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Rhonda Browne

Contralto

Rhonda Browne’s passion for singing began with the internationally acclaimed New Zealand Youth Choir, and she relocated to London to pursue a solo career. Rhonda was awarded the London Wagner Society’s Bayreuth Bursary and Audience Prize, was a finalist in the Jette Parker Young Artist auditions at the Royal Ballet & Opera, and studied on the Singers of Tomorrow programme at the National Opera Studio.

In the current season she makes her debut with the Royal Ballet & Opera in two new productions, firstly as Filipyevna in Ted Huffman’s productions of Eugene Onegin, and later in the season Schwertleite in Barrie Kosky’s production of  Die Walküre. Among her recent highlights are The Witch Hansel and Gretel Lyric Opera Ireland; and Forget Me Not – Queer Composers with the Zürich Chamber Orchestra.

Her operatic engagements include Erda Das Rheingold and Siegfried, and Schwertleite Die Walküre (Longborough Festival Opera); Filipyevna Eugene Onegin (West Green House Opera); Lady Bertram Mansfield Park (Opera South); Baba The Turk The Rake’s Progress (Bury Court Opera); Mistress Bentson Lakmé (Swansea City Opera); Witch Hänsel und Gretel (Pop-Up Opera, Iford Arts, Opera in Space, Open Door Opera); Auntie Peter Grimes (Nottingham Philharmonic); The Duchess of Plaza Toro The Gondoliers, Ludmila The Bartered Bride and created the role of Gudrun in the world premiere of Coleridge Taylor’s Thelma (Surrey Opera); Zia Principessa Suor Angelica (Talent Unlimited, Giornata Opera); Zita Gianni Schicchi (Fulham Opera); staged productions of Handel’s Messiah (The Merry Opera Company); and Rossweisse Die Walküre (The Mastersingers).

She has also covered Erda Das Rheingold (Royal Ballet & Opera); Erda Das Rheingold and Siegfried, Grimgerde, Schwertleite and Rossweisse Die Walküre and First Norn Götterdämmerung (Opera North); First Norn and Flosshilde (Longborough Festival Opera); and Ulrica Un ballo in maschera (Iford Arts).

In concert Rhonda has performed Mozart Requiem (New Zealand Symphony Orchestra); Mahler Das Lied von der Erde (English National Ballet); Elgar Sea Pictures (Sheffield Symphony Orchestra); and Wagner Wesendonck Lieder (Manukau Symphony Orchestra, Auckland). Other repertoire includes Rossini Petite messe solennelle, Bach Weinachtsoratorium, Vivaldi Gloria, Mozart Missa Brevis, Handel Messiah, Duruflé Requeim, and Saint Saëns Christmas Oratorio. She has also performed recitals in New Zealand, Germany and the UK.

Steven Swales Artist Management represents Rhonda Browne worldwide

Reviews

Filipyevna / Eugene Onegin / Royal Ballet & Opera / 2024

“There are memorable cameos… Rhonda Browne as a comforting Filipyevna…”
(The Guardian)

“…Rhonda Browne as Filipyevna and Alison Kettlewell as Madame Larina add their own distinctive timbres and personalities…”
(Opera Today)

“Alison Kettlewell and Rhonda Browne are well contrasted as Madame Larina and Filipyevna.”
(The Financial Times)


Mistress Bentson / Lakmé / Swansea City Opera / 2017

“Rhonda Browne was well cast as governess Mistress Bentson”
(Opera)


Baba the Turk / The Rake’s Progress / Bury Court Opera / 2015

“Rhonda Browne’s stately – and beardless – Baba, resplendent in gold from head to toe, was played and sung with both dignity and panache”
(Opera)

Videos

News

Royal Ballet & Opera

1, 4, 7, 11, 14, 17 May 2025

Wagner: Die Walküre
Conductor: Sir Antonio Pappano
Director: Barrie Kosky