Conductor: Philip Sunderland
Director: Jeanne Pansard-Besson
