British Soprano Sarah Gilford, a finalist of the 2021 BBC Cardiff Singer of the World, made her debut at the Royal Opera House as Sophie in Werther last season.
This season she will return to Klagenfurt Stadttheater to sing Woglinde in Götterdämmerung, make her role debut as Governess in Isabelle Kettle's new production of Britten's Turn of the Screw at the Theatre Royal, Bath and make her Italian debut with Filarmonic Arturo Toscanini as soprano soloist for Beethoven's Symphony 9.
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SOPHIE, 2023
ROYAL OPERA HOUSE
"British soprano and Cardiff Singer of the World finalist Sarah Gilford makes her debut here as Sophie, a delightfully sweet soprano who positively enchants and entrances. Her entreaties to Werther in Act two, ‘Du gai soleil, plein de flamme’ were utterly endearing, delivered with an almost ‘Snow-White’ charm and sweetness, whilst still managing to avoid saccharinity. Her gentleness and joie de vivre are almost palpable and one is left wondering how even Werther, entrenched as he is in his misery, could decline a dance with this beauty.
Likewise, her interactions with Charlotte in Act three after the latter has finished reading the letters from Werther, her compassion and concern for her older sister is tangible and she sings here with wonderful poignancy."
OPERAWIRE
© Bill Cooper
