HELEN LACEY

Helen Lacey is an emerging lyric-soprano, with a particular interest in premiering new roles. She is a current Young Artist with SongEasel and BBC Introducing (Radio 3).

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Recently, Helen performed as 1st Bridesmaid in Glyndebourne’s iconic production of Mozart’s Le nozze di Figaro as part of their UK tour. In 2022, she was part of the Glyndebourne Festival Chorus, highlights including; Ethel Smyth’s The Wreckers, and performing at the BBC Proms.                                                                                                             In 2021, Helen was a Leeds Lieder Young Artist. She recently graduated with a Distinction from the Royal Academy of Music where she was a member of the prestigious Academy Song Circle. She has been supported by The Mario Lanza Educational Foundation, The Clemence Charitable Trust, Help Musicians UK and the Josephine Baker Trust. Previously, she studied at the Royal Northern College of Music, where she was awarded the Chris Petty Prize for English Song and the Elsie Thurston Prize.

 

Helen recently performed as Amore in Hampstead Garden Opera’s production of  Cavalli’s L’Egisto and 2nd Woman (cover) in Purcell’s Dido & Aeneas at the BBC Proms with La Nuova Musica. At RAM, she performed extracts from various roles in opera scenes, including: Countess (Le Nozze di Figaro), and Violetta (La Traviata).  In 2020, she performed as the title role in Marco da Gagliano’s La Dafne with Brighton Early Music Festival and in the chorus with Bergen Nasjonale Opera.            

Other operatic engagements include: Barbarina in Mozart’s Le Nozze di Figaro at Dartington International Festival, chorus in Handel’s Semele at the Musikverein (OAE), Papagena in Mozart’s The Magic Flute with City of Manchester Opera, Ilia in Mozart’s Idomeneo and Helena in Britten’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, both directed by John Ramster.                                                                             

 

Helen began her early training in the National Youth Choirs of Great Britain and Glyndebourne Youth Opera. During this time, she was the recipient of the Kath Topping Vocal Award – providing support to young singers from the south-east. In 2012, she was a finalist in the BBC Radio 2 Young Chorister of the Year competition. Subsequently, she made her solo debut at the Royal Albert Hall as the soloist in Britten’s Te Deum and in Britten’s Rejoice in the Lamb, broadcast on Radio 3.

 

Helen maintains a busy choral and oratorio schedule. Among recent engagements, is Peter Sellars’ staging of Bach’s St. John Passion conducted by Sir Simon Rattle (OAE / German Tour), Bach’s cantata Ich Habe Genug at St Martin-in-the-fields (Brandenburg Sinfonia), Haydn’s Creation conducted by Jane Glover at Dartington International Festival soprano soloist for Mendelssohn’s Elijah at Rochester Cathedral, Mozart’s Requiem at St Martin-in-the-fields and Faure’s Requiem at Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral. Helen has also performed at Hackney Empire for BBC Friday Night is Music Night, Aldeburgh Festival and as a backing singer for A Kylie Christmas at the Royal Albert Hall.

 

Helen enjoys working and collaborating with current composers. She is a featured soloist on Will Todd’s Passion Music recorded for Signum Classics and recently recorded a song cycle for composer James Cook. In collaboration with Anna Appleby (Rambert composer in residence), Helen performed in the world premiere of the opera-ballet Citizens of Nowhere at the Tête à Tête opera festival in 2017. The work was written specifically for Helen, Ann Wilkes (soprano) and Emma Wheeler (mezzo).