Biography
Helen May
Helen graduated from the prestigious Preparatory Opera Course at the Royal Academy of Music in 2020 with an MA with Distinction, having been awarded a DipRAM for an outstanding final recital. Her studies were generously supported by the William Gibbs Trust and the Josephine Baker Trust. Helen previously studied Music at Cardiff University, where she held the David Lloyd Vocal Scholarship and was awarded the Geraint Evans Prize for outstanding recital performance.
Helen has received outstanding reviews for her diverse opera performances. Lead roles have included: Alcina (Alcina, Handel, Arcola Theatre and Théâtre Basse Passière, Normandy); Climene, (L’Egisto, Cavalli, Hampstead Garden Opera); OFFIE nomination Calisto (La Calisto, Cavalli, Cockpit Theatre); Diane (Hippolyte et Aricie, Rameau, Grimeborn Opera Festival); Pamina (Die Zauberflöte, Mozart, Hastings Philharmonic); Nerone (L'incoronazione di Poppea, Monteverdi, Cockpit Theatre); Amastre (Xerse, Cavalli, Grimeborn Opera Festival); Despina (Cosi fan tutte, Mozart, Woodhouse Opera Festival); Galatea (Acis and Galatea, Handel, Ensemble OrQuesta); Giannetta (L’elisir d’amore, Donizetti, Woodhouse Opera); Valletto (L'incoronazione di Poppea, Monteverdi, Hampstead Garden Opera); Barbarina (Le Nozze di Figaro, Mozart, Ensemble OrQuesta); and First Lady (The Magic Flute, Mozart, London Opera Players).
Helen is also in demand as an oratorio soloist having performed: Poulenc's Gloria (Grange Choral Society); Rossini's Petite Messe Solennelle, Schubert's Mass in G, and Holst's Two Psalms (Hastings Philharmonic); Haydn's 'Nelson Mass' (Cardiff University Symphony Chorus and Chamber Orchestra); Brahms' Ein Deutsches Requiem, Mozart's Requiem in D
minor, Poulenc's Stabet Mater and Górecki's Symphony No. 3, 'Sorrowful Songs' (St. John's, Hyde Park); Vaughan Williams’ Serenade to Music and Handel's Dixit Dominus (Epiphoni Consort); Handel’s Messiah (HPO Singers & Ensemble OrQuesta Baroque, and Haslemere Music Society et al); and Mozart’s Coronation Mass in C major and Fauré’s Requiem (Cardiff University Chamber Choir and St John's Hyde Park).
Helen has dynamic experience in contemporary music. She has created the role of Nimue in the world premiere of Keith Beal's opera Merlin (Hastings Philharmonic); has performed as soloist in the world premiere of Orlando Gough’s Bayeux, commissioned for the 950th celebration of 1066; has created the role of Ruth in the world premiere of the chamber opera The Three Wayfarers (Whittaker, Opera Anywhere); has performed solo vocals for the multi-awarding winning short science-fiction film APEX (Numinous Pictures); has created the role of Aisha in the world premiere of Lizzie Strata (Simmonds, Oxfordshire Contemporary Opera); and covered the role of Aurora in the world premiere of Noah Mosley's
opera Aurora (Bury Court Opera).
Forthcoming roles include Countess Almaviva (Le Nozze di Figaro, Mozart, Vinehall Theatre, Robertsbridge); cover Jenůfa (Jenůfa, Janáček, Court Theatre, Tring); and Mimi (La Bohème, Hastings Philharmonic Orchestra).
Forthcoming concert engagements include Fauré’s Requiem, Brahms’ Ein Deutsches Requiem, and recitals with Lysianne Chen (piano) in early 2022. www.helenmaysoprano.com