BIOGRAPHY
Praised for her crystal-clear voice, British soprano Sarah Gilford is a recent finalist of the Concurs Tenor Viñas 2024, Song Prize finalist at BBC Cardiff Singer of the World 2021 and an alumnus of the prestigious Opernstudio at the Bayerische Staatsoper.
The 2023/24 season highlights include Woglinde in Wagner's Götterdämmerung at Klagenfurt Stadttheater, where Sarah will return later in the season to sing the soprano solo in Handel's Messiah. Dalinda in Handel's Ariodante with Les Arts Florissants at Le Grand Théâtre de Genève. The Governess in Isabelle Kettle's new production of Britten's The Turn of the Screw as part of the Deborah Warner Productions at the Theatre Royal, Bath. Performances of Beethoven's Symphony 9 with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra at the Barbican Centre and with Filarmonica Arturo Toscanini in Parma. Niece 1 in Britten's Peter Grimes at Staatsoper Hamburg.
The 2022/2023 season saw Sarah making her return to the Bayerische Staatsoper as Niece 2 in Peter Grimes. She made a number of debuts including: her debut as Dalinda in Handel's Ariodante with Il Pomo d'Oro; as a soloist for Mendelssohn's Elias with the Berliner Philharmoniker; as Sophie in Werther at the Royal Opera House Covent Garden under the baton of Antonio Pappano. She also made her recital debut at Wigmore Hall with Ewa Danilewska.
"Sarah Gilford, who embodies Dalinda with a captivating voice, perfectly balanced in its registers and with a high-level interpretative capacity."
CRESCENDO
In summer 2022, Sarah participated in the prestigious IMA – Internationale Meistersinger Akademie, and in the 2021/2022 season was a member of the ensemble of Stadttheater Klagenfurt. Here she made her debuts as Ortlinde in Die Walküre, Susanna in Le Nozze di Figaro, Sopran I in Rihm’s Jakob Lenz, and Gilda in Rigoletto. She also performed a number of recitals at the Fundación Juan March in Madrid, the British Embassy in Rome and as part of the Imogen Cooper Musical Trust in London.
"Sophie was charming debutante Sarah Gilford, whose lyric soprano fitted the role like a glove - more from her, please."
OPERA NOW
"With soulful piani, yes practically angelic, and secure high notes, one experiences Sarah Gilford as Gilda."
KLEINEZEITUNG
For the seasons 2019/21, Sarah was a member of the prestigious Opernstudio at the Bayerische Staatsoper, where most notably she sang the title role in Thomas’ Mignon (Cuvilliés Theatre), Giannetta in L’Elisir d’Amore, Taumännchen in Hänsel und Gretel, and Barbarina in Le Nozze di Figaro among other appearances.
Sarah is very grateful to the Kiri Te Kanawa Foundation, Imogen Cooper Music Trust and Samling for their continued support of her career.